Abergavenny Chronicle

TEA TABLE TALK. I Musical talent is not uncommon in the Royal Family. Queen Alexandra is an ac- complished musician, and Queen Victoria played well upon the pianoforte. Miss Julia Neilson, the distinguished act- ress, was the subject of the- following out- burst which appeared in an American news- paper some years ago: She is one of the most strikingly beautiful women that Eng- land has ever sent to these shores. She ie like a Greek goddess dressed in twentieth century costume. She has a handsome, face, with burning black eyes and finely chiselled features. Quite clearly, too, she has as great an abundance of brains as of beauty." Miss .Juno, Caprice, the famous film act- ress, tells an amusing story about a certain actor whose excuse tor staying out late at night was that ho was sitting up with a aick friend. His wife grew sympathetic at once, and asked for details. "Did you talk to him, and try to comfort him, dear?" she asked. "Why, of course," lied the man. Y e "And "And sit by his bedside?" "Yes." "And hold his hand?" Whew! I wish I had," the man answered inadvertently. "He held foul aoes. t Great affection exists between Mr. and Mrs. Aequitik—-an affection the depth of which is not generally realised- In a pub- lished book containing some, of his orations Mr. Asquith has written a Latin inscription which reads: "To Margot, the partner of my labours, joys, and sorrows." An amusing anecdote is told concerning King Alfonso and the Queen Mother, Maria Christina. The Spanish King received some of thoee who had been his fellow-students of the Academy of Infantry, and invited them to see the Queen-Mother. He told a secre- tary to notify her Majesty, but not to men- tion that ho (the King) was one of the party. Queen Maria Christina received the officers, who In turn kissed her hand. When his turn in the order of merit came King Alfonso, to the Queen's surprise, appeared before her. "What," she cried, "you, too, are here, my sou?" "Madame," said the King, "I have come with my old comrades in the order of promotion to present my respects to your Majesty. I am only one of them, and I have taken my turn." • • Miss Clara Butterworth, the actress and singer, tells a good story of a little friend of hers named Jimmy. Jimmy had not come up to his father's expectations in regard to his studies at school, and an explanation was demanded- "Why is it," inquired the irate parent, "that you are at the bottom of the class? "I can't see thst it makes any difference whether I am at the top or the bottom, replied Jimmy. "You know they teach the same at both ends." » t Lady Victor Paget tells an amusing story concerning a certain golf enthusiast who was graphically describing to a friend the varied joys afforded him by the game. "Do you know," he wound up by saying, "I'd rather play golf than eat I" "But," inquired his friend, "whatever does your wife say to that? "Oh," came the reply, "as a matter o-f fact she's rather relieved; she'd much jooner play bridge than cook." < Miss Iris Hoey is as popular in hospitals as she is on the stage, and her merry per- sonality has a tonic effect (says a contem- porary). In fact, she is sometimes afraid that her merriment is too exhausting, and puUs up short—"for fear," as she puts it, "that tt. poor soldiers will foel their laugh- ter in their wounds." Amusing letters to actresses are proverbial, but Miss Hoey pos- sesses one which, even amid such a gallery, ] stands out. It was sent to her by a lady when "Baby Mine was being played. The babies in that play came in for some rather rough treatment, and the management con- siderately supplied dummies for the parts. This correspondent suggested, however, that dummies were quite unnecessary. "Real babies could be kept quite quiet," she added, "by the use of morphia." Miss Ivy Shilling, the actress, says that her mother was anxious for her to become a proficient pianoforte player. Although she showed little aptitude, lessons were given to her. One day a friend asked Miss Shilling's father if she was making good progress. "Well," he replied, "I'm not sure whether Ivy's playing has improved or if it is that we're getting used to her practice!" • » • Madame Turczynowicz, author of "When the Prussians came to Poland," came to Europe from America to study- She met and married a Polish count, and settled down most happily to country life in Poland. She saw her beautiful home reduced to ruin by the Germans, spent months in it after they came, and then managed to get away to America, and there wrote her book. Lady Margaret MacRae owns considerable property in Jerusalem. She inherited from her father, the late Lord