why didn't he say so, and write it "kerb?" I like being a trifle
hypercritical just now and then, says THE BARON DE BOOK-WORMS.

* * * * *

AN INTERNATIONAL HERO.

There has been recently a discussion in _The World_ as to where _Cox
and Box_ (for which Sir ARTHUR wrote some of his best music) first
saw the light. It was decided in favour of the Librettist at whose
residence the Triumviretta was given privately, in presence of a
distinguished audience. But there was one person who might have given
invaluable evidence, and that was _Box_ himself. Why did he not step
forward? Where was he? The explanation is given in the Paris _Figaro_
of Thursday, July 17:--

"M. Box, le nouveau Ministre d'Haïti à Paris, a été reçu hier
matin par le Président de la République."

Of course, Cox will receive an appointment. Perhaps M. Box banks
at Cox's. Will Sergeant-Major BOUNCER be gazetted to the Hayti'eth
Regiment? Whatever may be in store for these immortal personages,
it is satisfactory to know that, for the present, _Box_ at least is
provided for. It was like his true British nature not to disguise
his identity under some such gallicised form of his name as BOITE, or
LOGE. There is, perhaps, no surname in our language so truly national
as _Box_. "JOHN BOX" might well be substituted for "JOHN BULL." It is
characteristic of our British pugilism. _Vive M. Box!_

* * * * *