"A person named Meara," says the _Galway Advertiser_, "confined for debt
some time since in our town jail, fasted sixteen days!"

Sibthorp says this is an excellent illustration of hard and fast, and
entitles the gentleman to be placed at

[Illustration: THE SUMMIT OF HIS PROFESSION.]

* * * * *


SIBTHORPS CON. CORNER.

Dear PUNCH,--Have you seen the con. I made the other day? I transcribe it
for you:--

"Though Wealth's neglect and Folly's taunt
Conspire to distress the poor,
Pray can you tell me why _sharp_ want
Can ne'er approach the pauper's door"

D'Orsay has rhymed the following answer:--

"The merest child might wonder how
The pauper e'er _sharp_ wants can know,
When, spite of cruel Fortune's taunts,
_Blunt_ is the _sharpest_ of his wants."

Yours sincerely and comically,