Bute, property both in Jerusalem itself and in the imme- diate vicinity; the residence of the French Consul-General outside the Jaffa Gate be- longs to her. When Lord Bute died his heart was taken to Palestine in a casket, and buried on the Mount of Olives, as was done in Crusading days. Lady Margaret, the wife of Major Colin MacRae, of the Black Watch, is a clever and capable woman, who likes everything Celtic. She is one of the very few women capable of navigating their own yachts. Madame Sarah Bernhardt's extravagance is well known, and her house in Paris ehowt it in every way. Her bedroom is hung with purple embroidered with the golden flowir of France. The ceiling is painted, the windows are draped with white lace cur- tains worked with peacock plumes, and the handsome marble timepiece is loaded with souvenirs and portraits. The Queen of the Netherlands is an ex- cellent linguist, speaking English, French, Italian, and German fluently. The last mentioned, which was her mother's tongue, she was not allowed to learn as a email child, owing to her father's dislike of every- thing that emanated from Prussia. Madame Patti has stated that her most original encore was one tha.t wae demanded of tr when she gave a concert in a remote Western town of America. The diva had sung "Home, Sweet Home," and was pre- paring to leave, when a big fellow got up and cried, "'Tain't no uee, Patti we ain't going home after that pretty hint till you repeat it." Lady Beecham, wife of Sir Thomas Beecham, the famous musician, is keenly in- terested in the Divorce Laws. Lady Beecham is passionately opposed to any law which might make it easier far people to break the marriage tic. The sanctity of marriage is a religion with her. She is an American, the daughter of a judge, and .she says that it was through seeing the results of easy divorce in the States that she became an opponent of it here. She thinks that young I people rush into marriage too rashly as it is, and that if a mere three years' separa- Ition meant freedom that reckless marriages would be more numerous than evei. Lady Norbury has some fino old family jewels, which came to her on her marriage from her father, the Rev. Williant Ellis, of Bothalhaugh, Northumberland. These in. cluded the collection of diamond jewellery which belonged tO his grandmother, the fourth Duchess of Portland. Formerly they were the property of his gister, the Duchess di Sermoneta, and came to hiih on her death in 1906.

I A letter -from Vespucci, the Florentine navigator, to his father (1.\11) was sold for £ 390 at Christie's. Mr. H. Avory, clerk to the Central Crimi- nal Court, and brother of Mr. Justice Avory, has died at Weybridge.

Caffre Lily or Crimson Flag.—Now is the time to purchase and plant the roots of schizostylw coccinea. They are best in groups at the foot of a west wall or fence where the flowers will get some protection when they blossom in late autumn and early winter. Plant in light, well-drained, fibrous, loamy soil. Increase is by division. < < Forsythia. or Golden Bell.-The beauty of this spring-flowering shrub is much im- proved by pruning. This should be done now the blossoms have faded. With the re- servation that it may be desirable to leave a few of the shoots full length to increase the sire of the bushes, the growths which have flpwered should be shortened to within 2in. or 3in. of the old wood. < Epacris.—These pretty winter and early spring flowering plants should be pruned back hard directly the blossoms are over. This means removing the long shoots that have flowered to within an inch or so of their base. Then, if kept somewhat drier at the roots, and. occasionally moistened with the syringe, they will produce new shoots. if necessary they must then be put into larger pots, using peat and sand pressed down very firmly. From the end of July they can be stood out of doors. Cuokoo Spit. Probably everyone is familiar with the froth-like substance to be seen in abundance in early summer on way- side and garden plants. Concealed within this froth is a greenish insect which pierces the cuticle of the plant and extracts the juices contained therein, secreting a certain portion as a protective covering for its ne- farious work. Roses, lilies, honeysuckle. dahlias, and numerous other plants are at- tacked by this pest. The surest way of riddance when it is own to have put in an appearance is to squeeze between the finger and thumb. The creatures, somtimes two or more in each mass, are easily disturbed and very active, frequently descending on the opposite side, unnoticed, to the earth. Nicotine emulsion is valuable as a preven- tive. Planting Evergreen Shrubs. While shrubs 'which lose their leaves in winter transplant readily from late October to March, thoee which retain their foliage throughout the year are not eo easy to manage. This is one of the most satisfac- tory periods, just when new growths are pre- paring to push. Hollies transplant readily now, eo also do pine, cupressus, thuya, and other conifers, the evergreen barberries, oak, phillyrea and osmanthus. Gooseberries.