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OUR SHORT STORY.I
OUR SHORT STORY. I t, MEADOW SWEET. By ARNOLD FREEMAN- I "I say, old man, who's the girl?" "What girl? About a score of them there, I should think." "Score be hanged? Man, open your eyes." Jack Blay's tone was impatient. "Fix your lamps on the girl in the middle—next the fellow with a slung arm—then you won't ask such a balmy question I" Oh, you mean Miss Sheldon ?" said the other, looking rather self-conscious. "She's staying with lIn. Rea. I think the old lady's her aunt. Comes from somewhere in York- shire." "Don't blush," said Jack chaffingly. "You give yourself away. Who's the chap she's with?" "Ask me another. Cracks to have been -out in France. Fought in every engagement trom Mpns to the Somme, if he's to be believed. His left arm's useless now-that's why he carries it in a sling. All the girls are gone on him, of c-ourse. That goes with- out saying; but he d<;eMi't ring true." "Mies Sheldon gone on him also?" "Well, I won't say that. I don't quite know how the wind sits in that qu_ arter," said Burton doubtfully. "He's cut us all out. He's always dancing attendance on her. No oae else gets a look in. but sometimes she smiles on him, and sometimes she snubs him unmercifully. I suppose that's only a woman's way." "Thanks muchlv. old man. Awfully sorry "for you aR' all that rot, but let's see what you c.m do iu the introducing line. What's her front name, by the way?" "Her aunt calls her Annie,' I think." "Thought so. I saw -her going down the road this morning 3,; I came from the station, and—but get busy I've only a fort- night's leave. YLi.' tilav. mind you." And niar Jack Blay, D.S.O., M.C., took the arm of his chum, Harold Burton, and qiuet.lv propelled hiri towards the golf club- house on the veranda of which a number of, young ladies were- talking animatedly, as is -the way of woman. The girl whose lovely face had attracted the gatiant major's attention was seated opposite the top -,of the three steps which led ap to the veranda, so that the two were able to approach her without having to run the gauntlet of the others. Her cavalier 'was a tail, dark, good-looking fellow, whose left arm was in a blaak silk sling, which showed lip effectively the whiteness of the hand and tho huge diamond which blazed on the middle linger. "Another victim for you, :Mis:3 Sheldon," scried Burton merrily as they mounted the jsteps. "My; friend Blay here says that if I don't introduce him he'll put me through my monkey motions-—don't know what he means, but it sounds bad." "A bit of Swedish would do you good— you're getting too many curves," retorted the girl as she gave' Blay her hand, "You know, Xies Sheldon, I saw. you. as 1 came up from the station. That's why i hauled Ted across to you as soon as I spotted you," said Blay, looking at the little hand which lay like a white g Rower in his great fist. He did not attempt to meet her. eyes. "I saw you atao," said the girl frankly; "though I didn't expect to see you agin so i 4wen "I always was a lucky chap," said Blav Ifallanilv. "A brave man also, when you could face eo many girls as there are here." "Oh, it takes a lot of girls to upset me. Used to 'c-m, v'know. Let me see—how many sisters have I got, Ted?" "Dunno. Haven't a scoring book, an' don't keep a diary. You'd about ten when we left Oxford." "Ten sinters!" exclaimed the girl incredu- lously. "Well, I suppose I might call them -sisters," said Jack with a grin. •They all promised to be sisters to me." "I suppose that is a joke—or you were an awful tlirt." "I'tn quite serious, an' I was not a flirt, Tionour bright! But ealf love's an infectious disease, an' I was always willing to ri-k in- fection in those days," said Blay gravely, though his grey eyes were twinkling. "In those days? I suppose you are im- mune now ? But I forgot. Have you met Captain Feart?" She turned to the latter, -who had been sulkiiy twirling his moustache in the background. "This is Mr. may, Captain. A friend of Mr. Burton's." "Captain Ft-art," repeated' Blay, a pecu- liar expression appearing for a moment in tis eves. "What's your mob?" "The -hire3," replied the other, rather -unfraciously. "Are you in the Army r ito slowly, as though he searched each word for a superfluous aspirate before allow. ing it to pass his lips. "You needn't ask that. It's obvious," in- terposed the girl. "Well, I had a few months with the Terriers, and they straightened me up a bit," admitted Jack. "The Terriers," said Feart, and there was a hint of relief in his tone. "Still," he went on, rather sneericgly. "one would have thought