A Credit to the Commonwealth.
"Cockatoo, Australian, splendid talker, does not swear."—Newcastle Evening Chronicle.
THE HAT AND THE VISIT.
"Francesca," I said, "does my hat really look all right?"
When I put this momentous question we were in a train, being bound on a visit to Frederick at his preparatory school. A sudden doubt had just assailed me as to my presentability. Should I, as a father, be looked upon as a credit or a disgrace to my son? Francesca took some time before she answered my question. Then she spoke.
"Your hat," she said, "is well enough."
"I see what it is," I said; "you think I ought to have worn a top-hat. There are still occasions when a top-hat may, nay, must be worn; and this, you think, is one of them. There are solemnities and venerations that only a top-hat can inspire in the naturally irreverent mind of youth. A father in any other hat is a ridiculously youthful object and has no business to inflict himself on his son. Very well. I would not for worlds spoil Frederick's half-holiday by shaming him in the eyes of his schoolfellows."
"What do you propose to do about it, then? You can't alter your hat now."