The Commander who had contended with the stubborn foe with a spirit of
stern determination was at length exhausted. He had put to flight the
enemies who at every step had attempted to bar his progress. But now
the affair was over, and there was little for him to do; so he was
waiting as patiently as he could the return of those he had sent
forward to represent him in the proper quarter. Before long he would
receive the intelligence for which he hungered. He would be told
whether all was right or all was wrong; whether his battle was a
defeat or a victory.
"Will they never come?" he murmured. "Surely by this time they should
have revealed the truth, and made the most of the opportunity."
He had scarcely uttered these words when the scouts came back.
"General," cried the leader, "your campaign has been crowned with
success! Capel Court is itself again! The Stocks have gone up 15, and
your success is assured!"
And it was. A week later and he found himself a millionaire!
* * * * *
MEM. FROM MATABELELAND.--Most of the news from the Cape, if not true,
is certainly _Lo Ben trovato_.
* * * * *
[Illustration: EFFECTS OF SHYNESS.
_Shy Lady_ (_trying to break the ice_). "WHAT A SAD THING IT ALL IS
ABOUT THIS WRETCHED COAL-STRIKE, _ISN'T_ IT?"
_Silent Gentleman_ (_also shy_). "ER<--YES--ER--I ALMOST THINK THAT
EVERYTHING THAT CAN BE SAID ON THAT SUBJECT--ER--ER--_HAS_ BEEN SAID!"
[_Conversation languishes after this._
* * * * *
"RULE, BRITANNIA!" (?)
["Her Majesty's Government are perfectly satisfied as to the
adequacy and capacity of the British Navy to perform all the
purposes for which it exists."--_Mr. Gladstone, in House of
Commons, November 7, 1893._
"Everybody knows, Liberals as well as Tories, that it is
indispensable that we should have not only a powerful
Navy, but I may say an all-powerful Navy."--_Mr. Morley at
Manchester, November 8, 1893._]
Since "Britain First!" is Fate's command,
And History bids us sway the main,
We feel this charter of our land
All guardian statesmen must maintain.
Rule, BRITANNIA! BRITANNIA rule the waves!
Out on the Chief who only shirks and saves!
The nations must not rival thee,
Their fleets below our own must fall.
_Thou_ must, if thou'dst be great and free,
Still rise superior to them all!
Rule, BRITANNIA! BRITANNIA rule the waves!
Such primacy e'en peaceful COBDEN craves.
Russia and France are now allies!--
Though funny, 'tis not all a joke.
As their rejoicings shake the skies,
Think how the great Free Trader spoke!
Rule, BRITANNIA! BRITANNIA rule the waves!
Better that Hundred Millions than be slaves.
True, all thy statesmen _say_ the same,
MORLEY hands COBDEN'S dictum down.
Yet Ins and Outs do play a game
That hardly adds to thy renown.
Rule, BRITANNIA! BRITANNIA rule the waves!
_But_ Parties squabble and the Exchequer--saves!
If thou'dst maintain thine ocean reign,
And first in Commerce still would'st shine,
The easy optimistic strain
And Pangloss pose must not be thine.
Rule, BRITANNIA! BRITANNIA rule the waves!
But constant warding constant watching craves.
Devotion to the needs of home,
And claims parochial, is not all.
Beware, lest shades more darkling come,
With gloomier writings on the wall.
Rule, BRITANNIA! BRITANNIA rule the waves!
Britons to careless trust should ne'er be slaves.
Say, Statesman, are those figures found
Full warrant for your picture bold?
Our watch the wave-washed world around
Needs iron hearts, _and_ ungrudged gold.
Rule, BRITANNIA! BRITANNIA rule the waves!
Britons--free-handed--never need be slaves!
* * * * *
Mrs. R thinks the reason so many of the young men of the present day
are bald is, because they don't use antimacassar oil as they did in
her time.
* * * * *