_The Hon. Mrs. Snebbington_ (_to Fair Stranger_), "ENGLISH PEOPLE ARE
SO UNSOCIABLE, AND NEVER SPEAK TO EACH OTHER WITHOUT AN INTRODUCTION.
I ALWAYS MAKE A POINT OF BEING FRIENDLY WITH PEOPLE STAYING AT THE
SAME HOTEL. ONE NEED NEVER KNOW THEM AFTERWARDS!"]

* * * * *

ADVANCING YEARS.

(_HOW IT STRIKES A CONTEMPORARY._)

["Owing to advancing years, Mr. ---- has been compelled to
resign his position as ----" _Extract from any Daily Paper_."]

Advancing years! It cannot be.
What, JACK, the boy I've known--God bless me!
Why yes, it was in '43
That first we met, and--since you press me--
The time has sped without my knowledge,
That's close on fifty years ago;
Like some deep river's silent flow,
Since JACK and I first met at College.

'Twas on a cloudy Autumn day.
Fast fading into misty twilight;
The freshmen, as they trooped to pray,
Stepped bolder in the evening's shy light.
As yet we did not break the rules
In which the College deans immesh men,
We fledglings from a score of schools,