[Lord RANDOLPH CHURCHILL said that the loss of the North Paddington
Election might prove a "blessing in disguise" to the Unionist
Party.]
_Unhappy Unionist loquitur_:--
Oh, GRANDOLPH, GRANDOLPH, was it all your chaff?
I for your _real_ thoughts would give a penny.
Of such strange "blessings" we could spare one half;
We have so many.
There's SMITH; no doubt _he_ is a blessed boon;
His dash, his sparkle, and his tact are wonders.
But why _does_ he "disguise" them late and soon
As awkward blunders?
Then BALFOUR; he is courtesy's pure pink,
But why will he persist in masquerading
As cynic rudeness? Such "disguise," I think,
Is most degrading.
MATTHEWS, again! Yes, he _au fond_ would bless
A Cabinet of angels! 'Tis surprising
To see him as a muddler in a mess
Himself "disguising."
Then you yourself, my GRANDOLPH! Blessings flow
From your bold eyes and trim moustache so tufty,
But why, sweet benediction, choose to go
So much in _mufti_?
When you to spot our blunders use those eyes,
And of our errors turn astute detective,
Whate'er the "blessing" may be, the "disguise"
Is most effective.
The "Union" Cause our Country's cause remains,
But oh! how long shall we remain its bosses,
If all our blessings come disguised as banes,
Our gains as losses?
Is it, sweet optimist, too much to ask
That you, and all our failures, muddles, messings,
Should, just to comfort us, throw off the mask,
And come _as_ blessings?
* * * * *
We were glad to hear that the charges brought against the London
Scottish rested upon the slightest possible foundation. There let them
rest. They will not now change their title to the London Skittish.
* * * * *