The artist seems to have caught the spirit of his subject.

* * * * *

“This was seconded by Mr. Mackinder, who said the barque of British trade had to steer a perilous course between the scylla of the front Opposition bench and the charybodies as represented by the Government.”—­Western Daily Press.

This is the first intimation we have yet received of any noticeable tendency to penurious economy on the part of the Government.

* * * * *

[Illustration:  THE IRREPRESSIBLE.]

* * * * *

THE COUNTER-REVOLUTIONARY COLLAR.

Mr. Bingley-Spyker pleaded surprise.  He pointed out that he had been in bed for a fortnight, “laid aside,” as he said, “through the prevailing epidemic.”  In the meantime the revolution had taken place, and he had heard nothing about it.

“Well,” said the President gruffly, “we carn’t ’elp that, can we, comrades?  While this ’ere citizen ‘as been restin’ in the lap o’ luxury, so to speak, we workers ‘ave been revolutin’.  An’ that’s all there is to it.”

“But fair play,” persisted Mr. Bingley-Spyker gently, “is a jewel.  At least so I have always understood.”

“Not so much of it, me lad,” interrupted the President sharply.  “Now then, comrade, wot’s the charge?”

An unkempt person stepped up to the front and, clearing his throat with some emphasis, began:—­

“About ten-thirty this morning I see this gentleman—­”

“What? ” The interruption came simultaneously from several members of the tribunal.

“—­this party walkin’ down Whitehall casual-like, as if the place belonged to ’im instead of to us.  ‘What ho!’ I says to myself, ’this ‘ere chap looks like a counter-revolution’ry;’ and with that I comes closer to ‘im.  Sure enough he was wearin’ a ’igh collar, about three inches ‘igh, I should say, all white an’ shiny, straight from the lorndry.  I could ’ardly believe my eyes.”

“Never mind your eyes, comrade,” the President said; “tell us what you did.”

“I accosted ’im and said, ‘Ere, citizen, wot do you mean by wearin’ a collar like that?’”

“An’ what was the reply?”

“He looked at me ‘aughty-like, an’ says, ’Get away, my man, or I shall call the police.’  An’ thereupon I said, ’P’r’aps you don’t know it, citizen, but I am the p’lice, an’, wot’s more, I arrest you for wearin’ a white collar, contrairy to the regulations in that case made an’ perwided.’”

“Very good, comrade,” murmured the President, “very good indeed.  Did he seem surprised?”

“Knocked all of a ’eap.  So I took him into custody and brought him along.”

“You did well, comrade.  The Tribunal thanks you.  Step down now, me lad, and don’t make too much noise.  Now then, prisoner, you’ve ’eard the charge; what have you got to say about it?”