that a chap like you-" "So long as the authorities are willing to allow me to stay in England, I've no kick," retorted Jack. He turned to the girl. "You might show me round the links, Miss Shel- don. See you later, Ted." With a nod to- the captain he walked -<oollv down the steps, Miss Sheldon by his -side. He evidently meant to take her by storm. "By'gad! he always took the biscuit for ,cold, compressed cheek!" gasped Burton. < "But that's the limit. I remcmbN-" But < the captain, an ugiy scowl on his face. -had stalked off. The next day. Blay, after consulting an Army list, seut off a wire before accompainy- ino- his chum to the links. When they arrived there Feart was just commencing a round with Miss Sheldon. He nodded to Blav, a look of unconcealed triumph in his eyes. Jack ignored him, merely lifting his cap to the girl. "Why did you c-,tlb the-chapf" asked Bur- ton as they entered the club-house. "I've'no desire to know the bounder." wa;3 the curt answer. "Jealous, eh, already?" suggested Ted slyly- The other did not answer. He eat smoking moodily until the- pair had finished the round. Then, still ignoring her companion, he calmly took possession of the girl; iina though Feart seemed angry at what lie evi- ° dentlv considered the major's presumption-, something in the latter's manner warned him off. He contented himself with vague mutterings over some whisny in the smoke- room. All that week Blay carried matters with a high hand. He took possession of the girt, whenever she appeared as though he had the right ,and she seemed quite satisfied with the arrangement. Before the week was out there was a new light in her eyes, which en- nand her beauty. On the Saturday Blay and his chum went up in the morning.' The links were appa- rently deserted, and the two chums were- passing a narrow dene just past the third assin g a narro,,v de, hole when Miss Sheldon appeared suddenly round the bend. She was agitated, her face white, her shoulders heaving. Blav hurried to meet her. "What's the matter?" he asked, his voice full of tender concern. "Take me home, Jack. I-I-don't feel -well," che faltered. He tucked her arm under his 2nd they went off together, "Jack" he repeated. "By Jove, thinge are moving!" 0 Then a sudden thought struck him, and lie hurried down tlife dene and round the bend, just in time to see, disappearing over the brow of the frill, a figure he knew well— that of Captain Peart. "I thought ,so, hanged if I didn't," he muttered. "I'll bet it was thht "beggar who upset the girl, blight him!" 00 "Just what I thought," said Jack, when Burton mentioned his suspicions. to him that night. "She 'wouldn't say what had hap- pened just said that she was ill but I could see she'd been fright- I ened. I'll settle that bounder's hash darned quick "Are you going to spend all your leave on the links-" asked Ted on the Monday, when Blav proposed the usual expedition. "If n«ct\ssary," said Jack grimly. "I've had a purpose in VH?W all along. I've not been going for the fun of the thing, what- ever you may think." There was quite a crowd present -when they reached the club-house, but the gallant eaj tain was not on the veranda. "See if he's inside, will you, old man?" ke dJack. 3,s "He's having a whisky in the smoke- room," reported Ted on his return. "Looks blessed sulky too." "He'll look snlkier before I'm through with him. Would you mind doing me a favour, old man? :ot a pleasant job, but I want to stay here and keep an eye on our friend inside." "Certainly. Spit it out! I'm game far any bloomin' thing." "Thanks. I want you to meet the London train that gets in at three-twenty. A woman will get off and wait under the clock for someone to fetch her. Her name's Binks— not very euphonious, but you must make the best of it. I want you to bring her right lit) to the clubhouse, and then send in for Captain Feart. I'l be on hand. No i —na questions. I'll explain tater." Burtsn carried out his instructions. Feart, on receiving the message, strode out on to tb-p veranda, to find himself fr.ee to face with Burt-on and a stout, overdressed woman of uncertain age. "Here you arc. Captain! This lady wants you," sang out Burton. lie wont slowly towards then-, his eyes almost starting from his bead, his iace green, beads of perspiration on his foreh^ ead. "1 suppose I've to thank you for this-" he said to Burton with a t-uarl. "o thanks required, old man," said Ted 1\miauJy, "I'm quite -in the dark myself, give you my word!" "I'm the person to thank if Jóu're in the mood for thanksgiving," interposed Biay. MoO.Cl for trliatik,ivin. inlvw I've sta,,c-inana-ed comcd y for