At times it will carelessly dangle
    With an air of aesthetic repose,
  At others will point to an angle
    Inclined to the tip of his nose;
  When it rests on the side of his head, he
    Will smile at whatever befalls,
  When pushed o’er his brow, we make ready
          For numerous squalls!

  When he starts for his train to the City
    It is put on exactly upright,
  And who would not view it with pity
    Return, mud-bespattered, at night? 
  When early, so polished and glowing,
    Jammed on at haphazard when late;
  It forms a barometer, showing
          His mood up to date.

  And you, who are young and unmarried,
    Give heed to my counsel, I pray;
  Do not, I entreat you, be carried
    By wealth or affection away;
  The heroine, novelists mention,
    “Eyes fondly his features.”  Instead,
  Observe, for your part, with attention,
          The hat on his head!

* * * * *

A NEW COLLECTION OF HIMS, ANCIENT AND MODERN.—­The Church Congress at Folkestone.

* * * * *

LADY GAY’S SELECTIONS.

Mount Street, Grosvenor Square.

DEAR MR. PUNCH,

We were not overcrowded last week at Newmarket, and really the more one takes racing from a business point of view, the more attractive it becomes!—­at least, I have found it so myself ever since it has been my duty to acquire information for the benefit of my readers.

There was only one thing that annoyed me during the week, and that was the inconsiderate behaviour of Windgall in winning the October Handicap, although it was a most extraordinary confirmation of my remarks anent his performance in the Leicester Handicap, in my last letter; but it is annoying that, when you select a horse to win a race, he runs second, and directly after wins a race for which he is not selected, beating the horse chosen by a length!—­it puzzles me completely, as it is impossible in this case to put it down to want of good breeding!  We were sorry not to have the Buccaneer-Orvieto match decided, as it would have been the event of the meeting; but, as the old proverb runs, “a wise owner is merciful to his beast,” so Orvieto had an afternoon’s rest at the price of L100!—­rather more than some people might be inclined to pay for a game of forfeits!

The time is not yet ripe—­(has anyone ever seen time get ripe, I wonder?)—­for disclosing what I know about the Cesarewitch—­(I never know whether I’ve spelt that correctly or not!—­and the more you look at it the “wronger” it seems!)—­but I may mention that I’ve heard great accounts of Kingkneel, who was bought the other day for Sir GREENASH BURNLEY (the latest favourite of fortune, and beloved of the ring)—­and had he not earned a penalty—­(this expression