—Every care should be taken of this crop- The bushes must be main- tained in the best of health by sound cultural conditions both by feeding the roots and in keeping the foliage healthy and clean. Saw- fly and other leaf-eating larva should at once be treated as previously advised. Red spider can be dealt with if. taken in hand in a proper manner, and in too many instances is the worst enemy of the gooseberry. If allowed to feed and multiply without check, this pest may do a great deal of damage to the bushes and crop of fruit. » The Pea Maggot.-The larva of the pea moth is the creature responsible for the destruction of peas whilst in the pod, and the damage done gives rise to the term "maggoty peas." From May onwards th., female moth appears and deposits her eggs in the flowers of the peas; eggs, in due course, hatch out in the growing pods" and the maggots commence feeding upon the pea within. In order to prevent an attack it is advisable, as soon, as the plants commence to flower, to spray them with some nauseous fluid, as quassia or nicotine, and thus pre- vent the femal es from depositing their eggs. Or a good dusting with soot, after a shower, or in the early morning will do much to check the moths. Peach Trees.—The work amongst peach trees under glass will be almost continuous for a time. Tying and regulating the growths and thinning surplus fruits are matters needing constant and regular atten- tion. The border both inside and out must have water as needed, and the soil should be examined from time to time. This is of the greatest importance when the crops are swelling and the trees growing freely. The Week's Work.—Now is a suitable time to lift, divide, and replant cortaderia (gynerium) argentea. As a specimen plant for a lawn or for planting in the shrubbery borders in ordinary soil the pampas grass is beautiful in autumn. Though holyhocks are, strictly speaking, hardy perennials, a supply of vigorous plants is best maintained by raising a few seedlings each year. Sow these now on a border outside. Single-flowered hollyhocks have many admirers, but double- flowered eorts come quite true from seeds. The protecting material may be removed from the peach trees, as there should be now but slight risk of danger from frost. Care will now be needed dian n r will now be needed in keeping watch on the trees, ae they are liable at this season to attacks of insect pests. These must be kept in check by washing and spraying, or the foliage of the trees will quickly suffer. Keep the strawberry bed well hoed and clear of weeds as far as possible. Whero long strawy litter is obtainable, get a coating of th19 spread between the rows, if the soil is quito free from weeds. It is, however, useless to do this if the beds are not cleaa. For mulching later on, clean straw ought"t& be used, but this will not be required for some time. Early fruits of vegetable mar- rows are always welcome, and if a few seeds are now sown in small pots and .after the middle of next month planted in a rough frame, fruit of useful size should follow early in July. Make further sowings of maincrop varieties of peas. In selecting these, allow weight of crop, rather than. size of pea or length of individual pods, to be the guide; many of these latter are the least profitable for the small garden. Thoee who like turnips to be sweet and juicy should avoid making a large sowing. A small row sown once a fortnight will be more likely to give satisfaction than a large- towing made at one time, except in August. Cucumbers for Frames.—It is a mistake to attempt the cultivation of these for early crops unless a start is made with strong, healthy plants. Those that have filled a 5in. pot with roots are the best sort to plant, Those smaller than this intended for frame cultivation should be re-potted and kept in a warm greenhouse a fortnight or so longer, Grafting.—Drying winds succeeded by storms of rain will often cause a good deal of trouble where clay has been used for- covering. In changeable weather all the grafts should be looked over from time to time, and any cracks found ought to be at oilce fille.d up with the mixture used in grafting. Where this is neglected there mfcy be a number of losses from this cause alone.

