Part 18 (1/2)

”Oh, oh, Harry! Please get into a bank soon. I must have something soft to fall on!”

Ill.u.s.tration: _Miss Heavytopp._ ”I'm afraid I'm giving you a lot of bother, but then, it's only my _first_ lesson!”

_Exhausted Instructor_ (_sotto voce_). ”I only hope it won't be my _last_!”

Ill.u.s.tration: SORROWS OF A ”CHAUFFEUR”

_Ancient Dame._ ”What d'ye say? They call he a 'shuvver,' do they? I see. They put he to walk behind and shove 'em up the hills, I reckon.”

A CYCLE OF CATHAY.--_The Yorks.h.i.+re Evening Post_, in reporting the case of a motor-cyclist charged with travelling at excessive speed on the highway at Selby, represents a police-sergeant as stating that ”he timed defendant over a distance of 633 years, which was covered in 64 secs.”

The contention of the defendant that he had been ”very imperfectly timed” has an air of captiousness.

”Many roads in the district are unfit for motorists,” is the report of the Tadcaster surveyor to his council. We understand the inhabitants have resolved to leave well alone.

At a meeting of the Four Wheeler's a.s.sociation, a speaker boasted, with some justification, that a charge which is brought every day against drivers of motor-cars has never been brought against members of their a.s.sociation, namely, that of driving at an excessive speed.

Rumour is again busy with the promised appearance of a motor-bus which is to be so quiet that you will not know that there is one on the road until you have been run over.

Ill.u.s.tration: AN UNPARDONABLE MISTAKE.--_Short-sighted Old Lady._ ”Porter!”

Ill.u.s.tration: NOSCE TEIPSUM.--_Lady Cyclist_ (_touring in North Holland_). ”What a ridiculous costume!”

Ill.u.s.tration: _Sporting Constable_ (_with stop-watch--on ”police trap”

duty, running excitedly out from his ambush, to motorist just nearing the finish of the measured furlong_). ”For 'evin's sake, guv'nor, let 'er rip, and ye'll do the 220 in seven and a 'arf!”