draws the line at that.  “People are apt to forget,” he says, “that my father was a dignitary of the Church.  It is well sometimes to hint at the circumstance, and it would be impossible to do it from under the brim of a white hat.”  The item scarcely needed to complete joviality of Squire’s appearance and bearing; looks like the best man at a wedding-party.  “That’s just what I am, TOBY,” he said; “Mr. G. is going to the country to wed the majority at the polls, and I’m the best man.”

[Illustration:  Truculent Tim.]

Meanwhile, farce of there being nothing particular in the wind admirably kept up.  Odd to see how even mention of that blessed word Dissolution is avoided.  Even when, last Thursday, Mr. G. and Prince ARTHUR practically settled the matter, the word not uttered.  Mr. G. hinted at possibility of ARTHUR’s sometime, in some convenient circumstances, making a statement as to the business of the Session; the Prince, adopting the phraseology, said he would do so.  Since then the same precaution been observed.

“It’s not a new idea,” Prince ARTHUR said just now, when I commented on the peculiarity.  “When a man is sick unto death, people don’t mention in his presence the particular form of disease that is carrying him off.  Neither do we openly talk of Dissolution in a Parliament whose days are numbered.”

SEXTON finally got off his speech on Irish Education Bill, though under peculiarly distressing circumstances.  Might have delivered it before Easter, when Bill was reached one evening at eleven o’clock.  SEXTON thought the hour inconvenient and the audience inadequate for the oration; insisted upon postponing it.  Must be delivered to-night or never; so worked it off, speaking for an hour in almost empty and sadly inattentive House.  TIM HEALY, not to lose an opportunity that might be final, joined in debate.  Audience being chiefly composed of JACKSON, TIM took opportunity of genially observing, a propos of the Bill, that if he had to spend his time on a desert island with either a Chief Secretary or an Irish peasant, he would prefer the peasant.  “I’m glad of that,” said JACKSON; “it would be lonely for the one that was left.  Within a week the population would certainly be reduced by one-half.  Whether the survivor would be TIM or the other one, would depend upon circumstances.” Business done.—­Irish Education Bill read Second Time.

[Illustration:  THE GREAT CONTEST. BLACK AND WHITE AT THE NATIONAL SPORTING CLUB, MONDAY, MAY 30, 1892.

At the earnest request of the President, Mr. Punch will not disclose the personality of the spectators.]