A soldier charged at Tottenham said that his heart was moved 2tins. when he was blown up in an explosion. iBurry Holmes Island, off the Gower Penin- sula, South Wales, was purchased by Mr. E. W. David, of Cardiff, f or X250. The Homo Secretary announces that thir. teen persons in prison claiming to be -on. scientious objectors have been certified as

OTHER MEN'S. MINDS. I The devil is at a prayer meeting if he it Ulywhere.-REV. DINSDALE YOUNG. THE AGE OF INDISPENSABILITY. About the age of twenty-five men in thE Civil Service enter the region where they are i'ndispensable. -S iR AUCKLAND GEDDES. AMERICANS IN ACTION. The American soldiers already in action, in proportion to their numbers, are bearing a glorious part in this tremendous battle.— MR. BALFOUB. "WE SHALL COME THROUGH." I have no fear that we have not got in ut the grit of our forefathers. I believe W shall come through this because we are sus- thined by the faith which is founded on thE love of freedom. I am not without hope that the day will come when the German democracy will give thanks to the British democracy for having delivered it from ite cha.ins.- V ISCOm.-r IIALDANK. NO DUMPED STEEL. I am not willing as a steel worker to have furnaces idle in this country while German steel is being dumped into it.—MB. HODGB, M.P. NO BREAD RATIONING. The rationing of bread will be put off to the laet possible moment, and it seems that we shall tide over the anxious months till next harvest.—PROFESSOR E. H. STABLING. THE FARMERS' DEMAND. When the farmers are being required to produce to an increasing extent essential foods they ask for a definite assurance that the Government will not make it impossible for them to cultivate the land by withdraw- ing the necessary labour.-Sin C. BATHURST, M.P. THE ENEMY OF MILITARISM. I do not claim for Labour any monopoly of the democratic spirit—a spirit which may be possessed by men of all classes. It is that spirit which is opposed to militarism.-MR. J. R. CLYNEB, M.P. THE STATE AND THE CHILD. Problems of child welfare should not be looked at from the point of view of the ad- vantages conferred upon individuals, but from that of benefit to the State-that the State should be regarded as the guardian of the child.-Mn. LLOYD GEORGE. VII2LAGE WAR MEMORIALS. The very best form of war memorial which villages oould provide would be cottages with really good-sized gardens, rather than plots or crosses or anything of lees definite utility.-MR. F. D. ACLAND, M.P. f GROW POTATOES. If England is going to be fed sufficiently during the next twelve months we have to concentrate our attention upon the potato more than any other crop, as it is an effi- cient substitute for bread. SIB C. BATHUBST, M.P. THE OLDER MEN. I do not think there can be any doubt that these older men are, as a rule, rather a bad bargain for the Army. I most ear- nestly hope that in dealing with these older men the medical examinations will be con- ducted with the closest and utmost cate.- MARQUIS OF LANSDOWNE. THE FIRST OBLIGATION. After all, the first obligation of a Govern- ment and of a citizen is the defence of the Staic.-MR. DUKE, M.P. MAN-POWER AND EUSINESS. I do not believe that the raising of the age limit to fifty will be so detrimental to business as some people appear to fear. Opening up a fresh field from which men can be drawn will enable them in many cases to leave behind men who are really in- dispensable to their business.s.EARL OP DERBY. THIS YEAR. the real crisis of the war is bound to come this year-a, crisis in which the last man in the fighting forces may oount.-Sin AUCKLAND GEDDBS, THE ONE-MAN BUSINESS. Unless we get sufficient men for the Army, and are able to keep up the supplies of men and are able to keep ur""I months, the only all through the next few months, the only one-man business that will be carried on will be the rag-and-bone business.-MR. HAYES FISHER, M.P. THE LESSER EVIL. I would rather be killed by a bomb from a German aeroplane thn be placed under tho domination of the official classes.—MB. SMALL WOOD, MJP. NOBODY'S WAR-AIM. The destruction -of Germany never has been the Allied war aim, and is desired so far as I know, by no sane man in the whole civilised world.-Mn. BALTOUB. "GENERAL SHORTAGE." Looking at the situation with all reserve, I feel tha.t the German Food Controller, I "General Shortage," as a cynic has called him, is really the force behind Hindenburg and Ludendorff, egging them on; so closely are civilians bound up with military in- terestB at this stage of the war .-LoRD EHONDDA. NO AGE LIMIT. I think the Government should have said nothing whatever about age, but should have said they wished to have power to call upon any man or woimau of any age in the country whom they thought would be of value in the service of the country.—SIB WATSON CHEYNE, M.P. BUT LET'S HOPE NOT. The time may come when we shall want every man we can get hold of, even if he is half-legged, or haa no leg at all.—COLONEL SIR R. WILLIAMS. THE- KAISER'S PRAYER. All the enemy desires is a delay in the American shipyards and in ours, but espe- cially in those of the United States. The German war lord prays to-night and every night for more delay in the American ship- building programme, for strikes among American workers, for disagreement* among American experts. "Gott strafe England" used t" be his prayer, but he has changed it now to "Gott delay American shipbuilding, —SIR JOSEPH MACLAY.

