[_The poet is being piloted on his aerial flight by a prosaic
mechanician. It is to the latter that the interpolations are due._]
Thou elfin Puck, thou child of master mind!
(Look out! the ballast's slipping off behind.)
Thou swanlike Siren of the blue sublime!
(Screw up that nut, and never mind the rhyme.)
Thine 'tis to fathom AEther's highest pole!
(This wind will fairly get us in a hole.)
Thine to explore the azure-vaulted dome!
(I wonder how the deuce we're going home.)
Up, up, thou speedest, flaunting, flaunting high,
Thy glist'ring frame emblazon'd 'gainst the sky;
And myriad-minded fancies still pursue
Thy gliding--(Blow! the anchor's fouled the screw!)
Thou stormy petrel, kissing heaven's height,
(Petrol! The rotten stuff declines to light)
Onward thou soarest o'er the City's dust
Shimmering, triumphant. (Gad! The motor's bust!)
* * * * *
_Q._ Give the French for "a policeman's beat." _A._ _Un tour de Force._
* * * * *
_Q._ What is the difference between a traveller and a popular vegetable?
_A._ One has been abroad and the other's a broad bean.
[_Exit Querier rapidly._
* * * * *
[Illustration: THE AMERICAN RUSH.--_American Tourist._ "Say, how long
will it take to see over the ruins?"
_Caretaker._ "About an hour, sir."
_American Tourist._ "And how long will it take you to tell us about
it?"]
* * * * *
[Illustration: "Is this your favourite view, poppa darling?"
"Why, certainly. But--ahem!--I prefer it _unframed_!"]
* * * * *
[Illustration: COLD COMFORT.--_Visitor to the West Indies_ (_who has
been warned against bathing in the river because of alligators, but has
been told by the boatman that there are none at the river's mouth_). "By
jove, this is ripping! But, I say, how do you know there are no
alligators here?"
_Boatman._ "Well, you see, sah, de alligator am so turr'ble feared ob de
shark!"]
* * * * *