The Song of the Open Mind.

The following perversion of Walt Whitman's "Song of the Open Road," inspired by Mr. Balfour, and written for a London paper by a man who probably has no acquaintance with Mr. Seddon, fits our own Premier in many respects like a glove:—

Bland and suave, I plead ever the Open Mind,
Henceforth I ask not support, I am my own support;
Henceforth I keep faith no more, trouble no more, heed nothing;
Done with consistencies, pledges, convictions, principles.

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Office, that is sufficient !
I do not want the elections any nearer,
I think they are very well a good way off;
I know they will do for me, when they come.

O British public! I survive, I will not leave you, for I love you.
You express me better than I can express myself.
(The Editor says he cannot print your expressions.)
I think I can stop in Downing Street and do miracles;
From this hour I ordain myself loosed of limits and Constitutional restraints,
Gently, but with undeniable will, divesting myself of all chains that would hold me.
I inhale great draughts of gush,
I receive loyal addresses (in six volumes),
I am greater, mightier than I thought;
I did not know I was such a genius.

All seems beautiful to me.
I will scatter telegrams and messages to Parliamentary candidates as I go.

* * * * * *

Allons! to that which is endless as it is meaningless—
To say nothing at any time, but that you may not afterwards blandly affirm the contrary,
To avoid no depth of humiliation,
To conceive no pitch of incapacity to which you may not presently attain.

Electors! Shall we stick by each other as long as we live?