Part 17 (1/2)

BOTH _(with enthusiasm)_ Monsieur, pray!

M. LOYAL ”Myrtilla (lest a scandal rise The lady's name I thus disguise), Dying of ennui, once decided-- Much on resource herself she prided-- To choose a hat. Forthwith she flies On that momentous enterprise.

Whether to Pet.i.t or Logros, I know not: only this I know;-- Headdresses then, of any fas.h.i.+on, Bore names of quality, or pa.s.sion.

Myrtilla tried them, almost all: 'Prudence,' she felt, was somewhat small; 'Retirement' seemed the eyes to hide; 'Content,' at once, she cast aside.

'Simplicity,'--'twas out of place; 'Devotion' for an older face; Briefly, selection smaller grew, 'Vexatious! odious!'--none would do!

Then, on a sudden, she espied One that she thought she had not tried: Becoming, rather,--'edged with green,'-- Roses in yellow, thorns between.

'Quick! Bring me that!' 'Tis brought. 'Complete, Superb, enchanting, tasteful, neat,'

In all the tones. 'And this you call--?'

'”Ill-Nature,” Madame. It fits all.'”

HORTENSE

A thousand thanks! So naively turned!

ARMANDE

So useful too ... to those concerned!

'Tis yours?

M. LOYAL Ah no,--some cynic wits; And called (I think)-- (_Placing his hat upon his breast_), ”The Cap that Fits.”

ENIGMA [Sidenote: _Mark Twain_]

Not wis.h.i.+ng to be outdone in literary enterprise by those magazines which have attractions especially designed for the pleasing of the fancy and the strengthening of the intellect of youth, we have contrived and builded the following enigma, at great expense of time and labour:

I am a word of 13 letters.

My 7, 9, 4, 4 is a village in Europe.

My 7, 14, 5, 7 is a kind of dog.

My 11, 13, 13, 9, 2, 7, 2, 3, 6, 1, 13 is a peculiar kind of stuff.

My 2, 6, 12, 8, 9, 4 is the name of a great general of ancient times (have spelt it to best of ability, though may have missed the bull's-eye on a letter or two, but not enough to signify).

My 3, 11, 1, 9, 15, 2, 2, 6, 2, 9, 13, 2, 6, 15, 4, 11, 2, 3, 5, 1, 10, 4, 8 is the middle name of a Russian philosopher, up whose full cognomen fame is slowly but surely climbing.

My 7, 11, 4, 12, 3, 1, 1, 9 is an obscure but very proper kind of bug.

My whole is--but perhaps a reasonable amount of diligence and ingenuity will reveal that.

We take a just pride in offering the customary gold pen or cheap sewing-machine for correct solutions of the above.