vGLlr You you ■" buttered the captain. Quite so, quite so," said may sootfnn.gly. "Crlm down, mv dear fellow. I should -hate to have to kick you off the ground- md ladies present. Of course, there's always the police," he went on reflectively. "Façt is, vou re bunkered, old inait. I vou told me that you were Captain Feart, iand told me'the name of your moh, your wine was up. though you didnt know it, did you? Your Captain Feart happens to bo i a friend o' mine. See? I knew that he was in hospital. I just wired to London for a few discreet inquiries" to "be' made, and 1 soon found that vou were the valet, and tuat vou, along with your wife there, had been ieit in charge of the house. Isn t that so" l Mrs. Binks?" YeB.Sl, but "Just one moment, Mrs. Binks. I guer-scd- "Ju st o- ie inoinert -I l I 'that when your husband-he's net looking vfCY cheerful now, is he?—heard that his master was in hospital he decided to have a holiday in his master's clothes, with his master's jewellery and cash. So, of coiuse, I let vau know the game he was p.ayiflg. The gallant captain-could not speak, His head hung down. He seemed to be on the verge of a collapse. His wife stepped into the breach. "Don't be too hard on Halfred, si. r, „ she said pleadinglv. He allua ? wanted to be a ?entlema?. "H?'s bin a good husband to mc but 'c'a young, M' must 'ave his fiin, me i)-Lit 'C';s Toil._ul an' w. ",st 'ave' his fling. An' it's all rigi'lt, ii?out tbe master .s dotncs. He brought 'em to look after cm— an' who should look ?ftsr 'em but him" "Who, indeed' said Jack gently. Id W ho, take vour husband heme, if I were you- and watch him." He shook lfands with tho woman, and the pair went slowly away After they had gone Miss .SheMou v. put- up to Blay, who was standing .olj?ne, deep in ,i y thought. Don't you think it was rather cruel, she, said in a paired voice:—" the public humilia- tion not only to them, but to us who ac- cepted him at his fr.ee value, and have been friendiv with him?" "Perhans so," .said Jack, in a lifeless voice. "And Fm afraid that -I must be-still more cruel. Will He offered his arm, aud tfto-ether they went towards the dene. When quite out of sigbc of the gaping crowd he turned and faced her. His face looked drawn, hi& jaw set. "Now, Miss Sheldon. I didnt tell you, when first I met you, that you were not a strapger to me. That I was familiar with your race th. t your name I had keard a hundred times that though I had never met you before, I recognised "You knew me?" she said, a puxzled Iciok on her face. "Are you not mistaken?" "Would to God I were but I'm not. I thought that your face was familiar to me when I saw you the first time in the street. I was not surprised when Ted introduced you as Miss Sheldon; when he told me that you came from Yorkshire; that your name was Annie. I am Major Blay, of the-— Light Infantry." "Major Blay!" exdaim. the' girl Of course, I've heard Rafe speak oi y^u, but whv do you look At me like that? What is the matter?" "I thought you would know me," went on Blay. "Rafe Weston is in my battalion is my chum has been for years. Every dug-out, every billet we occupicd, the photo- gr:1ph of a girl held the place of honour. He almost' said his prayers to that photograph. I saw it often, so it isn t- surprising that I recognised you that I wanted to be introduced to you. I wanted to talk to you of Rafe, so that I might-tell him of you when I got back. And I saw you "apparently free, enjoying yoursedf as though you had no lover in France thinking of you day and night. I paid attention to you because, seeing what rou were. I wished to teach you a lesson. I've been playing with edged tools," he went on with a .twisted smile, "and I've cut myself pretty badly. With the knowledge that I had I thought myself safe, However, I'm going back. I shall let Rafe live on in his fools' paradise. One hasn't a lease of life out there. If he haa to t go, it .is better that he should go happily, iu Y011. 31 believing in you." When he had finished there was a smile on her lip. "Are you f$ur Rafe haa my photograph; she qked softly. "Don't!" he said wearily. "I .will/ shfe persisted. "He hasn't my photograph. My sister Nance is en- gaged to him. I rather thi, nk the photograph would be of her." "Nance!" cried Blay. "That is the name. What a blinded fool J.'v% been And I thought that you were playing ftand loose with him. Annie—Annie—can you for- give  There waa a great light in her eyes as she smiled up at h'm. and in the narrow dene, the air love-spiced with scent of meadow sweet. with her" warm young body Ipre-,?,ed c1o and her lips to hi?—he was forgiven.