A German aeroplane crosscd the Dutch frontier near Zaamslag, Zeeland. and landed itS occupants, who 'have been interned. President Wilson has issued a proclama- tion taking over all coastwise shipping. They will be devoted mainly to the tran- sportation of troops and war material. An air cushion sent, with others, as a Christmas gift to service men saved the life of a sailor named Bishop. When his ship was torpedoed he inflated the cushion, which kept him afloat till he was picked up.

HUMOUR OF THE WEEK. j MEN OF PEACE. I A Wt Indian sailor man, when accusing a compatriot of assault, was asked before being sworn. "Are you Christians?" "io, sar!" he replied, "we quiet men." EXAGGERLTEQ. ( "The evidence is that you arc in the habit of assaulting your wife," said the Lambeth magistrate to the husband of a W.A.A.C. "Not so often as they make out," was the reply. HIS EXCUSE. I "I had no embrocation leave," pleaded an I absentee at Willeaden. UP-TO-DATE. I MaTy had a little lamb, But thought it rather hard She couldn't get an extra slice She'd used her coupon c?'i | —"Dai"y Express. A ONE-MAN SHOW. < i To fetch a piano some London soldiers in Egypt sent a corporal, four men, a limber, two drivers, and four mules. "On their way," writes one to his parents, "they met a native carrying the thing on his back!" GRUBS AND GRUB. I Allotments are booming. The only draw- back about most of them is that tfiey fur- nish more grubs than grub. ONLY A HUMOUR. There is no foundation whatever, wn understand, for a report that this year's cuckoos have altered their cry to Cuck- coupon I A LONG WAY AFTER GOLDSMITH. I When lovely woman stoops to ration, I And finds too late that butchers frown, Whet art can soothe her tearful passion r Not made-up dishes bought in town. Nay, let her resolution harden The native valour of her soul. Spend Sunday morning in the garden, And Monday with the. casserole. -Cassell's Saturday Journal." I LOGIC. I Postmistress; "It is too heavy to go for I twopence. Put another stamp on it, please." ) Old Lady: "But that will make it heavier I than it was before!" j I NO PATRIOT. I "Are all your family observing the meat- less days now?" "Yes, all except Carlo. We can't make him realise that he mustn't bite strangers on Tuesdays."—"Baltimore American." I BRING HIM IN. I Mother doesn't think she'll go to the theatre with us to-night, Albert." "Is that 80? I have got three tickets. What shall I do with the third one?" Give it to the man you always go out to see between the acts. He can sit with us, and you won't have to go out to see him." I GOOD ENOUGH. "Why does the world so malign Ken- tucky? I heard the other day a malignant story about a Kentucky colonel. 'Colonel.' a man asked hiin, 'i.; there any cure for snake bite except whisky?' Who cares.' snorted the colonel, whether there is or not?' "-Buffalo Commercial." I THD CHAMPION BUGLER. An American soldier got in conversation with a Welshman. The American started to brag about a wonderful bugler from New York. "Do you know, Taff, this bugler stood on parade at Blackpool at five p.m. and blew a call, went to Liverpool three hours after- wards and bought the Echo Taff, determined not to be beaten, said, "Do you know, Sammy, our regiment had a bugler who stood on the square at Brecon, in 1914, and blew a call, and three years afterwards went to Plymouth and saw the Sound. —— —— ) PICKINGS FROM "PUNCH." The Paper Controller is anxious that any- one who discovers instances of waste of Eaper should communicate with him by ;tter. A number of people have already written him on full-size note-paper, pointing out how paper waste could be avoided by re- porting to him on the telephone. It is now more true than ever that one- half of our aliens doesn't know where the other half lives at night. The police, it has been decided, are en- titled to the extra Tation for heavy walkers. "It is expected by the clothing trade that standard suits will follow closely on the heel of standard boots."—"Evening Standard." Fastidious wearers who do not wish to look like Mr. Charles Chaplin can avoid thid by turning up their trousers. Gentleman Farmer: "I've got rather a lot of meat at home. I thought I'd better re- port it—a whole sheep, in fact. Yon see, I kill t my own sheep." Clerk to Local Food Control: "But that won't do. I shall have to look into this. You mustn't kill a whole sheep all at once." "GARDENER WANTED. Married M, an (chiefiv under glass)."—"Northern Whig." So that his wife may keep an eye upon him? QUIPS FROlk "LONDON OPINION." I John Bull has been advised to "Put -his house in order. One of the latest improve- ments is said to be a Japanese landing. The Soviet's continual discussion of Ger- many's shameful peace terms proves that Russia can still claim to be a great pow- wower. One of the new magistrates for Carmar- then is a compositor. He. at any rate, will understand that ciear proofs must be offered before sentences can be passed. Two airmen who visited a revue, imme- diately after flying to London, were too deaf to hear anything. When peace comes, we shall make a point of taking an aero-taxi' to this type of show. Spring cleaning and painting are depre- cated by the Government, but the Whitehall whitewash brush will doubtless be kept busy. The only house-painting now permissible ia that of a protective character. We must all be Futurists as regards decorative work. Maidenhead is so worried by the pren of aliens who have rushed there because they are worried that it may have to be called "Dismayedenhead.

