Abergavenny Chronicle

NOTES ON NE'VSQ I NOT.1 EuR- i ey ? 1,  S I On February L!.5 a is to be I fr,qci(, the nicni-]'adom!i.s('hcrr.e for Twi:XTY' OUNCES OF MEAT. London a;il the Home Counties. Presumably. if found to work fairly well, i!. wIM be put in force throughout the country. At nrst to be com- after a week or iwo in working it may prove practicable enough. At auy rate, it W]t)I have to be given a i'air trial.. The quantity of the ration. 2!i(jz. in aU per week. will appear rattier alarming to those who have been to eat meat every day nnd tM'o or timps a day, and ha,Tc always thought it necpssary for them. \vI'iIeitwi!I also mean a consider- able reduction, for those wh) have JGY;11>, observed the- vo!)uitary rationing .s.' Both classes. ht)wever, inust do with it, and they may all enjoy the IV kction of knowing that it is consider.) h[\' better tlian the scale u pon which the Ger- mans have been managing for some tune, which is said t-o be 9oz. a week. The deci- sion to base the coupons upon a monetary instead of a weight basis is understood to be due to the dimculiy of dealing with the problem of bone and bone. it is to be noted is included in the 20oz. It seems 'ertain, at any rate. with the adoption of the currency basis, that the cheaper cuts will be in greatest demand, for people will want to get the most possible for their money. 0!'her possibilities of dimcultv present themselves, but we shall have to see the scheme in operation for a week or two before we can tell whether It will meet the case. be brought borne to housewives hv the reduced ration KiTCITEXS FOR A-LL. is thar of flaking the mos'c of it. There will ho I no margin loft for waste in cooking. A loss of twenty or twcnty-hve per cent. in the cooking will be a serious business when the joint is only a small one to begin with. The housewife who can bring most meat to the table properly cooked in one way or another will find the task of providing for a hungry household much easier than her neighbour who does not know and wil] Dot learn the art of economical cookery. The campaign for the extension of public kitchens should gain additional strength from the introduction of compulsory rationing. That it is more economical to <;ook for hundreds of people than for one 'b.milv is a truism, and if all" classes could obtain their meals ready cooked it would be found that the new ration would not mtail hardship upon anyone. The kit- c hens for all classes, however—when they ;ome-niti.t not be run by amateurs. Thu managers and tho cooks must thoroughly know their business, and the kitchens must be properly organised and run on busi- ness lines Only so can. they be success- ful. The Prime Minister and other Ministers who have made optimistic speeches about LORD JMLLH.OE OX SUB- MARINES. the submarines wdi no doubt have noted Lord, Jellicoe's remarks on the subject. He asks them not to make any more speeches until August. when they can make as many as they like, for by that time. in Lord Jellicoes opinion, the submarino menape will have been killed. This is the first time a date has been set for the establishment of the Navy's definite mastery of Germany's Tnost elective weapon, and coming, fram such a source it must be written down as the most encouraging statement yet made. There is no doubt that the natural wish to encourage the people has led statesmen to indulge in optimistic prophecies which subsequent events have made to took ridiculous. The inevitable result has been to cause people to distrust the speeches and to assume that the speakers have de- liberately minimised the peri!. It is, per- haps. too much to hope even now that no- body in authority wHl yield to the tsmpta- tion to tell a nattering tale. but if that does happen we shall do well to remember that Lord JcIIicoe. who certainly knows the position as well as anybody. gives. the submarine six months, and tells us that meanwhile we are in for a bad time. After some days of doubt, during which the fate of the measure seemed to be THE REFORM ACT. nanl,in," in tne balance, the Reform Bill has be- come a.n Act. The step which many of the Peers forebodinctv described na a leap in the dark has been taken. and the* new register, which will no doubt be com- plied as early as possible, will contain tho names of six million women. Soldiers and sailors are to have votes, and for the ordi- nary man it will be a much simpler and shorter business to secure a vote than it has ever been. In the last few days be- fore the Act was passed there were possi- bilities of trouble between the two Houses wi th regard to Proportional Registration and the Alternative Vote. The Rouse of Lords wanted a certain measure of P.H. which the House of Commons would not have at any price, while the Peers would not look at the Alternative Vote, which the House of Commons had agreed to, though by small majorities which carried very little weight. The good old British method of compromise was adopted in tho end, and the Act includes neither P.R. nor A.V. As there wiU certainly be at the oext election a larger number of three- cornered contests than ever before, there will inevitably be many minority candi- dates returned, and it ? is not at all im- probable that the majority in the House of Commons may represent only a minority of the nation. The sinking of the American transport was a Ie¡:rlt.Jmato act of war, and no useful A.N; ACT OF WAR. purpose m served by labelling it, as some papers have done. as another German atro- I cttv. Troopships are fair game for the enemy, just as his would be for our sub- marines if he would only give them the chance. Considering the immense number of transports that have carried Allied troops and supplies across all the seas of the world during the last three and a half vears, the wonder is that so few have been 'lost hv enemv action. Think of the millions of men safely carried across the Channel from this country, the ho&ts that have sono to Ifc,.wpotaniia, Egypt, and Salonica, the great Armies from Canada, Aus.tralasia, and India, and the—what- ever tho number may he—from America, scatheless imtil now: to sa y nothing of the guns. munitions, and supplies of all Kind" that have been reaching the ports of the AMies in uncetisin(r now think of all tms, and if we are act filled with wonder, ? ad- miration, and thankfulness to the Navy we shall deserve to be kept on short rations tor the rest of our lives.

