Wherefore, good Kringle, do not pass me by,
    Who am too old, alas! for trains and blocks,
    But stuff the Love of Beauty in my socks
  And Childlike Faith to last me till I die;
    And there’ll be room, I doubt not, in the toes
    For Magic Cap and Spectacles of Rose.

  And not a song of beauty, sung of old,
    Or saga of the dead heroic days,
    And not a blossom laughing by the ways,
  Or wind of April blowing on the wold
    But in my heart shall have the power to stir
    The shy communion of the worshipper.

  Hark!  On the star-bright highways of the sky
    Light hoofs beat and the far-off sleigh-bell sounds! 
    Is it old Santa on his gracious rounds
  Or one dead legend drifting sadly by? 
    Not mine to say.  And, though I long to peep,
    Santa shall always find me fast asleep.

  ALGOL.

* * * * *

    “A clerk was at London Mansion House yesterday charged with
    stealing a blouse the property of the governor and directors of
    the Bank of England.

    “She said she could not understand what made her take it, and,
    believing she acted from sudden temptation, the Lord Mayor bound
    her over.”—­Daily Mail.

We do not think the “Old Lady of Threadneedle Street” ought to wear such tempting garments in these times.

* * * * *

“WITH THE ITALIAN ARMY.—­The battle, which continues with unabated fury, is gradually extending along the front from the Brenta to the Piave, a line of over 11 miles, with its wings on the Col della Berretta and Monte Spinoncia, north-east of Grappa.

“I learn that for 24 hours the fighting was marked by a determination in counter-attacks which has never yet been exceeded.  No fewer than four times Colonel della Berretta changed hands.”—­Scots Paper.

We hope the gallant officer is none the worse for his game of Hunt-the-Skipper.

* * * * *

[Illustration:  AN INEXPENSIVE LUXURY.

FIRST KAISER (WILHELM).  “I AM THINKING OF SENDING THIS BIRD OF
PEACE FORTH AGAIN.  WE CAN AFFORD TO BE MAGNANIMOUS.”

SECOND KAISER (KARL).  “WELL, WE CERTAINLY CAN’T AFFORD ANYTHING
ELSE.”]

* * * * *

ESSENCE OF PARLIAMENT.

Monday, December 17th.—­On the whole the Lords gave a friendly reception to the Franchise Bill.  They have learned a good deal since 1911.  Even Lord SALISBURY forebore on this occasion his usual intention to die in the last ditch, and was ready to let the Bill pass, provided that Proportional Representation was included in it.  The most vehement criticism came from Lord BRYCE, who viewed with alarm the addition of six million women to the electorate.  Women, he declared, neither met nor talked—­an assertion which surprised the more married peers.  Lord BURNHAM supported “P.R.” with the self-sacrificing argument that the Press would become too powerful if minorities had no way of expressing their views except in the newspapers.  Perhaps he doesn’t want another letter from Lord LANSDOWNE.