HAVING POCKETED THE COINS, SLINEY PROCEEDS UPON HIS WAY.  HARDLY HAS HE
GONE A DOZEN PACES WHEN THREE CENTS AGAIN RING DOWN UPON THE
FLAG-STONES, AND SPARKLE THERE IN THE SUN.  DELIGHT OF SLINEY, WHO AGAIN
GAZES UP SMILINGLY AT THIRD-STORY WINDOWS, HOLDING OUT HIS HAT AS IF TO
ASK FOR MORE.

AGAIN SLINEY PROCEEDS TO POCKET THE COINS.  BUT, HA!—­WHAT IS THIS?  HIS
COUNTENANCE CHANGES:  HIS LONG BONY FINGERS NOW FOR THE FIRST TIME DETECT
THE FATAL FLAW IN HIS TROUSERS POCKET.  ’TWAS HIS ORIGINAL CAPITAL,
BROUGHT BY HIM FROM SWAMPVILLE TO INVEST IN STOCKS, THAT HE HAS BEEN
PICKING UP ALL ALONG.  AGONY OF SLINEY, WHICH IS AGGRAVATED BY THE RIBALD
LAUGHTER OF SOME WICKED PERSONS WHO HAVE THROWN THEMSELVES UPON HIS
TRACK.]

* * * * *

THE LATEST BOSTON NOTION.

The well-earned reputation acquired by Boston for leading the world in new ideas is so thoroughly established as to need no recapitulation here.  We merely speak of it for the purpose of mentioning that city’s last contribution to mankind, of this kind.  They have a hotel there which advertises through the seductive fly-pages of our magazines in the following terms:  “Courtesy to strangers is a marked feature in the management of—­”

But we remember in time that we have no right to interfere with the advertising columns.  However, it is a fact that there is a hotel in America where courtesy to guests is a feature, and of course a marked one.  It is a cheering fact, and especially so just now, in this early fall, when we are all smarting with the fresh memories of our summer’s sufferings at the hands of the hotel proprietors, their head clerks, and the rest of the rapacious crew.  What an attractive picture it presents!  A hotel where guests are treated with courtesy!  Really, if anything could seduce us into making a visit to Boston, the desire to actually witness this surprising innovation upon our national customs would prove too strong for the reverential fear which keeps us distant worshippers of that American Mecca.

* * * * *

Odious Comparison.

“She is a gem,” remarked Mr. JENKINSOP, speaking of his red-haired wife.

“Yes—­a diamond of many carats,” was the low rejoinder of JENKINSOP’S friend, WINKLESOP.

* * * * *

ROYAL DEMOCRACY.

It appears to have been decided that one of the royal princesses of England can be allowed to marry, without being obliged to find some royal prince for that purpose.  Perhaps this course has been discovered to be possible from the fact that the stock of royal princes is getting short in Europe.  Prussia has gobbled up any number of German ones, and bids fair to do so with the rest.  But we prefer to think that this innovation is really due to the women’s rights movement.  Their platform is broad enough for the entire sex to stand