Superintendent Yarnell Daviea, who haa been appointed Chief Coaatable of Flint- shire, has risen from constable rank. A. woman told the Clerkenwell County- crt that she had tried in vain to get fur- mture stored, warehouæ,,¡ being fuH. and there being no me}i t6 fetch the goods. LicejMeea mu:,t not close their premises during the hours they were entitled to re- main open if they had liquor to sell, was a TttUn? given by the Chester licensing magis- trate. Mr. John F. Mclnt4msh, for twenty years toqMnotive superintendent of the, Caledonian Railway, h. died. His inventions did muc1. William Thomas Palmer, coed merchant., of Haadaworth. was fined j620 for selling CMtl aboge the coatrotted p!toe.

TWENTY OUNCES FOR ADULTS: HAH FOR CHILDREN. MONEY COUPONS ADOPTED. Lord Rbondda has issued his rationing scheme for London and Home Counties. The meat ration is nxed at Ooz. for adult pel week, and half that amount for children. It is based on butcher' meat valued at Is. 3d., with the addition of 5oz. of equivalents in the form of poultry, bacon, etc. The princi- pal features of the scheme, which will come into operation on the 25th inst., are as Ko- tows :— Maximum of 3oz. of meat at ho bets. restaurants, and other establishments abolished. Money value for coupons only applies to uncooked butchers' meat. Meatless days to remain in force. Sausages to contain a specified quantity oi meat. Establishments other than ordinary house- holds—boarding houses, clubo, boarding schools, etc.—to apply at once to the local food committee for a registration form. Everyone must have an individual card. It is confidently expected that supplies will be sufficient to meet the rations. Visitors to London can be supplied with meals at hotels and restauranto by signing a f pcciil declaration. Caterers must collect coupons from cus- tomers taking meat meals. The Food Controller has adopted in ration- ing butchers' meat the principle of fixing the ration by monetary value, while keeping to a weight basis for other meat and for meat meaL?. This proposal has been ap- proved by the Consumers' Council and by representatives of the trade concerned. Each of the four coupons for one week on the adult meat card will represent five penny- worth of uncooked butchers' meat, including pork and offal, or a weight of other meat according to an omcial schedule of equiva- lent weights. Not more than three out of four coupons may, as a rule, be used for tho purchase of uncooked butchers' meat in each week. The weekly ration of butchers' meat will accordingly be Is. 3d. worth, or about lib. Each holder of a card will l)e able to use any of the coupons for the purchase of other kinds of meat—bacon, ham, poultry, game, rabbits, preserved and prepared meats, etc. -up to the amounts fixed by the schedule of equivalent weights to be issued. The weights of the other meat are fixed so as to corre- spond substantially with 5oz. of uncook"d butchers' meat with average bone THE SCHEME EXPLAINED. I The Ministry of Focd hu& issued a Schedule allowing how cooked and uncooked meata are to be valued in comparison with the five pennyworth of uncooked butcher's meat. Thus, with one coupon 4oz. of un- cooked bacon may be obtained, or 12z. of poultry without feathers, but including offal, or 9oz. without the oSal. In further explanations of the meat scheme, the Ministry of Food states that to ascertain how much' meat she may purchase each week the hou&ewifc or housekeeper must total up the number of meat cards in the house. In a family of nve, where only one member is below '?Iy en tlit-re wil! be four full rationf, and one half ration. This will mean that she can purchase up to 5s. 7 d. worth of beef. mutton, or pork, and have 4? coupons left to buy poultry, game, rab- bits. bacon, or ham. according to the weights of these commodities set out In the omcial schedule. If any members of the household have meals in restaurants, hotels. boarding-l19u''IoÇS, or day schools they must resvrve !<oma of their coupons for any meat dishe,i they wish to get in these establish- ments. Here, a ful! meat meal. reckoned on the value or the weight of the dish. as nxed by the scheme, will entail the surrender of a full ccnipcc, and where only half the ration of me<)t is required a half coupon will have to he surrendered. Coupons will be neces- sary aLio at national kitchens before meat dishes can be procured. For purchases of poultry by small house- hotds the Ministry of Food is considering the question of sate by joints. THE SCHEDULE. j* Following is the table of equivalent weights of meat (subject to revision): There are four coupons on each meat card for each week. Each coupon on an adult card represents tho amount of meat set out below, and must be detached by the retailer on supplying thi. amount. Each coupon on a child's card represents half the amount. A. In the case of uncooked butcher's meat the following value: Uncooked butchers's meat (including pork) or onal Five pennyworth. B. In the caoc of other uncooked meat the following weights:— POULTRY, GAME. ETC. ) Any bird as usually delivered un- ccoked without feathers, but in- cluding offal. 12!-<>z. The same without offal 9 oz. Rabbit or hare as usually delivered uncooked without ekin, but includ- ing onal 10 oz. The same without onal 7 1-oz. Venison or horsenesh uncooked with the bone as usually delivered 6 oz. The same without bone 5 oz. BÁco AND HAM. Bacon or ham uncooked with the bone as usually delivery 4 oz. The same uncooked without bone 3 oz. SAUSAGES. First quality uncooked sausages con- taining not less than 67 per cent. of butcher's meat (including pork) or off a l 6oz., Second quality uncooked sausa g es containing not less than 50 per cent. of butcher's meat (including pork or offal) 8oz. C. In the caae of cooked, canned, preserved, and miscellaneous meats, t; following weights:— Butcher's meat (including pork) or offal cooked with the uouai bone 3}oz. The same without bone 3ioz. Any bird cooked I 6 oz. Rabbit or hare cooked 5 oz. Venison or horseflesh cooked with the usual bone 4oz. The same without bone 3 oz. Ham or bacon cooked with usual bone 3 oz. The same without bone 2,loz. All canned, preserved, and potted meats of any kind in tin, glass, or other containers. according to the estimated weight of the actual meat without the container 2),oe. Meat pies, cooked S<lliiaget!, sand- wiches, and similar articles, accord- ing to the estimated weight of the actual meat. 2!oz. Preserved sausages according to the estimated weight of the actual meat 4 oz. itua scate does not apply to meals supptied by caterers. In the cade of such' meats cat.rerti are required to account for their total consumption of meat by coupons collected from their customers.

