Abergavenny Chronicle

WHERE THE AGED LIVE. Serbia, it is said, is the country of con- tenarians. One man in. every 2,260 has seen 100 years, and, in all, Serbia boasts 575 men of 100 years or over. Ireland ranks next, with one centenarian in every 8,130 of the population, OIl" 578 in 0.:11. Out of every 43,000 Spaniards one is a cantenjariaai. Nor- way numbers 23, or one in about 96,000. England, Scotland, a.nd Wales rank next with 182, or one in about 177,000. France has 213 oentcnairiaois, or one in 180,750. Sweden ramks seventh with 20 only, or one in 250,000. Germany has 78, or one in 702,000. Denmark only claims two, or lest th>a<n one to 1,000,000 of its papulation; and Switzerland, with all its reputed healthiness, seams not to possess a single centenarian.

France is to permit the import of German colouring matters free of duty. In memory of fallen comrades a wreath was placed on the cenotaph by the Home Secretary on behalf of the Federated Board delegates. Several collieries in Durham County are idle owing to the truck shortage. New Middlesex by-law stipulates that no child shall be employed on Sunday except as a chorister. Mr. J. C. R. Day, for 40 years inspector of schools, has been found dead on the G.W.R. near Worcester..

I OTHER MEN'S MINDS. I II State control has been disastrous to ees I men.—Mr. Havelock Wilson, M.P. I A DEFINITION. I I The fool 18 the man who understands I farming and nothing else.—Mr. S. F. Edge. I COMMERCIAL STUDY. I I Leaders of commerce should suggest lines  I of study to Universities.—Mr. C. R. Fay. I I A NEW MEDICAL SERVICE. I I I should like to oee a whole-time indus- I I trial medical service.-Profesoor C. S. Myers. I IDIOTIC WISDOM. I I An asylum is just the place whence one I would expect a defence of modern pugilism. I —Rev. A. T. Guttery. I SHIPPING BLOODSUCKERS. I I It is only State controi which has pre- vented the shipowners from sucking the life ( blood of the nation.—Mr. Tom Weaver. OUR GENERAL EFFICIENCY. We are passing from an age of individual efficiency, to one of collective efficiency. Colonel W. C. Blackett (Mining Engineers' president). GET IT SIGNED. 1 The great majority of the people of the United States desire to see the Peace Treaty ratified without any amendment whatever.— Judge Alton B. Parker. THE CHURCH'S XJMIT. The Church as an organised society really does not count in great affairs.-Bishop of London. BRIGHT FOR EVER. The victory in Palestine will shine with a lustre that will never be dimmed.—Mr. Churchill. THE PREMIER'S HOURS. We all belong to the working classes. I certainly claim to be a working-man, ex- cept that I have not secured an eight-hour day.—Mr. Lloyd George. [ LESSONS OF THE STRIKES. It will be a great misfortune if some of the great organisations established during the strike are allowed to lapse.—Sir D. Brooks. I WHAT THE NIGGER THINKS. I The yellow and brown men must look I upon our civilisation, with its wars and revolutions, as an accursed thing, rather I than a blessing.—Bishop of Exeter. I ONLY A MEANS, I Trade unionism is just a tnfiaM to an end.—Mr. J. H. Thomas, M.P. I THE BOER SAVIOUR. General Botha saved the future existence I of the Boer people at Vereoniging.-General Smuts. I CZERNIN'S JOEE. The German invasion of Belgium was the I greatest misfortune.—Count Czernin (former Hungarian Premier). r POWER OF LABOUR. By-election contests prove that Labour is no longer viewed as a freakish interference in national politics.—Mr. J. R. Clynes, M.P. t BUILDING QUIET. There are only about 2 per cent. of tn. I building trade unemployed to-day, and many of those are old and infirm.-Sit Kingeley Wood, M.P. I MAKING GOOD. The world has got to begin trading and working again if we are to make good the damage of the last five years.-Commander Kenworthy, M.P. I THE GLORIOUS MARNE. Many and great are the glories of France, but there is none to compare with the glory of the Marne.—Mr. Wallace (U.S. Ambas- sador to France). I ABOUT, TURN! If children are allowed to see Shakespeare properly acted there will soon grow up a generation who will find no amusement in the stuff that people nowadays think amusing.-Louis Calvert. 1- MONEY UNHEEDED. I There has always existed a small number of men among- scientists for whom wealtb has no attractions.—Professor Burstall (Bir- mingham). OUR EMPIRE LEAGUE. j I Whatever becomes of the other League of I Nations, the League of the British Empire will never perish.—Mr. Hughes (Australian Premier). I ITALY'S PART. Italy alone defeated Austria, as the Allied troopa on the Italian front were inferior in strength to those Italy maintained on other fronts.—Sigmor Nitti (Italian. Premier). I POLITICAL CHIEFS. I The old system of politician chiefs eeema I > have returned in full force.-Prof. A. Gray. I NOT FOR AUSTRALIA. If you want trade relation* with Germany you must get somebody else.—Mr, Hughes (Australian Premier). DIRECT ACTION. Direct action would paralyse industry and I affect the poorest people most of all.-Mr. J. R. Clynes, M.P. I OPEN TO ARGUMENT. I It would be black treachery to leave those who supported us in Russia to face enemies they have made for our sakes.—Col. John Ward, M.P. PRACTICAL EDUCATION. I The readiest means of saving the Empire from bankruptcy and dismemberment is to spread education of a modern and practical type, and to insist that constituencies ohall 'e represented by properly educated per- sons.Sir H. Johnston. GOVERNMENT BY CROWD. I The present-day development of govern, meant by the crowd is one of the gravest sources of danger.-Bishop of Frodsham.

