We're certain to meet with--
The stock never fails--
Some Memoirs replete with
Fatiguing details;
But the chance isn't great of
A Lockhart and Scott,
Or a Boswell and Johnson--
No, certainly not.
Some prophet whose coming
Is yet undivined
May set the world humming
And stagger mankind;
It may be a Darwin
Some publisher's got
Up his sleeve, or it may be
Some one who is not.
There may be some clinkers
Now "creeping" to light,
Tremendous deep thinkers
Or high in their flight;
There may be diffusers
Of air that is hot;
There may be a Bergson,
Again there may not.
Though the publishing season
Is now on the wane,
This isn't a reason
Why we should complain;
For the view of the expert--
His "i's" when we dot--
Is that some books are useful,
But most of them rot.
* * * * *
[Illustration: _Hostess_ (_playfully_). "WHAT--HAVEN'T YOU FINISHED
YET?"
_Sandy_ (_regarding cake, from which he has been told to help
himself_). "AH, BUT YE KEN, A CAKE O' THIS SIZE ISNA SAE SOON EATEN AS
YE MAY THENK."]
* * * * *
From the report of a speech by the Chief Justice of New Zealand:--
"His Excellency the Governor may make any conditions he pleases.
In fact it is a case of 'Hoc volo sic jubes; sit pro ratione
valunters.
Pages:
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48