Various

“ A KEENE drawing, almost any KEENE drawing, is "a thing of beauty and a joy for ever" to everyone who has an eye for admirable art and adorable drollery. And good as is the fun of these drawings, the graphic force, and breadth, and delicacy, and freshness, and buoyancy, and breeziness, and masterly ease, and miraculous open-airiness, and general delightfulness of them, are yet more marked and marvellous. ”

“ The short stories are all, more or less, good, and would be still better but for a certain cocksureness about them which savours of the man in a country house who will insist on telling you a series of good stories about himself, one after the other, until the guests in the smoking-room, in sheer despair of ever getting their turn of talking about themselves, or of turning on the tap of their own good stories, light their candles, yawn, and go pensively to bed. ”

“ It is our opinion that Oxbridge, as the heavier crew, has an advantage over Camford, which is only lessened, and certainly not entirely removed, by the better training of the latter. Moreover, the steering of the Oxbridge coxwain is infinitely preferable to the steering of his rival. ”

“ Just because you wear a morning wrapper, and have lived here alone for a year, people with coarse souls and ignoble eyes make unpleasant remarks! But what really did drive BEATA mad? Why did she jump into the mill-race? I'm sure we did everything we could to spare her! I made it the business of my life to keep her in ignorance of all our interests—didn't I, now?
Reb. You did—but why brood over it? What does it matter? Get on with your great, beautiful task, dear, (approaching him cautiously from behind) , winning over minds and wills, and creating noblemen, you know—joyful noblemen! ”

“ The only way in which a right-minded Schoolmaster can combat this anarchic and subversive spirit is to start a newspaper, and I thought that you, as a weak, credulous, inexperienced and impressionable kind of man, were the very person to be the Editor. ”

“ If Kensington Gardens are to be touched at all—and, not being sacred groves, there is no reason why they should not be, faute de mieux—a transverse tunnelling from Kensington High Street to Queen's Road would do the trick. ”

“ There's plenty of space for all equestrian wants, without interfering with the sylvan delights of nurserymaids, children, lovers of nature, and all sorts of lovers too. For my part, if this is not put forward as an alternative scheme, I shall vote for tunnelling under the Gardens out of simple cussedness. If the reply, authoritatively given, be that the two schemes can go and must go together, then I will vote for both, only let's have the equestrian arrangement first. ”

“ The times of the various trials, too, have in every instance given a distinct advantage to Oxbridge. Again, they have a better boat. So, given fine weather, the result is a foregone conclusion. Oxbridge must win, although no doubt Camford would make a good fight for it, and come in a respectable second."
"I suppose we may add, 'barring accidents'?" suggested the Camford Stroke, with rather a forced laugh.
"Sir!" exclaimed the Hon. Solicitor, with some severity. "In a company of gentlemen like those present, accidents always are barred!" ”

“ After the highly successful performance, R. D'OYLY CARTE, says the Times C.C., "had the honour of being presented to HER MAJESTY, who expressed her warm appreciation of the manner in which the performance was conducted." Did R. D'OYLY think of mentioning that "the words" were by W.S.G.? And then it is told how D'OYLY refused to take any payment for the performance. Noble, generous-hearted, large-minded, and liberal D'OYLY! ”

“ How can people— (looks at him for a moment, then rises.) Will you get out? (Still quiet and self-restrained.) But first tell me why you never mentioned this before?
Kroll. Why? Because I thought you were both orthodox, which made all the difference. Now I know that you side with LAURITS and HILDA, and mean to make the democracy into noblemen, and accordingly I intend to make it hot for you in my paper. Good morning! ”

“ Sir Richard Philliter, Q.C., might be known in private life to his friends as Sir HORACE DAVUS (Non Oedipus) . Mr. CATHCART's Pedgrift, parish clerk and sexton, is an excellent little character-sketch, as is also that of Mrs. ”

“ That's GORDON's description of Iseult. (All whip shun
When riding such rattlers, and trust to the curb.)
That mare was your sort, lad. I guess there'll be sport, lad,
When you make strong running, and near the last jump. ”

“ ROSMER's study. Doors and windows, bookshelves, a writing-table. Door, with curtain, leading to ROSMER's bedroom. ROSMER discovered in a smoking-jacket cutting a pamphlet with a paper-knife. There is a knock at the door. ROSMER says, "Come in." REBECCA enters in a morning wrapper and curl-papers. She sits on a chair close to ROSMER, and looks over his shoulder as he cuts the leaves. Rector KROLL is shown up.
Kroll (lays his hat on the table and looks at REB. from head to foot) . I am really afraid that I am in the way.
Reb. (surprised) . Because I am in my morning wrapper and curl-papers? ”

“ Proposals in all the newspapers for the immediate commencement of an adequate harbour.
April, 1892.—Hurricane in the Channel, when seventeen ships are lost, and the Club Train Boat (without passengers) is carried, high and dry, as far as Amiens, by the force of the weather. Renewed suggestions for the immediate building of an adequate harbour.
May, 1893.—Cyclone in the Channel, in which the British Fleet disappears. The newspapers once more urge the immediate commencement of the proposed adequate harbour. ”

“ Young Mr. GILBERT HARE makes a most creditable first appearance as Sir Lucian Brent, Bart. He is easy and natural.
For the greater part of the educated audience, it might have been more useful if Sir Richard Philliter, Q.C., had gone about with an old Eton Latin Grammar in his pocket, instead of a Horace ”

“ Explanation of singular abstention is, that business under discussion is Vote on account of Relief of Distress in Ireland. Prince ARTHUR asks for £55,000 for that purpose; wouldn't do for Irish Members to obey their first instinct, and oppose Vote moved by Chief Secretary. ”