IN THE POULTRY YAR3. I
IN THE POULTRY YAR3. I  ',I Bt COCKCROW. 1 FOWLS ON ALLOTMENTS. There, has bC<:l1 issued b the Board of There has been issued by the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries ,? !eaSet deali&? with the keeping of poultry on allotments and garden plots. It is a leaflet full of good and practical' advice, special emphasis beiiig laid on the fact that by proper management of their poultry allotment holders and others may increase the country's food productioh with b. nefit and profit to themselves and ° advantage to the nation. According to the leaflet (and the leaflet is correct), there are many people who could .keep a few fowls for the production of eggs who do not. By feeding the birds on surplus garden pro- duco and scraps of "waste food from their own and neighbau-zs "kite b-n, the bills for I poultry food can be very considerably re- duced. With proper housing and syste- matic management, laying hens give a re- turn that is quite profitable for the cost of their keep and the small amount of time and attention which they need. Notes of.-& general character are given in the leaflet, and appended arc v. hat 1 consider to be the chief points set out. At the ^present time poultry keepers cam. best serve the national intere.st by produce I KEEP FOR EGGS. Jng cggB rather than poultry b for table purposes. There are. two reasons: because the shortage is being more keenly felt in regard to eggs j than -table fowls, a¡ the country is much, more dependent upon imported eggs thSii upon imported pouitry; and (b) bccause foodstuffs can be employed to greater ad-, vantage in the production of human food in other directions than in rearing purely table poultry. If you wish to obtain the maxi- mum number of eggs from your birds, do not keep them beyond the end of their second laying season. It is far better to replace the stock every other season than to mix hens and pullets, this practice often proving more economical than -securing fr-esh. pullets each year. Only hens which have aid well as pullets should be used for breeding purposes. It is even more im- portant to use a cock from a good laying strain. Eggs for hatching should always be from well-matured stock at liberty or in. very large rung.. Where only about half-a-dozen fowls arc I kept it is unnecessary to have a male bird. ?l" I V ALUhBLE I ADVICE. You can get better stock ut a cheaper rate by purchas- ing sittings each year from- a reliable breeder, than by ?? 1_ -I Gsuicr Home-produced eggs. mrauug should not be later than March for the heavier and April for the lighter breeds. Whether chickens arc reared naturally ox arti6cially, always Ixar in mind the fact, ,irtif ic i fa ??, l?, ground if! essential to them. Keesp them apart from the older birds, or thcv will be liablo to disease, or fail to male satisfactory growth. It is more .advan- tageous to purchase pullets in. the autn, than it is to attempt to rear them vyfyen the ground you have available is limited. Cockerels that are not required for breeding should be sold as soon after their sex is distinguishable as possible.) Old hens and superfluous cocks should also be sold. Ihere will then be more room for the stock that. you wish to keep for egg purposes; and the food bilt will be reduced. Take care not to overstock the ground available for t-«es4 purposes. f i Dealing with the "fading of the buds, the leaflet says that plenty c'f green food that I THE FEEDING QUESTION. is perfectly fresh, shea ana grit; have a great effect in increasing egg produc- tion. Unless the green food is chopped into very small pieces it is best I suspended from the roof of the run to en- enable the birds to. peck pieces cff, more readily; stale stumps and ieavcs -should not I be allowed to lie a?ut. Odd s(,Tap of flesh or fish, c.g' rabbit ottal or 6sh ?kiii?, are valuable food for poultry, and should be J saved and given after cooking; there is little fear of over feeding an active type of I fowl if the food given is of a correct nature b. rnt the bird's requirements. You are reminded that- under Orders inade by the Ministry of Food the, Lise of wheat, rye, barley, rice, and dredge corn which is fit for the manufacturing into flour for human consumption is prohibited for the feeding of poultry and Those who kill off their cockerels for the table, as many d6, would dot well t' remem- COCKERELS FOR KILLING. her that, as a rute, 116 iti I difficuft to get birds, into fit condition for killing while the feathers are grow- in f. If one -can catch the I birds when little more than throe moncns old, before the first lot of adult feathers have com me need to grow, one will usually find them. in nice plump condition (6Y8 "Farm Life"), though they may still be small; but a iittlc later, when the leatiter.,3 are growing fast, they will go off in condi- tion, and will not bea,gain fit for killing until they are well feathered. Besides iho question of condition, one must also re- member the difficulty in plucking a .chicken that-is full of pin-feathers half an inch long. The Journal of the Board «pf Agriculture contains an article on "Acorns 26 Food fbr i I ACORNS FCR POULTRY. Poultry." The. article in question gives a. suggestion which is viell ,Ql,th con- sidering, and therefore I quote for you the most important part ct the article. "There is no apparent r$a>bn to suppose that acorns, afterproper, drying, contain any substance harmftu ■ to paultry. Dried acorn kernels can ■ be fed. to poultry up tb 2oz. per bird per day without injuri- ous results, pnovidöd the remainder of the 1 ration is' properly balanced. Acorns possess considerable, feeding value, comparable with a naixture of Woat- and maize. It-appears. quite possible that grain can be completely replaced- by acorns in the feeding of poultry for egg production, provided that the slight deficiency in protein is Aade up in the- re- mainder of the ration. I ANSWER TO CblziiEgl?t)N,I)tNT. A. R. R.FT-Poultry-farming is an industry that has suffered a, great dfeal 5ince the war began. In my opinion it has nevfer received the official encouragement it deserves, but the powers-that-be do at last seeni to be taking the fatter in ;han4- One fctvep is the ration system of foodstuffs for birds; it shows that at least they are aroused. You aslcTae. to be candid with. you. My advice, therefoic, to you is don't start poultry- farming on a big scale just now. Wait until the war is at an end, and then start. If I were you I would seck employment on a well-knowil pr>ujtry-farm—one that is already established. You will get to know how to manage the birds, and also learn a good deal about the business. The struggle to build a business now would be a very hard one.
