["In my old Radical days."--_Mr. Chamberlain._]
Yes, I once was a smart little Rad
Who talked about "lilies" and "ransom."
Those views, which were shallow and mad,
I retract, in a manner most handsome.
Eh? "Skeletons," "Armchairs"? Oh no!
I hold they are traitors or sillies,
Who talk (like the juvenile JOE)
About skeletons, ransom, and lilies!
Ri fol de rol liddle lol dol!
I _might_ be indulging to-day
In the rampant and rancorous Rad's tone,
Swearing "lilies" full "ransom" must pay,
If it hadn't a-been for that GLADSTONE!
_He_ serves as a warning to _me_,
A sort of political helot;
But, thanks to old W. G.,
I'm no longer a radical zealot!
Ri fol de rol liddle lol dol!
* * * * *
[Illustration: "A BICYCLE BUILT FOR TWO."
["If he (Mr. FOWLER) understood the decision of the House correctly on
this subject, it was this--that the disqualification of married women
should cease, that was to say, where a woman was otherwise qualified,
and was on an existing register, and, as such, entitled to vote, she
should not be disqualified by reason of being a married woman.... It
was a decision which the Government would endeavour to carry out....
He should propose to insert a new clause removing the disqualification
of married women altogether."--_Mr. H. Fowler in the Debate on the
Parish Councils Bill_.]]
* * * * *