I. SMALL DESTROYER SUNK. I I Admiralty. ) H.M-. d('stro)r Boxer waa aunk on the l night of the 8th inst. in the Channel, as the result of a cothaKHi. One boy is miasma. The Boxer wa--i the smallest of our de. stroyers, and was one of the oldest. She was built in 1894, and was a vessel of 280 tons. She carried a crew of about Sfty.

I ARMY'S REDUCED RATIONS. I Lord Derby, Minuter of War, has addressed to Lord French a letter in which he says, in reference to the Arnry at home being asked to make certain sacrifices in food consumption:— *"i*he ration of meat, sugar, and tea has been redue4od for all e%rving at home, otbfr. than boys utiaer nineteen who are -under -trdnmg,t;g go overseas. The fate of the war Tnay. well depend upon the opirit, in which Men rpdoctiotM are accepted."

I BANK INSPECTOR'S HOARB. At Croydon Police <,ourt on Saturday, James Bisset. Manor-road. Wallingtc-n, a bank inspector, was lined £150, with 10 guineas costs, for hoarding 2101b. of oat- meal, lOOlb. Hour, 34}lb. biscuits, 791b. sugar, and 51,llb. tea. It was stated that he had regularly acquired the articles w&ek by week since the Order was issued last April. His defence was that he had obtained the oatmeal in bulk from Scotland, in accord- ance with lifelong practice. Sir A. Spur- geon, the chairman of the bench, said that the question of the liability of the iirm which supplied such large quantities should be gone into, and Mr. E. M. Gibson, wh? prosecuted, said that this would be done.

r 21,109 BUTTER FINES. At Thames Police-court on Saturday, Barnett Hooberman and Levis Cohen, trading as Messrs. Hooberman and Co., pro- vision merchants, of Whitechapei-road, Lon- don. E., were summoned for selling butter above the maximum price. The magistrate said profitring would have to be put down with a strong hand. The poor were the people who were r<-ally hit by the excessive prices paid by retailera to the wholesale merchants. Each defen- dant would be fined Y.50 on each sum- mons and ;E25 costs, making a total of .El.lOO and .650 costs. Defendants, on the advice of Mr. Patrick Hastings, who de- fended, pleaded guilty on eleven summonses.