For not paying agricultural workers the minimum wage, James Field, a farmer, was fined X20 at Alderehot, and ordered to pay arrears of wages amounting to about £30, Among nominations for the new industrial secretaryship of the N.U.R. are Mr. C. T. Cramp and Mr. J. Bellamy. Mdme. Landru is suing for divorce. Ickleford Manor, Ilitchin, has been burnt down. Peace Treaty comes into force on Jan. 1. U.S. miners have rejected owners' offer of 20 per cent. increase in wages. The strike at the big Paris shops, Louvre, Bon Marche, and Galeries Laaayette, is ended.

(ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.] THE LABOUR MOVEMENT. By FRED MADDISON. It will be interesting to see if the e. tremists will raise the same howl about the appointment of Mr. James O'Grady, M.P., to negotiate with the Bolshevist authorities for an exchange of prisoners as they did when he went to Petrograd some time ago. Probably not. They may, indeed, see in it something more than what appears on the surface. Put plainly, may not his mission really be to sound the Boshevists on the matter of terms for a settlement? The ways of this Government are so devious that this is by no means a far-fetched supposition. On the face of it, Mr. O'Grady does not appear to have any special qualifications for the particular duties ostensibly assigned to him. Lenin and his colleagues have not shown any signs of unwillingness to ex- change prisoners; it is surely rather the other way. But if they had, Mr. O'Grady, who is a strong opponent of Bolshevism, would not be able to make any special appeal to them. On the other hand, he might make a convenient medium between the Bolshevists and the British Government, his attitude to the former being useful to the Premier should he want to act on any communication he brought back. iCOTTON PBOFITS. The silence of the voluble Fcod Controller about the Profiteering Act tells its own tale. His speeches before the measure was intro- duced left the clear impression that he had no belief in it as a remedy for the evil it was supposed to deal with. Mr. McCurdy was left to look after the Bill, and he has done all the talking about this wonderful device to stop excessive prices. Now it seems that he has thrown overboard the local tribunals, part of the machinery of the Act. This, at any rate, is the impression he gave to Mr. Hyudman as a member of the Consumers' Council. Mr. McCurdy professes to be out for big game; he is always going to spring a surprise on us. Whilst he is keeping us waiting the workers read of nearly ° four millions of profits being made by a firm of ctou spinners, with a divi- dend at the rate of 40 per cent for last year. In addition to this, there are bonuses which benefit the shareholders enormously. These monopolists go on their way rejoicing whilst a, retailer is dragged before a tribunal and I made to refund a farthing as excess profit on a cotton reel—a real triumph of this Government of all the talents. I A. TRIBUTE TO LANCASHIRE. I Only a few days ago a well-known cotton 1 manufacturer confessed that in his trade profits were being made of which he was usiamed, and urged that they should get baek to the old ,pœitio when thev >ad to sll their goods on tlr m&rita. Now .w j have the testimony of Mr. John Taylor, who has just returned from attending the World Cotton Conference at New Orleans. His cheery awessage is: "We are miles ahead of them." This has reference to the Ameri- cans wh"), he declares, have the machinery, but not the workpeople. Though there are ,Yften highly-paid Lancashire men as Managers, the operatives are not so expert lip. those ia our milla and sheds, which he ittrfbutcs to their constant change of occu- pations. This is a wonderful tribute to the men and women in Lancashire. One of the romances of the British cotton trade is that we export finished goods to the United states, from which we have first to obtain ,he raw cotton. Mr. Taylor Bays that the Americans will take all the fancy coloured goods we can spare. So long as the Lanca- shire operative is not handicapped by tariffs his old supremacy is secure. I CHURCHILL-JOURNALIST. I The Labour