Mr. Daniels, the Secretary of the United States Navy, says that more destroyers are now building in American shipyards than existed in all the yards of the world before the war. Judge Greenwell, at Newcastle-on-Tyne re- fused to give a landlady possession of her house. He declined to turn into the street the wife of a soldier who was serving in France.

OUR CHILDREN'S CORNER BY UNCLE RALPH. i THE BEST KIND. "I think a donkey is the best thing to ride," said* Poggy- "A big. black horse would suit me het" said Christopher.. "Ola.. no." said Hu-nfrey. "I should like to have a motor-car to carry me about—it would be perfectly sp' mdid." "I don't agreo wkh any of you, said Ursula. "The kind of horse I like best," she went on very gravely, "is very safe: he never kicks like a donkey; he never goes too fast or frightens, you like a big, black ho?se; nnd he doesn't make nearly aa much noise is a motor-car." "Whatever can it be?" said Christopher. "It has a beautiful, soft, velvet coat. went on Ursula, "and kind eyes, and it wiU do just what you wamt it to." "Has it got india-rubber tyres?" asked Humfrey. "No, I don't think it has any tyres at all," said Ursula, with a little twinjtle in her eye. "Have I ever ridden on it?" said Peggy. "Yes, often and often," said Ursula, with, a smile, "and you've always enjoyed youp- se lf." "I expect it's very expensive," remarked5 Christopher. "So," said Ursula, "that's the best of it. You don't have to pay anything for a ride- on my kind of horse, except sometimes you- have to give it "What?" asked Peggy and Christopher and Humfrey together. "A kiss!" said Ursula. "Now do yatf know?" The other three looked at each other. "Why, it's— "I know; it. "Of course, t' I)EDddy!" said Ursula. "Quite rightt Don't you agree with me f' I ELSIE AND THE FAIRY. Elsie was very sad, There was a large pile of wool in front of her, all in a tangle, and she did not know how she was ever going to get it straight. Puss had done the mischief, but it was really Elsie's fault, for &ho ought not to have left the wool out on tHe grass where Puss oould get at it. And now she had to get it straight before she could go out to play. "I can't do it!" she said at last. "Pooh, pooh!" said a funny kindly little voice, "I don't know such a word as tliat r' EWe looked up and saw a tiny little lady standing on the table in front of her. "Who are you?" she asked. "I am the Fairy Try," said the little creature. "I have oome to holp you." So saying, she waved her wand three timed over the wool and then said, {I Now gin Elsie the wool and then -:a i d, .L began, and somehow it seemed quite easy now; the knots came out, and in a very short time all the tangles had gone, and the wool was wound into a neat ball. "Thank you," said Elsie, looking up again, but the little lady had gone. I* was very queer, because ?l. ib did not pe* her go, and the- door had been shut all the time. I BABY'S DAY. Up in the morning so early. There is such a lot to be done, He shouts to his nurse to come dress hini4 Then Baby's day's work has begun. Breakfast is eaten up quickly, Bre-.ikfast is eaten muusp t ave a fair h are Then Kitturoa must have a fair share;. And baby trots off to the kitchen To see what is doing in there. He runs in and out of the garden, He helps in the 8tables and farm, He goes out with mother a-chopping. To see that she comes to no harm. Then off the must run to fetch Mary, Who goes to the school down the lane; He and Nurse bring her back home in safety,. Then Baby is busy agwin. The chickens are fed (that's with Robin), Then towers