FOUR CWT. OF FOOD HOARDED. Thomas Edward Blair, retired ci ,'il ser. vant, Park-road, Wallington, was iin.'d Jb20<] and 10 guineas cost:, at Croydou Police-court on Saturday for hoarding tea, split peas, c-ocoa, rice. soup nubc.s, and 15411b. of rolled oats. When the house was searched the food was found to J* hidden under clothes and i? boxeg. Altogether there were 4cwt. ————— —————

SUGAR DIRECTOR. Captain Sir Charles Ba.thurst,M.P.,has accepted the position of Director of Sugar Distribution in addition to that of chairman of the Royal Commission on the Sugar Supply, in order to secure the fullest co- I operation of the Royal Commission and the sugar branch of the Food Ministry.

MILK FOR CHILDREN. Lord Rhondda announcees that cases are from time to time brought to the notice of the Ministry of Food of consumers unable to obtain the milk requited for children or in- valids. There is no reason why any such diSLcuIty should exist. A scheme under which retailers are required to supply child- ren and Invalids in preference to other classes of cenaumers has been in operation in many areas since January 21. Under this scheme the powera already possessed by food control committees Are irected to the special purpose of securing priority for those ? classes of the population for whom milk Is a physiological necessity. It is the desire of the Pood Controller that these powers should be u;w¿ to the full. and all food control committeo haye been urged to adopt the j milk priority scheme. No consumer requir- ing' milk. and able and willing to pay for it, should have any dimculty in obtaining it. Where euch a dimculty does arise, the consumer's right course is to appeal to the food control committee to exercise its powers and give the necessary direction to lhe milk retailers in the area. A retailer failing- to comply with the committee' direc- tion la guilty of an oi?ence againat the De- fence of the Realm Regulations 1

UNLICENSED SUGAR DEAL At the London Guildhall on Monday, James Wooltord, trading as Woolford Bros., f,e adenha 11 -street, was summoned under the Defence of the Realm Regulations, for enter. ing into an agreement to supply 70,000 tona of sugar outside the United Kingdom with- out a permit. He was Sued ;ELOO, or three month- imprisonment. It waa urged that on)y a technical offence had been committed. Defendant had purchased large quantities of "ugar for the Russian War Council, but when internal troubles arose In Russia, he was authorised to divert the deliveries, and he propoised to send it to neutral countries.

FOOD COMMITTEEMAN FINED. I At Hastings on Monday, James Kemp, a town councillor and a member of the local food committee, was fined two guineas for .lling rabbits above the maximum price. Uo charged a woman 2s. 2d. a pound. a

AN OLD LADY'S HOARD. I At West London Poiicc-court, Mrs. Maria Helene Marx. an old lady of seventy. resid- ing at West Kensington, was fined .830 and .65 5s. costs for hoarding food. It was stated that in defendant's flat were found 70tb. of sugar, 7Mb. of jam, 23 tina of tomato soup, 181b. of nour, lOIb. of rice, 121b. of spinnach, 91b. of coffee, and Gtb. of tea. The magistrate said there were excep- tional circumstances in the case, and he should not deal so leniently with future offenders. He ordered that the goods should be confiscated.

NEW AUSTRALIAN PEER. I The King has been pleased to confer the dignity of a barony of the United Kingdom upon the Right Hon. Sir John Forrest. G.C.M.G., Treasurer of the Commonwealth of Australia, in recognition of his long and distinguished services to the Empire. Sir John was the first Premier of Wes- tern Australia. He is a great explorer, and headed three expeditions into the unknown interior.

MANAGING DIRECTOR FINED. I At Greenwich Police-court, Mr. William Storey, managing director of, the Storey Machine 'l001 Co., New Cross, was fined tt15 (with ten guineas costs) for failing to pro- duce the company's books for inspection by the Ministry of Munitions. It was stated, in defence, that Mr. Storey had lost. his temper because he felt he had a grievance against the Ministry, who, it was alleged. owed the company -tl7,000 for tools and admitted only .63,000. The books he refused to show were the books he would need to prove his claim.