I 'OtHE!M:EN'S MINDS. I
I 'OtHE!M:EN'S MINDS. I —— o This war is .probably the most valuable and most costly education the nations have ever had.—How. RAYMOND STEVENS, U.S.A. I WHAT WE HAVE DONE. I We-have done a great deal. It is well that everybody- should know, that even oui enemies should know how much we hav( conG.-LORD R. CECIL. A NATION OF WORKERS. I Almost without exception the nation is at I work. There are hardly any idle rich.*— LORD BUUXKAM. THE LIFE OF MACHINERY. The Germans scrap their factories evers five years, 'but ours" are supposed to last tifteen or twenty, ye&rs.—MB. J. L: F. VUGRL. I ON THE SIDE OF CANADA. I If ever the time eame when there would tw fepHng between this country and Canada, I am not quite sure that my sympathy ,"?ou l d iaot W  k E  BONAR ?vouM aot be with Canada.—Mn. BONAB LAW. • 1 THE ARMY AT HOME. I The army of labourers at home is as im- portant, as efesential, as the army of fighting men in the far fields of the actual battle.- PBESIDENT WILSOX A OHANCE FOR COMMO SENSE. 1 < When eminent lawyers differ, the only I thing to do is to use -common cerse.-TORD tALISBURY. I THE BEAUTY OF UTILITY. I In these days I see more beauty in a 1 I potato than in a' pansy.-SIR. CHARLES I THE LONG ROAD. I There is a long road still to 1>0 travclIed, and the same qualities which have been •shown by all-parts of the Empire have got to be shown to the end if we are to get out of this struggle what we meant when we en- tered into it.—MR. BONAR LAW. THE DIFFICULT LIFE. j It is. much harder to be a nice mother-in- law than to be nice in any other conceivable relation of life.ATR. G. K. CHESTERTON. '0 -S I KEY TO RECONSTRUCTION. j Thorough education offers t.he only chance I of recovering from the terrible "experience of the past lour years.—LQRD LXTTON. A CHANGE OF HEART. 1 T&e destruction of the German pople by I Iniiitary means is out of the question. It, is a change in the heart of the German people I we desire."—LORD BUCKMASTEH. THE END OF WAR. j Labour declares that, whoever wins, the I people will have lost" unless the struggle j ends in the abolition of. all war and the j establishment of an international system to I supersede the present -system based on | brute force.—MR. A. HEXDEUSON, M.P. J THE BRITISH SPIRIT. I I take back with me to South Africa a deep itid enduring impression of great power, devoted uuMmittiugly to the promo- Uon of a great ideal. Nothing in the whole of my stay has struck me more forcibly than the quiet, matter-of-fact, and, at the sam time, absolutely resolute spirit of the people of this' country with respect to the war.- HON. HEXBT BERTON. BLOOD AND BRAIN. I The nation is spending in this great con- flict, not only its blood, but its brain, .and the latter can only be replaiced much more slowly ,than the former.—PHOITSSSOB. J. A. LINDSAY. FAIR PLAY FOR LABOUR. j There is no doubt that Labour ■ is sus- picious and fearful that the organisation of the country for war is going to be used in the interests of Capital, but I heartily believe that its suspicious are not justified, for I seem to feel that there is a growing determination on the part of nearly the whole country to see that .Labour be no longer exploited, but that- our country shall really become a. country of free. opportunity for all its inhabitants, and in particular that the interests of rural England and of the agricultural labourer shall again have fair V ay.-BIS-HOP OF OXFORD. THE CIVILIAN OFFENSIVE. I Nothing is. more. offensive than the way | in -which some civilians beneath the security I of their own homes denounce the suggestion I that the daughter of other people should |j speedily ecuse.REV. BERNABD KEYWOOD. J I SO Tlltl l,E I I I 1 We are fighting, a cruel and relentless enemy; aa? people in?Lv thitk t?cmse?cs lucky to .?ave sachs to RU liti- ?l any- ^filing.