Party may yet want Mr. Winston. Churchill as their first War Minis- ter, and the leaders of it may be quite cer- tain that he would be available if they came into power. In the meantime he is telling them things in his capacity of Sunday journalist. First of all, he lays down sound constitutional doctrine as regards the acces- sion to office of Mr. Arthur Henderson and his colleagues whenever they manage to 3ecure a majority at the polls. They will be pleased to hear that admirals, generals, diplomatists, civil servants, and the like, would have to serve their Government as any other. Well, they would carry the purse, and that means a good deal. Still, it is an advantage that the "classes" should be plainly told that it is a democratic country, and that they will have to put up with any Government which is returned. Mr. Churchill's conclusion is that a Labour Administration would begin as a trade union one and end pretty much as Keren- sky's Government did in Russia—destroyed by the wild men. These are usually in a minority, but they have a way of exerting more power than the majority. No one knows that better than Mr. Henderson. I RAILWAY STRIKE EXPENSES. I We are told that when the miners' repre- sentatives at the recent conference learned that the railwaymen spent no less a sum than X160,000 in propaganda during their nine days' strike they were startled at this figure. And well they might be. It opens up the question of the cost of a general stoppage not only in the direction just men- tioned, but in out-of-work pay in particular. The truth is that, like the Kaiser, the zealots for direct action" depend upon a short, sharp struggle for success. For it to be continued for a week even financial re- sources would become a serious matter. But, of course, they reckon on revolution as part of their plans. This is not so with the jniners, railwaymen, or any of the regular trade unionists. With them the ability of their funds to stand the strain of a protracted strike is an important factor. Though their power of resistance would be greater than its money measure, the latter cannot be ignored. These and like considera- tions surely point to the need of preventing such a disaster by rational methods—a duty which devolves on all sections to bring about. THE GENEVA CONFERENCE. I The rank and file of the trade unions have so completely allowed their affairs to get into the hands of a minority of Socialist politicians in the branches that it is well- nigh useless to call attention even to the most glaring anomaly. But what has hap- pened over what is called the Second Inter- national which is to be held at Geneva in February ought, at any rate, to be put on record. At this conference it is understood that one of the principal questions to be dis- cussed itS that cf responsibility for the war Now see who the delegates are. These are the names which have been announced. For the Labour Party: Mr. Henderson, Mr. Mac. Donald, Mr. Snowden, Mr. Cramp, Mr. R. Williams, Mr. Ben Turner, Mr. Ben Spoor, and Mr. Sidney Webb; for the I.L.P.: Mr. Philip Snowden, Mr. F. W, Jowett, Mr, Wallhead, Mr. Ben Riley, Mr. Arthur Pon, Bonby, and Mr. C. P. Trevelyan. With the exception of three at the most, every one oi these delegates were indentified with the section which was opposed to the national policy during the war, and what, perhaps, is more to the immediate point, to the resolu- tions passed by succesive Trade Union Con. gresses. With such a delegation, British trade unionists cannot be faithfully repre- sented at Geneva.

Great Eastern Railway Company is seek- ing powers to buy Felix Hotel, Felixstowe. Albert Hall Victory Ball on Armistice I night produced over 110,000 for the Council of Infant Welfare. The death occurred at Blackburn of Alfred Chirgwin, known as Little Chirgwin, a well-known clown in his day. A bronze tablet to the memory of Adam Smith, presented by Mr. William Black, of Chapel, has been unveiled at the site of his birthplace, Kirkcaldy, by Provost Kilgour. Kent County Council decided to raise a loan of &25,000 for the purposes of a scheme for the settlement of ex-service men on the land.