BONUS COSTS 2140,QW.000. I Mr. George TerreH, M.P., pre6iding at the meeting of the National Union of -Mauufac- turera. said the recent 12t pel'l'ent. bonus to mmntion workers is costing the couatry 146 minione a year-a sum wHeh 'Hie nation cajtf not afford to waste. Much of it, he added, i$ wasted. (

BIRTH OF A FAMOUS HYMN. I Newmand hymn, "Lead, kindly Light," haa An interesting history. It was written in an orange boat between Palermo and Marseille, on the night of June 16. 1833. "We were becatmcd/J bowman writer, recalling the oc- casion, "A whole week in the Straits of Bonifacio. Then it was that I wrote the lines. Lead, kindly light,' which have since become well know< Nman was eucering fpo<p,. g?'fat perp,4exi O.-opirit,, m addition <<' bodily- IllJH!6fj' at tLe time, and his unrest is dearly re&M;ted in the ataazaa of lsmom hymn.

Delphiniums. Seedling perennial lark- spurs or delphiniums to-day rival tha named sorts propagated by division of th€ clumps. Sow &ee&, of a good strain in a heated greenhouse, prick off the seedlings when large enough to ha-ndle. Grow for a time on a greenhouse sbeli, transfer to a cold frame during April, and some time in Iay or early June plant outside in the border. Ga.illa.rdia.—Though perhaps best treated as bie'nnials, gnitlardias can be readily grown as annuals by sowing the seeds in a heated greenhouse during February. There are also losses among the plants in the borders which can thus be made good. Their bright colours are welcome in the house in bowls and vases. Growers have choice of double and single-nowered sorts in pleasing red and yellow blossoms. Plants Recently Put In.-PIa. recently planted, not having had time to secure a good root hold in the soil, are liable to be lifted or loosened from their positions through the action of frost. Border carna- tiona planted in autumn arc espccialty liable to this disturbance. When frost M out of the ground go over the beds or borders and "riiake the soil firm again. Mignonette.—The delicious fragrance of the flowers causes mignonette to be much ap- preciated in the greenhouse in early spring. Air and light are very essential at this season; if kept too "close" the plants be- come weak and are also liable to damp off. For this reason watering must be very care- fully carried out. A good loamy soil, pressed down firmly, is essential. Some brick and mortar rubble broken fine and mixed with the soil is beneficial. Seed may be sown again now. Cineraria.—These showy plants, so valued for greenhouse decoration in the spring, are of free growth, but require very careful watering, especially at this season. When the pots arc well furnished with roots an occasional dose of weak liquid manure is benencia.1. The leaves are liable to be at- tacked by the larvae of the Cineraria ily. The position of these pests can be readily seen, and they may be destroyed by a nip between the thumb and linger. Mealy Bug on Vines.—Nothing but great cleanliness and persistent effort can rid a vinery of this pest when once it has become established on the vines and upon the wood- work of the house. The vines in winter should be washed in hot water, as hot as the hand can bear. A solution of soft soap ,applied hot is better. AJ1 woodwork should be painted with paraffin, and the glass should be well washed and syringed. Brick- work ought to be coated with limewash made from freshly burnt lime; and all loose soil should be removed from the surface of the border, to be replaced with fresh. < Oniona for Seed Purposes.