—MR. R. M £ AD. "AD. f,. THE GREATEST DANGER. J The greatest danger now confronting th< J I Allies, is that of an ill-considered pe-tce.- j SENATOR JA-UES HAMILTON -LE'lk'!S. 1 J t I ORGANISATION OF THE EMPIRE. Organisations is necessary for the purpose J "<4 defence of the Empjro, for the develop- "tuent of the' Empire against the competition which will arise after the ivar.MR. W. M. j ROCHES. j I i  ¡ NATIONALISATION OF MIXES. ? Miners are determined not to go bade tc the conditions that prevailed before the war, I and they look upon nationalisation of the noises as an essential step toward securing the conditions they desire. MK. J. ROBSON ¡ ',I I. FRANCE'S SACRIFICES. 1 i I In spite of the weight of her grief and the 1 appalling ° devastation she; ims suffered, I France, from the very beginning, has made j the greatest sacrifices in her econcic life.— 1 M. CLTMEXTEL.. j
CLUB WINDOW.,'
CLUB WINDOW. A few years a go .Mr. Handley-Page was a budding electrical engineer, and a roman- tic story might be told of the disappoint- merits he endured, and the many anxious hours he spent before ho Was able to turn out his remarkable bombing aeroplanes. Lord Beaverbrock is the sou of a minister, and spent his early days at a parsonage. The spuptural knowledge he gained there onoa proved useful. A colleague in his* City oflice was guttering from slight religious mania. One morning, the man suddenly -ap- peared at the door of Lord Beaverbrook's private sanctum, and, presenting a revolver, i bad& him go down, on his knees and sing .the Lcrd's prayer. Lord Beaverbrook thought it best to go through the performance. He did so without a tremor, an it was evi- dently too much for his audience-who fled. Before the war General Sir Archibald Hunter had a standing invitation to the Court at Berlin, through having once saved- the Kaieer from, a nasty accident. On the o.cca.sion of a visit to Lord Rosebery, the Kaiser had just taken- his seat in, a car- riage sent to meet him, when one- of the horses started to plunge. In another instant' the pair would have bolted, but like a flash Hunter sprang at the animal and nearly stun nod it with a smashing blow on the no?tril& » y* A good story is told concerning, tho driver of a seaside pleasure brake and Mr. Rudyard Kipling, what time the famous author had his home at Rottingdean, near Brighton. It appears that the driver, who was also land- lord of an inn, drove into and damaged a fence belonging to Mr. Kipling. The latter wrote the delinquent a letter of complaint,. which the recipient sold to one oi his cus- to-aers for ten shillings. Again the angry Útthor wrote, this time a more violent letter, which immediately fetched .El. A tew days later Tripling called on the landlord and' de- manded to know why he bad received no 'answer to his letters. YVhy, I was hoping you'd send me a fresh one every day. was the cool reply; "they pay a great deal better than brake driving."    Lieut.-General Sir J- Monash k:Jls a ,good story -of an Irishman named 0'Flana?a.n, who came home one night with' a deep band of. black crape around his hat. "Why, • Mike," exclaimed his wife, "what are you wearing that mournful thing for?" I'm wearing it for your first husband," replied Mike; "I'm sorry he's dead." Field-Marshal Sir Evelyn Wood, ib 'his day, was a brilliant soldier. He did .not look like a military genius when in civilian clothing. Once, when in mufti, he gently admenished a smart young private for' tfofc saluting him. "Why.do.a't you salute me, ?'; f the privtte yomtg m?u?" ?e.aafd, stopping the private in his swaggering stride. "Why? Because I don't know who you are, retorted the soldier promptly. "I'm Sir .Evelyn Wood." 