and castles arc made, And Baby must knock them all over- It's very hard work, I'm afraid. At last Baby's eyelids grow heavy, He blinks at the red setting sun, Jut a yawn—and a si?h—he's asleep now- ) And Baby's hard day's work is done. I THE HOLE IN THE PALINGS. "And whatever you do, don't go near the palings," said Mrs. Rabbit. "Don't ask me why, but run along and do as you are told Longears and Stumpytail run off and went along the path quite quietly for some time. They were going on an errand for their father and mother with some choioe let- tuces for old Mrs. Greyfur, who lived in the next warren. Presently Longears said, "I wonder why we mustn't go near those palings?" "So do I! said Stumpytail. I think It's: rather too bad not to tell us why "Yes, we're old enough to take care of ourselves," said Longears. bet'.s go and see what they look like,, shall we?' said Stumpytail. "Yes," answered Longears. "We needn't go through them or very near them." So the two foolish little rabbits drew near to the palings, and after a little while Long- ears found a hole in them and put his head: through; and then Stumpytail came and wanted to look, and it ended by their both hopping through the palings on to the other side. They had not been there many minutes before they heard a funny noise, and suddenly there came a troop of little foxes, who were just going home froai school. Longears and Stumpytail bolted as fast aa they could, and Lon gears only just got through the hole in time, and they both ran on to Mrs. Greyfur's without stopping. When they got thly toid their mother, who scolded them well, and told them they were little rabbis. And go they were, weren't they? I REBEKAIL Rebekah was the name of a young girl who lived a long, long time ago away in a far country. One day she went down to thq well to draw acme water, and she saw thero a strange man who had evidently just com. for his camels were resting by him, tire? after 'a long journey. The strange man looked very hard at Rebekah; then he asked her if she would give him somo water from the well. Rebekah said that she wouldt fladly, and would also give hia camels a. drink of fresh water, too. Then the man asked her who she was,- and if he could find lodging for the night; and Rebekah told him all that ho wanted to know, and the man went in and spoke to her father. Presently Rebekah was sent for, and then it seemed that the stranger wanted her to go back with him to be a wife to his master, Isaac. And he brought out gold.; and silver, jewels and fine clothes, and pro- mised her that she should be very happy if she went with him and became Isaac's wife. So Rebekah said, "I will go." And she set out with the strange man, and after a; long journey they came to Isaac's home, and there she was married to Isaac and lived very happily with him. They had two sons, called Esau and Jacob, and I expect yoUn have heard all about them already.

FISH SAUSAGES. The "kamaboko or "fish sausage" of the Japanese is described by a consular report as made by chopping the whito meat of any fish, passing through a colander, and making it into a paste, with a flavouring of sugar, salt, and a alcoholic beverage called "mirin." The paste is made into loaves, steamed on boards an hour and a half to three hours, and at once packed in cans.

Dog flesh is being sold in Chemnitz, Barony" at 3o 9d. per pound. Columbia University lias conferred th- degree of LL.D. on the Archbishop of York- Colonel Cole Hamilton, of the Irish Rifloo. and chief constable of Breoonahiro. is a pri- 60&QT of WAV at Karlsruhe.