—For the supply of seed for next year, onions should now be planted. Choose for such purpose large well- shaped bulbe. Those that have started to grow or are shrivelled are of no use, nor are those of small size of value. Have ready a piece of ground deeply dug and liberally manured. A-s soon as conditions permit, plant the bulbs 1ft. apart in rows 2ft. from each other; bury them rather over half their depth in the ground. In the event of much frost ensuing after planting it will be necessary to nrm the bulbs in the soil. Keep free from weeds and hoe frequently. also water during dry periods to encourage Ktrono' growth and production of stout Rower heads. These latter will require staking act thcv push up to prevent their .being broken by wind or from any other ca.use. Seedling Cauunowcrs.—Pay special atten- tion to watering, an overdose or the applica- tion of really cold water to the soil will soon ruin even the most promising. The water Used during the time the plants are in the greenhouse should be of a temperature Eather higher than that of the hoiMe, and should only be applied when the soil. is really dry. The Week's Work.—When the weather is favourable and the ground in suitable con- dition. complete the planting of rose trees. Early spring planting in preference to November planting is recommended on beavv soils, and those trenched in autumn. Buddleia variabilis and the several varieties. give the best results when pruned hard each vear in earlv spring. This means that during February or early March the vigorous young growths of 1917 should be shortened back to within about a foot of the older wood. The pruning of raspberries ought to be completed. Remove all weak shoots and last year's canes if the latter were not cut )ut in early autumn. Where the canes make much growth they will need shorten- ing'. Tie the canes to the wires at about Bin. apart. A sowing of melons made now Gin. produce stronger a?d healthier plants than those from sowing at the beginning of Ihe year. Bottom heat must be provided for these early grown plants, or they cannot make satisfactory progress. All readers are advised to put out a few rows of shallots as &arly as possible. In view of the present ihortage of onions, the shallots are bound to be most useful, and even if not required for home use, good round bulbs should com- mand a ready sale at remunerative prices. Seed tubers set up to sprout early in the year will now be showing signs of life; if more than two or at the most'three sprouts appear on each potato, remove all but those at the extreme end of the tuber. Winter pinach has been a great success. Old stems MMl damaged leaves should now be removed, afterwards well stirring the soil with the hoe. As the days lengthen the plants will produce useful leaves throughout the spring montbe. < < Pruning Black Currants.—In pruning black currants the object must be to secure all the young growths possible without over- crowding. When a bush shows signs of ex- haustion and fails to produce young growths :1. partial cutting back will frequently remedy this state of aSairs. Where "big bud" is found the opportunity ehould be tajcen when pruning to remove all abnor- ta&My large buds and bum them. Peas in Pots.—If these were sown in small pots last month and the seedlings are to be planted out of doors in March, they will now need very careful watering, and when- ever possible a little ventilation during the early part of the day. After the plants show the nrst pair of leaves, they ahould be put on a shelf near the roof of the green- house, or on a bed of ashes in a cold frame, to be covered with mats or sacks at night. Keep the soil between the plants constantly stirred with a pointed stick, and what water is given should always be slightly warm. or the tops may turn yellow.

