Various

“ Why does one yearn for the top brick off the chimney when one is a child, and yet feel dissatisfied when, as a man, one receives it on the top of one's Sunday tile? Why does the sea bird fly inland in winter to get food from the towns—only to turn up its beak when presented with a ticket for soup? ”

“ Interest in debate evidently keener than that of average Member. As soon as Acland's voice reverberated through almost empty Chamber, mouse observed strolling back along familiar way; took its seat on floor under shadow of Mace in defiance of all Parliamentary rule; followed Acland's argument with evidently keen interest. Interrupted by approach of Richard Temple. Quickly looking up and catching sight of his stately figure bowing to Speaker, mouse fled like the wind, in its terror making off by Treasury Bench, finally escaping by another exit. ”

“ Blackwood are issuing a standard edition of the works of George Eliot. Adam Bede, of course, comes first, admirably printed in dainty volumes of blue and gold. Glancing over the work brings back to the memory of my Baronite a certain schoolboy who, instead of going home to dinner, used to spend the interval in the reading-room of a free library, literally dining off Adam Bede, then just out. It will be interesting to observe how far the public of to-day, more especially the young men and maidens who read novels, will take to George Eliot. ”

“ The cicérone has sold the ticket cheap to a lady, who is therefore compelled to travel under the name inscribed on the ticket, and finds herself in the same carriage with the gentleman who has the corresponding ticket, and the ticket-collector, seeing the same names, hands back both tickets to the gentleman, and tries to keep the carriage strictly reserved for them all the way, in which attempt he fails, and hence arise, on their return to England, complications analogous to those of The Passport. ”

“ After few moments of growing uneasiness, a fine figure, in full-bottomed wig, silken gown, beneath which silver-buckled shoes shimmered, emerged from behind Speaker's Chair, and seated itself in it. "Order! Order!" said a full, pleasant voice; and William Court Gully entered upon what promises to be a prosperous and distinguished career.
[pg 216]
Sark tells me that, on going into Committee of Supply, he intends to move that henceforward the gallery over the Clock facing the Chair shall be called "The Speaker's Gullery." Sark always thinks of the right thing at the right time. ”

“ Blackwood, and written by Machiavelli Colin Clout, is a modern version of Frankenstein, the distinction being that, whereas Frankenstein constructed his own monster, the hero of this romance, one Reuben Power, finds a monster ready to hand in a kind of "Mr. Gorilla," whom he educates to speak a strange language, also to read, write, and think in excellent English. This Converted Ape kills his maker, and then considerately puts an end to his own miserable existence; he does not, however, possess a soul (Frankenstein's Monster was also deficient in this respect) . ”

“ Spoke highly of his talents, diligence, and sufficiency to fulfil important duties to which it had pleased majority of Commons to call him. Said he had made it all right with the Queen, and that William Court might go back to Commons, and get about his business. Speaker, not to be outdone in geniality, begged his anonymous friend, one of five muffled up in scarlet gowns, in the event of any mess being made with matters in the other House, to impute the blame to him alone, and let the other fellows go scot-free. ”

“ Oddly enough, this plot bears a considerable resemblance to that of The Orient Express, a piece "made in Germany," of which the English adaptation was produced here, at Daly's, during his season. In this piece, i.e., The Orient Express, a gentleman has tourist tickets for himself and wife; but his wife, after disposing of her ticket to a professional cicérone, returns to England alone, while her husband, travelling on business, continues his journey. ”

“ Do they care if they're worked up in stipple or wash?
Do you think it's the Art (not the money) they prize?
Simply bosh!"
Outsider.
"No. They judge not by Art—they judge only by fame;
And the artist may starve on his poor pallet-bed ”

“ House counted; only twenty-five present, and so home to dinner.
"Yes, yes," said Walter Long, left in charge of Front Opposition Bench, "but this won't prevent us on Monday, when Squire of Malwood proposes to take Tuesday and Friday mornings for public business, stubbornly resisting piratical incursion on the rights of private Members. Whatever we are, let us be logical." ”

“ Esmonde asked Edward Grey whether Government could do anything to obtain proper treatment for Queen of Hawaii. Before Under Secretary could reply, The MacGregor, suddenly leaping across dyke as it were, interposed. "As I happen to know the lady who was formerly Queen of Hawaii," said The MacGregor, and so proceeded to back up Esmonde's plea. Offhand way in which reference was made suggested illimitable possibilities, The MacGregor just "happened to know" this Queen, probably one of a bevy. On some quiet night House might hope to hear paper read by The MacGregor on "Queens I Have Known." ”

“ The Curse of Intellect is an unattractive title, suggestive rather of a series of essays on the melancholy lives of certain geniuses than of the weird tale—for such it is—of a Man-Monkey. This story, published by Messrs. ”

“ Subsequently the monument was removed to Bamingham in North Yorkshire. But the North Yorkshire birds are quite indifferent to this tale from The Hills. They wink the other eye, that is until such time as Frederick A. Milbank shall show them the sort of gun he is, and then they'll be sorry for not having taken warning earlier, unless they possess the sagacity of the grouse of Wimmergill, which resembles that of Mr. ”

“ Page 208: 'ongues' corrected to 'tongues'
"But our tongues shall laud, whilst those tongues can wag,..."
Page 209: 'isplaye' corrected to 'displayed'
"More charms displayed in form and feature."
Page 209: 'break', possibly (Oxford English Dictionary) , break3 - n. Carriage-frame with no body, for breaking in young horses; large wagonette. ”