At Peoria (Ill.) he kept his audience in roars by recounting the good sayings of his critical _confrère_, Sir WILLIAM ROBERTSON NICOLL.
At Philadelphia a very old man, who claimed to be a younger brother of _Mr. Rochester_ (in _Jane Eyre_), publicly embraced the illustrious visitor and borrowed two dollars.
The rumour that Mr. SHORTER is to be appointed as our Ambassador in Washington must not be too lightly dismissed. America often sends us a man of letters--LOWELL, for example, and HAY. Why should we not return the compliment? It would be a better appointment than many that could be named.
The fact cannot be concealed that at home the absence of Mr. SHORTER in America is seriously felt. Fleet Street wears a bereaved air and Dublin is conscious of a poignant loss. As for our authors, they are in a state of dismay; some, it is true, like mice when the cat is away, are taking liberties, but most are paralysed by the knowledge that the watchful eye is not there, the hand, so instant to blame or praise, is resting. Even publishers, normally an insensitive race are shaken, and books that were to have been issued have been held back. For what is the use of bringing out new books if C.K.S. is not here to pass definitive comments upon them before their ink is dry?
England's loss is, however, America's gain. A new cocktail has been named after him.
What really impressed the Germans most of all with the power of the Big Four was the third clause of Section 3, as given in the Press:--
... Germany must not maintain or construct any fortifications less than fifty kilomètres to the East of the Rhine."
Even WILHELM himself never succeeded in reversing the course of this famous river.
"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.
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:--