A scheme to provide wharfs to enable ocean-going shipa of 7,OCO or 8,000 tons burden to unload at Rochester or Chatham is being considered by the Kent local authorities. Sir Alfred Mond, First Commissioner of Works, haa appointed Mr. Charles T. Ruthen, P.B.I.B.A to be Deputy Controller of Accommodation and Chief Inspector. Mr. Itut,ben, viU act in an honorary capacity.

 I OTHER MEN'S MINDS. The State must be as enterprising cvej housing' as it was over rnuititions.—MB. RUNCJ.MAN. I DEMOCRACY AND WAR. Democracy has great merits, but one of its merits is not that it ha.s abolished {Tar. —BiSHOJP OF EXETER. I NOT UNUSUAL. Many cultivate the sentiment of a wcTM- wide brotherbcxxl, but swm to cnre nothing for their own land.—CANox ALEXANDER. I ADVANCE OF DEMOCRACY. I am heart and soul in favour of de- mocracy. The days of monarchy are num- bered. a.nd the days of military monarchy are more than WELLDCN. I THE VOLUNTEERS. The Government having spent large suma of money in equipping' the Volunteers ex- pects them to be capable of performing any duty at the shortest notice.—EARL of ALDE- MARLE. I A STRAIGHT QUESTION. Talk &bout conscripting capital' Are you going to conscript trade union funds?— MR.JoHNHoDGE. THE GREAT ILLUSIONIST. Lord Rhondda. will go down to posterity as the great iUusionist. Directly the price of an article is fixed it cannot be had.- MR. HiNCKS. EDUCATION THE LIBERATOR. I am told that I am invading the pro- vince of individual liberty and discouraging the voluntary spirit in eduction. I believe just the opposite. I believe education in itself is a great liberating power, and the more education a young person has, the more power he has, the wider it; his range of sympathy, the larger hia knowledge, the greater his experience' of the world, and the finer his tact in affairs. Consequently, when I am forcing young people to have more education than they have now I believe I am really increasing their liberty.—Ms. H. L. FiSHEB. UNREPRESENTATIVE HOUSE OF I COMMONS. The House of Commons has long passed its natural life, and cannot now be said to be representative' of the opinion of the people.—LORD LAKSDOWNE. I ABUSED BY BOTH SIDES. I The fact that the Food Controller ia abused equally both by producer and con- sumer is testimony to the impartiality of hM administration.—SiR CHARLES BATHURST. I DEGENERATES. I While the average number of children i,orn to the whole community is four per 'amily, those born to degenerate families average seven.—Da. A. F. TREDGOLD. THE HARBOUR OF REFUGE. Whenever a Cabinet Minister does not want to meet hM Cabinet, if they want to cross-examine him too closely, he is in bed. —SHOREDITCK COUNTY-COURT JUDGE. IN SOUTH AFRICA. I If we introduced conscription we should not have men to send to Flanders, but would be obliged to recall men from Flanders to put down trouble in South Africa--GERFRAL BuTHA. THE SECURITY, OF FREEDOM. i I ijtve always been an optimist about Sout-a Africa. Its security is in the fact that the people know that they are free, can have the Government which they like, and can develop their country in the secu- rity of the British Empire.—VtseouNT GLADSTONE. ip THE PUBLIC KITCHEN. I The municipal kitchen is the most practi- cal and satisfactory method of conserving the national food supply. Many English people have, it is true, a prejudice against food prepared outaide the home; but in the present condition of things it should not be dimcult to overcome that prejudice, and the variety, cheapness and wholesomeness of the meats provided should go a tong way to- wards removing it once. and for al!.—MB. J. R. CLYNES, M P. THE GREAT DECISION. I If Eng)a.nd had not done what ahe did in Augusta 1914, our tears would have been bitter, scalding teara of shame.—Bisnor OF LONDON. PAYING FOR THE WAR. I We all agree that in meeting our pro- I digioua burden wealth must bear ita fair share. The larger a man's means the larger must bo his contribution. The man of gre.at means must not only pay more than the man of small means, but, having a greater surptun beyond common needs, he must pay a greater proportion than the man of small meana.—Ms AusTEN CHAMDERLAiN, M.P. THE BACKWATERS. } At the present moment, although we are in the fourth year of the war, there are people who do not realise the position in which we are placed. There are districts, ttot so many miles out of London which are like quiet backwaters. with not even the surface ruffled by the war.—MR. FROTHERO. NO FEAR OF STARVATION. I There is no fear in this country of star- vation. When I said that the other day peopJc sta-ted that there wao plenty of food. When I say "no fear of starvation," I mean "starvation in the ?nse in which it is de- fined in the dictionary—that which leads to privation, followed by disease and death. Nothing of that kind is likely in this country.—LonD RnoNm)A. I NO QUARRELLING. We must see to it that we do not fall out with each other on the way to victory. Let us not be continually grumbling and growl- ing at those who are trying' to administer our aSairs.—SiR ANDREW WiNGATE. I THE ARMY OF UFIT. I Every country in Europe has an army of the UHtfit, and the unfit army is the one we have to study and to get into condition aa a reserve from which the. other Army can bo Med.—PROFESSOR ARTHUR KEITH. I A QUESTION FOR LABOUR. I We are beginjiing now to feel e&me of the privations which Germany began to fe.j.] two years ago. Are w& .In the Labour movement not as determined to show that we are wil- ling to suffer privations in pursuit of a democratic termination of the war as others arc showing they are willing to suifer in the interesta of autocracy, annexations, and militarism?—Mn. J. R. Ci.TNEs. M.P.

Second-lieutenant J. S. Young. R.F L has been killed while flyin at Montrosc. S<'c't!and. Lady Rhondda ys" that Lord Rhondda is workrog throo- shifta a day. Owing to the shortage of mutton venison haa been given to the inmates of the Ash- ford Workhouse. The degree of D.D. br diploma has been conferred by Oxford University on the new Bishop of Reretofd.

