"The fifth issue of The Indian Year Book is issued a little later than the earlier editions. For this the Editor would ask immunity."—Preface to "The Indian Year Book."
Granted. Mr. Punch invariably adopts the same order of procedure in regard to his own publications.
MORE ALLEVIATIONS.
The late JAMES PAYN, who, as is well known, waged a merciless war against sham admiration in literature, happened one day to hear me quote that tremendous fellow, SIBRANDUS SCHAFNABURGENSIS. The particular lines I mean are those in which he says:—
"Then I went indoors, brought out a loaf,
Half a cheese and a bottle of Chablis;
Lay on the grass and forgot the oaf
Over a jolly chapter of Rabelais."