'Yah!" retorted the-soldier. "If Sir-Evelyn eard you say tbatjr.'e'd punch your .ead!" «• Sir George Cave tells the following yarn regarding a namesake of Iiis-Cave-Broivme- Cave, who came into prominence some yeara ago as the "cowboy baronet." A Certain Mr. Home, addressing one of the American Cave-Browne-Caves, casually dropped two- tMrils of tlie name, "and up with the remark, "I -say, old thap^ don't call me caw- my name is Cavc-Browne- Cave." Mr. Home apologised, but did not forget. And a little later, when Mr. Cave- Browne-Cave began a rem.ark with I saju tiome-" the other said, "Don't call me Home, old chnp-I prefcr to be called Home- Sweet-Home." < < The Earl of Stair has made a witty im- promptu. It was his ancestor, the first Earl, who v/as maiutv responsible for the Massacre of G-lencoe, and in revenge an old flighland woman called down a fearful curse oiihs house, prophesying that the future holders of the tithe would die childless. And, as a matter of fact, the second, third, fourth, sixth, seventh, and eigthth earls did die without issue. A supustitious woman asked the present Lord Stair if this were tiue. i Quite true," he answered. "And do you attribute it to the Curse of Gli2neoe Possibly," was the guarded reply. I "Though as regards the third and sixth earls, at all events, there was what 11-the lawyers would' ,cml ct)ntribtitory !1egli- I genc,e "How so?" was "fche puzzied i inquiry. "Well, you see, neither of them got married." » Herbert Hoover, the Food Administrator of the United States, is a mau of character and energy. He began life as a mucker in the deep gold unties of the Grass Valley, in California. A "mucker" is the lowest grade of miner, and Hoover's pay was about eight shillings a day. But renting a cabin and cooking his own meals ho managed to save the bulk of his wages for college ex- penses. From one mise he was discharged .because of "alleged inconnjetenoy. • < A rather neat story is credited to Mr. W. J. 14ryaii the well-known American statesman. A man entered a clothing store, ostensibly to purchase a suit. He tried on a coat, and '.while the' proprietor's back was momentarily turned he made a dash for the door, and, "gaining the street, started to run- away with the stolen garmentv The pro- prietor rushed out, yelling "Stop thiaf!" and. took up the chase. A policeman sooll joined in and ordered the fleeing man to halt. As, however, the. thief kept on run- ning tHe policeman drew his pistol, where- upon the clothing dealer grabbed tho offi- cer's, arm and said: "Mr. Policeman, if you shoot, for goodness' sake shoot him in the pants; the coat belongs to me." a General Botha met the. late Lord Kitchener many times towards the conclu- sion .of the Boer War before a final agree- ment wa-s reached. At one of these fruit- less meetings' Botha caught Kitchener very prettily. As he rose to leave, with matters still unsettled, Kitchener observed, smil- mgly: no hurry. Y ou havent any train to catch." "That is just what I have," answered Botha. Kitchener recalled this remark next day when lie received a report that the Boers had carried'out a suc- cessful raid only. a few miles away, and had captured a. British armoured train on the Delagoa line.-
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The Director of the National Gallery an- nounces that it is proposed to build a gal- lery for modern foreign art behind the gallery at Millbank "as soon as circum- stances permit." The new gallery is an anonymous gift. "When the Milton Abbas (Dorset) voterec list came up for revision it was discovered tha.t a man whose house was on the border- line of two parishes slept with his head in on^ and his feet in the other. Beidis won- he will vote in that parish. William Anderson, eighteen, private in ,the Gordon Highlanders, Edinburgh, was found dead on Saturday morning outside one of the blocks at Hyderabad Barracks, Col- chester. A window near his cot was found open.
