Their threat of further proceedings against you unless you take immediate steps to remove your machine, though, perhaps, to be expected, is certainly a little unhandsome.  Perhaps your best plan will be to try and start your Steam-roller as a “Suburban Omnibus Company,” as you propose.  Certainly secure that Duke you mention for Chairman, and, with one or two good City names on the Directorate, it is possible you may be successful in your efforts to float the affair.

Meantime, since the proprietor of the premises in which your Steam-roller has fixed itself refuses to allow you to try to remove it by dynamite, leave it where it is.  Put the whole matter into the hands of a sharp local lawyer, and go on to the Continent until it has blown over.

* * * * *

[Illustration:  A HERO “FIN DE SIECLE.”

Podgers (of Sandboys Golf Club).  “MY DEAR MISS ROBINSON, GOLF’S THE ONLY GAME NOWADAYS FOR THE MEN.  LAWN-TENNIS IS ALL VERY WELL FOR YOU GIRLS, YOU KNOW.”]

* * * * *

HIGHWAYS AND LOW WAYS.

There is evidently all the difference in the world between “The King’s Highway”—­of song—­and the Kingsland highway—­of fact.  Song says all is equal to—­

  “High and low on the King’s highway.”

Experience teaches that a sober citizen traversing the highway unfavourably known as the Kingsland Road, is liable to be tripped up, robbed and thumped senseless by organised gangs of Kingsland roughs.  It seems doubtful whether Neapolitan banditti or Australian bush-whackers are much worse than these Cockney ruffians, these vulgar, vicious and villanous “Knights of the (Kingsland) Road.”  Is it not high time that the local authorities—­and the local police—­looked to this particular “highway,” which seems so much more like a “byway” not to say a “by-word and a reproach” to a city suburb?

* * * * *

A CASE FOR THE SURGEONS.—­Mrs. Ramsbotham, who has a great respect for the attainments of Members of the Medical profession, cannot understand why Army Doctors should be called “non-competents.”

* * * * *

THE MODERN MILKMAID’S SONG.

(AT THE DAIRY SHOW.)

AN EXTRACT FROM THE “COMPLETE ANGLER” OF THE FUTURE.

Piscator, MAUDLIN, I pray you, do us the courtesy to sing a song concerning your late visit to London.

MAUDLIN sings:—­

  Come live with me and be my love,
  And we will all the pleasures prove,
  That come in competition’s field
  From reckoning up the Shorthorn’s “yield.”

  To Town we’ll come in modish frocks,
  Where swells appraise our herds and flocks,
  By days “in profit” great or small,
  All in the Agricultural Hall.

  Cockneys shall come and poke their noses
  Into our churns as sweet as roses;
  And to quiz MAUDLIN in clean kirtle
  The toffs of Town will crush and hurtle.