OUR CHILDREN'S CORNER I BT I UNCLE RALPH. I THE LETTER I'm going' to write a letter, It will be very long; It will begin, "My Deer Ma-mmar, Oh, dear, L've spelt that wrong. There! Now I've done the nrst line, I do think writing's tun; I But as I'm feeling- tired. I think my letter's done. I THE CONCERTINA. "Nothing ever happens in cur street said Annie. "Oh, Annie," ,;aid Jesie, "how can you say eo? There was the bear last week and the soldiers last Wednesday——" "And the cows and sheep on Monday," said Maggie. "And Tommy's nght last Saturday," put in Ada. "And there's a concertina coming down the road this very minute," said Je<%sic. And ao there was—at least, it was a boy playing' a concertina, and he played such a lively tune that Jessie caught hold of Annie, and Ada and Maggie and little Joe joined hands and began to dance with all their mioht and main. They danced away until they were quite out of breath, but as soon aa they could speak Jessie' said, "Well, you see. something' doe6 sometimes happen, doesn't it, Annie?" And Annie laughed and said, "Yes, I should think it does'" A VISIT TO GRANDPAPA. When Grandpapa was very small (It must have been so lonz ago) He had a grandpapa himself, As Nell and I have now, you know. And sometimes he and great-aunt Nell (That's Grandpa's sister, aa we know) Would go to see their grandpapa. (Of course, all this was long ago). Out in the garden they would walk, And sometimes they would stay to tea, Just as we did the other day (When Grandpa a.skcd both Nell and me), And Grandpa says his Grandpa waa So very kind to him and Nell; And now 'he's ju."t; as kind to us, I'm sure he is, I know it well. ] I suppose that Grandpa's kind to ua, And always makes us full of joy, Because his Grandpa was like that To him, when he was just a boy. THE GIRL-CHILD. <j "I think I've found a gocd place, my J: dear." said Mr. Tom Tit. "Not anywhere near any children, I < hope?" said his wife. "I can't bear child- '< ren, they are terrible creatures; they come poking about and peeping, and aometimes they even take the eggs." "Well, there'n only one child," said Mr. Tom Tit, "and she really seems quite a nice little thing. Mr. Thrush, who lives in the garden, says she is quite harmless and quiet, and never moves or disturbs him when he is singing to her." "Well, I'M come and look," said Mrs. Tom Tit. It certainly a very good place that Mr. Tom Tit had chosen, and his wife agreed to build there, although she still had her doubts about the girl-child, as she called her. But when she found that the girl-child did not show any signs of disturbing her, that she brought out some odda and ends which were most ll&eful for lining the neat. and put a pan of water .tt a. convenient dL?- tance, and never forgot to scatter crumbs in the morning, Mrs. Tom Tit began to alter her opinion about children. She got so friendly with the girl-child that she let her come and peep at her while she waa sitting on her eggs. and wjten the chicka were out of the shell, she "'B as proud as anything- when the girl-child brought her I father Co aee them. SIX AND THREE. I Six iittle feet with rosy pink tc<a Trotting away to bed; Six little knees on the nursery floor While the evening prayers are said. Six little arms round Mother's neck With a kiss to say Goodnight Three little heads on the pillow laid To sleep till the morning light. Three little dreama in the three little heads, Till the sun shines in once more; Then out come the six little feet again To patter about on the aoor. t THE MIMIC. "Show us what it was like. Rose," said Ernest. "And don't forget the funny parts," said Arthur. IWo laughed and ran out of the room. She had been to a pantomime the night be- fore. and was tellini, her two cousins how much she had enjoyed it. Presenty the door opened and there was a seuming out- pide, and a voice called out, "This i? a fairy!" Then Rooc danced in with a shawt over her ehouldera and a walking-stick for a wand, singing a funny little song. After a minute or two she ran out and Ernest and Arthur c!apped. Then the voice said, "This is the Slave of the Lamp In came Rose again, with the shawl right over her head this time, jumping about !n such a funny wav. Ernest and Arthur liked that very much. Rose showed them a great many more things, and she did it so we!! and made them. laugh at the funny onea so much that Arthur said at the end, "Why, It is almost aa good as going to the pantomime <nir- seJves PIANO'S LIFE STORY. I am a piano. I am very old and am rather tinHy, because so many peopie have played on me, and some of my notes are worn out. I used to live up in the drawing- room, and at all the evening parties peop!& used to ptay on me and sing to me, and I was very much admired. But then I grew old, and at !aat my master said that really he must get a new piano, he could not stand me any longer (as if it was my fault!). So a young piano came and took my place in the drawing-room, and at nrst I thought I was going to be sent away altogether, but I am g!ad to say that did not happen. I wa? sent down into the school-room, and there I am now. The chitdren al! have their music.toeons on me, and when there ia a party or a birthday and they have dancing or games. I am atwaya used. Tho very little ones thump my notes and strum and bang aa much as they like; and I have often heard them say that it is much more fun playing on me than on the grand piano upstairs. because it doesn't matter how batd-th%Vkk.-nit me. So, after all, I am very happy (!owm

I MEMORISING FEATS. I A wonderful memorising feat has been accomptiahed by William Frederick, New York salesman. Ho has learnt the entire BtMo off by heart, and can repeat any pas- ';age in it from Genesis to Revelation, and ttate -where it may be found. It has taken him eighteen year<s. A similar task was once undertaken by an eighteenth-century stroll- ? R?y? ??u?- whom Sir WtHiam Ro?rt. son !\lCóH has written. But he f&ve in afte? eleven years, by which time he had suc- ceeded ° ??'? "?? two-thirda of A?e ?0!?d Trestament. This aaiM individual did, however, succeed in accomplishing an almost equally marvellous feat of the kind. For a wager he undertook to memoriae, within forty-eight houra, the whole of the next day's "Daily Advertiser," and accom- pMahed hia taak by repe&ting C,"ry tine in the journal—news, headinga. advertienta WMt <U, m perfect order aod without "& h:io. J