OUR LONDON LETTER. 1 [Frowa sisr Special Correspondent.] I Lord Mihrer is like the late Lord Roberta ill this: he does not advertise. He seldom al-a in the Hocse of Lords, and makes very rare Qpponreav5cs on the public pla.t. taint. Of the mwabsra of the War Cabinet he has been leest in th-e public eye. But to be in the public eye is not everything, and it iw not necessarily a qualification for place and power in these troublous times. It by no means fotkxwe because Lord Milner's cdUeagues in the War Cabinet have been Ctore often in evidence, that the part played by them in affstirs is more important. Not I at all. It ma y safely be said that, leaving the Prime Minister cut of account, Lord Milner hafi been by far the most powerful personality in the Government. His transfer to the War Office means that he will no longer be a member of the War Cabinet, and will only attend its meetings when they are concerned with military matters. At present, however, and probably for some time to come, military matters are likely to bulk pretty largely in the business of the War Cabinet. Mr. A ia-ten Chamberlain is appointed to the War Cabinet, as successor, not to Lord Milner but Sir Edward Carson, whose place bad not been filled since his resignation some months back. Mr. Chamberlain has not had to wait long before being given "another chance/' The "public indigna- tien" which a eeotion of the Press tried Itard to woek tip against the appointment on the ground of the Mesopotamia disclosures failed to materialise. So far as can be dis- covered, the indication existed only in the ediuians of the paper concerned. Though Mr. Chamberlain was Secretary for India at the time and the Minister officially re- sponsible for the Mesopotamia campaign, -everybody knows that he was only respon- sible in a technical sense. He took the honourable course of resigning, though tho Prime Minister and two ex-Prime Ministers declared that nothing in the report rendered eueh action on his part either necessary or advisable. Mr. Chamberlain, however, took the chivalrous view that the Minister in London ought to bear his share of the blame ad well as the men on the spot. It was a step that raised him .to a higher place in public esteem. What gives his inclusion ia the War Cabinet piquant interest is the fact that Mr. Lloyd George has done this thing, although Lord Northcliffe had allowed it to be clearly seem that he would be very angry indeed if it were done. When the entertainment tax was first im- posed, we heard a great deal about the difficulty there would be in collecting it, and the disastrous effect it would certainly have tlpen the theatres and music-halls. I should imagine, however, that' it has been one of the easiest of all taxes to collect, and cer- tainly it has not aaused people to give up the theatre-going habit. The theatre managers, following the good old rule of making the consumer pay, promptly un- loaded the tax upon the public, and the public pays very cheerfully. Railway-travel- ling, smoking, and theatre-going are three things which seem to be almost unaffected by being made more expensive. Moonlight nights and fine weather undoubtedly afiect the evening attendance at the theatres, but we have not had either latolv, and the play- houses have benefited accordingly. This is true not only of the West-End, but also of the suburban houses, and no doubt the latter draw many people who shrink from the discomforts of a train journey late a-t night in these times. Matinees at the West-End theatres are, of course, more popular than ever, and if the play is making any noise at all in the world it is not of much use to go to the box-office half-an-hour before the show btgins. A good many thousands of City workers figly approve of the Food Ministry's inten- tion, as declared by Mr. Clynos, to deal with the restaurant profiteer. Much has been written of the exorbitant prices charged in the West End for very small meals, but most of the customers there can probably afford to pay. In the City, however, circum- stances are different, and it is a shame that profiteering in food should be carried out at the expense of women and girl-typists, clerks, and other workers. Mr. dynes eava the Government has received complaints of tlfe high prices charged in oafes and restau- rants to which not merely the upper classes but the working classes had to resort. It wil be the business of the Ministry to see that only a fair profit for work done, a fair wage for service rendered, is realised in food as in any other industry. To a multitude of workers who eat their tohch in City teashops it will be very agree- able to eee the Food Ministry setting about that business at the earliest possible moment. A beginning might very well be mdde with bread. Only two ounces of bread may be setyed to any customer at lunch in fcttese shops. From inquiries made by one customer the other day it appeared that the regulation weight was arrived at by the simple method of cutting a two-pound loaf into sixteen pieoes. Sixteen pieces at a penny each works out at one-and-fourpenoe, and two-pound loaves are fourpence-half- penny each. The Ministry might very well also consider the question of eggs, which in some form or other play an important part in luncheons nowadays. Eggs, I believe, have been cheaper lately, but not in the City teashops. They are still at the same figure as in the depth of the winter. I think, when the Food Ministry really goes into these ocrtters, it wrll be found that the teaahop people are making an unfair profit out of bread and eggs and many other things. Th6 land girls made a capital show in the procession on Saturday. They had a re- cruiting march from the Food Production Department in Victoria-street to Hyde Park. They certainly looked well and happy pcwugh to attract other girls to take up a life on the land. Perhaps most attractive of all was the forestry eoction. The fores. teM" wore pretty green bonnets, and they carried the axe, the m-c-iisuring stick, and the cross-cut saw. The farm girls carried implements of their trade, and one of them had in her arms a duck wliicli by means of a card tied round its uc-Ci quacked its own p-miacs and bragged of the number of eggs it had contributed to the nation i food supply. In the Park thero was quite a little agricultural show. Recruiting speeches were made, and one of the speakers, turning t- advantage what has long been supposed a weakness of her sex, used clothes as a bait. "You'll get two beautiful smocks like this," .she said, "and breeches, and leggings, and degJl" and a mackintosh." A. E. M.