* * * * *

THE RAVENSTEIN.

    [Mr. RAVENSTEIN, at the British Association, considered
    the question, how long it will be before the world becomes
    over-populated.]

Punch to the Prophet.

  Prophet of o’er-population, your ingenious calculation,
  Causeth discombobulation only in the anxious mind
  That forecasts exhausted fuel, or the period when the duel
  Will have given their final gruel to French journalists; a kind
  Of cantankerous, rancorous spitfires, blusterous, braggart, boyish, blind,
    Who much mourning scarce would find.

  Prophet of o’er-population, when the centuries in rotation
  Shall have filled our little planet till it tends to running o’er,
  Will this world, with souls o’erladen, be a Hades or an Aidenn? 
  Will man, woman, boy and maiden, be less civilised, or more?
  That’s the question, RAVENSTEIN!  What boots a billion, less or more,
    If Man still is fool or boor?

  “Seek not to proticipate” is Mrs. Gamp’s wise maxim.  Great is
  Mankind’s number now, but “take ’em as they come, and as they go,”
  Like the philosophic Sairey; and though the sum total vary,
  Other things may vary likewise, things we dream not, much less know,
  Don’t you think, my RAVENSTEIN, our state ten centuries hence or so
    We may prudently—­let go?

* * * * *

[Illustration:  THE QUICKSAND!]

* * * * *

[Illustration:  PREPARING FOR BLACK MONDAY.

Paterfamilias (reading School Report).  “AH, MY BOY, THIS ISN’T SO GOOD AS IT MIGHT BE.  ‘LATIN INDIFFERENT,’ ‘FRENCH POOR,’ ’ARITHMETIC NOTHING’?”

Tommy. “AH, BUT LOOK DOWN THERE, PAPA. ’HEALTH EXCELLENT’!”]

* * * * *

TO A TRUMPETING DEMOCRAT.

[MR. ANDREW CARNEGIE, the Iron King and millionnaire of Pittsburg, has been addressing big audiences in Scotland.  Amongst his remarks were the following:—­“It is said that in America, although we have no aristocracy, we are cursed with a plutarchy.  Let me tell you about that.  A man who carries a million dollars on his back carries a load....  When I speak against the Royal Family I do not condescend to speak of the creatures who form the Royal Family—­persons are so insignificant....  We laugh at your ideas in this petty little country having anything to say to the free and independent citizens who walk through Canada, Australia, and America.  You know how to get rid of a Monarchy.  Brazil has taught you.”—­&c., &c.]

  CARNEGIE, pray take notice, since I know that it would blister
  The thin skin of a democrat, I drop the title “Mr.,”
  You have talked a lot of bunkum, all mixed up with most terrific cant. 
  But you truly said that “persons