-! OUR LONDON LETTER. I-
OUR LONDON LETTER. I j [From Our Special Correspondent,J Whether there will be a general election this year is a question which may be more easily answered ,in 'a few days' time. These lines are being written before the Prime Minister has delivered his Lancashire speeches, in which, if the predictions of the prophets are fulfilled, he will have' given some indications of his intentions. In pre. paration foir the election, whenever it maj come, the National Liberal Federation has published a Manchester programme, consist* ing of resolutions to be submitted to a meet- ing towards the end of the month. The Labour Party has already announced what it stands for. It remains for the Coalition to say on what it is going to make, its appeal to the electors—if it contemplates such an appeal at present. Th-c 'Prime Minister. does not lack advisers, some of whom' would have the election run on the wer issue only, while -others insist that there must be declarations of policy on various questions. One of the Premier's Pres,s supporters foreshadows a "reginfe of constructive patriotism, social reconciliation, and bold organising progress." The balance-sheet of the National Restau. rant in New Bridge-street has attracted much attention. Probably a good many pecfpseV though recognising the need for such an establishment, had rather sympathised with the protest raised against it by private caterers. The ground of, the protest was that the National Restaurant represented unfair competition, and that' private traders could not stand against a lival subsidises by the Government. The balance-sheet puts a very different face on the matter. The National Restaurant is being run on the strictest business lines. 'Rent, interest, management expenses, depreciation at 10 per cent, per annum are all provided for, and there is a clear profit of over £ 70 a week. If this is maintained, and .there is every reason for confidence tlist it will be— the whole of the capital outlay will have been recouped in eighteen months' The average cost of meals served is sixpence- halfpenny, and. the profit works out at about a penny a meal. This is a most effec- tive answer to those who said Cu,.tt the restaurant cotild not possibly be profitably run with the low scale of charges. So far as the private' caterers are concerned, the in- ference to be drawn, from the balance-sheet seems to bo either that they have been doing some shameless profiteering, or that they need teaching how to manage their businesses. The National Restaurant has been a suc- cess from 'the 'first day of opening. During the time when luncheons are served there ia always a queue waiting. Many people who would like to sample for themselves the fare provided have never yet been able to do so, because they dislike the' idea of standing in a queue. The place is doiug so well that it Is to be extended, or a new "restaurant opened in the, vicinity. Four other National Restaurants are to be started, one of them in the neighbourhood of Oxford-Street. It _is_ understood • that in consequence of the very 'cudi" TAAFO-r-^G-C -OIA Govcyriiment (s considering a plan for settinglip .to'Wn oakeries. If such a plan is adpp?t Will (cea? a return to 'the d4vs bcf?-c "gas cookers were invented, when the local baker used to cook Sunday dinners for the-"whole district at twopence a time. Women, having now won the right to vote • in Parliamentary elections, how lorif wiir it be before they are able to sit in Parlia- ment themselves? I suppose the day is bound to come. We may have a Prime Ministress before lojtg. A number of ladiea have announced their intention of becoming candidates at the next election, but whether they will persist in the face of the statement that as the law now stands they are ineligible for Parliament remains to be seen. But the champions of the ladies tire determined to get them into Parliament, and the "Labour Party has a Bill ready to be brought for- ward at the first Opportunity. It is a Bill of one operative clause only, as follows: "A wom shall not bo disqualified by sex- er marriage for being elected to or voting in and shall for all purposes be deemed to be capable of being elect.ed to 'and voting in the CoTBinons House of Parliament." It has- been suggested that the Government may be persuftded too adopt this Bill or a similar one. We shall see. It would be curious if women Won their way into the "High Court of Parliament" while still striving vainly for admission to the Law Courts. | I am told that many, women have made good as commercial travellers. A gord pro- portion of those on the rc-ad are keeping their husbands' jobs for fhcrt,. 'Iti' many cases I am assured that they have done much better than their hus-band s did on 'the same ground. > This is. particularly the case I in the St. Paul's Churchyard class Qf traSe. which may be summed up in the words "women's wear." That women should be more successful than men in these lines does not seem surprising, but I understand that the explanation favoured in the City is that the ladies stick closer to business than the men and do not waste, so much time. I forcsec, possibilities of domestic friction after the war, when an employer says to his rcin- stated traveller: "Y our returns axe down again. Your wife did much better than this when she was doing your job." It was announced the other day that the price of meat is to be increased by two- pence a pound.. Against this the Consu- mers' Council has protested, urging that the State should take over all the products of the land, including' meat, wheat, and milk. The Trade Union Congress is also opposed to the increase in price. It passed a resolu- tion in favour of a subsidy as in the tase of bread. The idea is that meat prioea I ehould be fixed below cost and the deficit be made, up by the Treasury. That is what is already done in the case of bread. There were protests against the policy, but the price of bread wbuld have reached a pretty figure if it had not been adopted. The tax- payer pays in the end, of course; but he is paying so much moyvadays that he doeS not notice the bread bill, though it is estimated at forty millions ayear.. a:ndmay rise to fifty or sixty. It is this -uncertainty as tc what the exact figure of the bread subsidy may be that has led the Food Controller tc declare against a similar policy for meat. A. E. M. „
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The Islington Silver Badge Institute .have adopted Mr. Miles Taylor as a "non-party ex-Service" candidate at the GEeneral Elec- tion