OUR LONDON LETTER: I I [From Our Special Correspondent I London. Recent decisions in America have caused a good deal of heart-searching amongst sup- porters of the League of Nations in this country and elsewhere. But it seems to me that those who despair of the League owing to the vote of the Senate do not understand the causes which brought it (the League of Nations) into existence. From one point of view the League is merely a political in- strument, and as such it can, of course, be marred or hampered by an adverse vote. But essentially the League is the expression of a great human need, and that need re- mains, and increases in proportion to the opposition which is encountered in meeting it through the League of Nations. Whether America joins the League or not—and there are still quite good grounds for believing she will—the necessity for it is as unchal- lengeable as ever. In the present almost des- perate economic situation in Europe, and in view of the great political confusion and in- dustrial unrest which exists, as well as in the interests of the new States which have been called into existence, international co- operation is an indispensable necessity, and the League of Nations affords the only hope of dealing with all these questions without creating lasting international discord. There ;an, therefore, be no doubt that Lord Robert Cecil was right when he said the )ther day that, whatever America decides to do, it will remain the duty of those nations who have given their adhesion to the -League to support it with increased and increasing resolution. THE FRENCH ELECTION. It has been rather amusing to note tne lomments on the results of the general elec- tion in France which have been made by those who are opposed to Coalition in this sountry. They acclaim the patriotic verdict of the French people as a thing for which jvery sane person should be thankful. But how can this acclamation be reconciled with the contention that here in Great Britain a similar unity and patriotism is a snare and a delusion? The French elections were not rushed; the poilus were demobilised, and voted as civilians. The French people had had a year to think over the condition of their country in its political aspect. In the result they have done pretty much what the. electors of this country did last December and it would be interesting to know why some people think that what is a tcuic for France is poison for ourselves. LABOVR Slj&CKMS^ There continues to be a good deal of criti- cism of the Labour members of Parliament for the ineffective figure which that party has cut in the deliberations of the House cf Commons, and because of the alleged, ttfia' indeed, notorious slackness of it^ members in debates concerned with La.boTti' interests. This is no new etorji 1 remember noticing during the war. when the House was in Committee on Bills promoted by the Ministry of Munitions 1." which Labour in- terest were wtr.l^y affected, that it was often possible to count on the fingers of one hand the Labour members who were in their places. In the current issue of the Labour Leader" a correspondent complains that only 39 out of 65 Labour members voted against the Government in a recent debate on a Capital Levy. It is stated that many Labour members are also trade union officials, and that the calls on their time in the latter capacity are responsible for their frequent absence from the House of Com- mons. One cannot help feeling some sym- pathy with the correspondent I have re- ferred to when he says that these gentlemen "ought to attend to their duties, or resign and go on with their trade union work," for which he thinks, some of them are far better fitted than for M.P.s. I believe a comparison of the attendances and votes of Labour men friendly to the Government with those of Labour men who are in oppo- sition would reveal a 'condition of things little calculated to impress the supporters nf the latter. MR. "PUSSYFOOT." Much regret has been expressed at the un- fortunate results of the rag of Mr. "Pussy- foot Johnson by London medical students. It is admitted that the latter were not re- sponsible for the assault which has placed the sight of one of Mr. Johnson's eyes in jeopardy. It is notorious, however, that on occasions of this kind the rag-tag and bob- tail of the town is apt to attach itself to the demonstrators, and what began as a more or less harmless joke may easily develop into serious disorder. In this case, the most notable result of a regrettable Ih. terference with the right of public meeting by the students will probably be the crea- tion of more sympathy than has previously existed with Mr. Johnson, and a greater dis- position to attend to the case propounded by him than has previously been mani- fested. There is no doubt that, whether Prohibition be good or bad, public opinion in this country is not ripe for it, and per- sonally I hope it will be a long time ripen- ing. One of the bishops has pointed out that Prohibition involves a wanton inter- ference with individual liberty, and, during the war, we have had perforce to put up with quite as much of that kind of thing as most of us want for the rest of our lives. PARLIAMENT AND CHESS. I am interested to hear that there is to be a chess match between the redoubtable Senor Capablanca, of Cuba, and members of the House of Commons. It is a good many years since there was a chess tournament be- tween Westminster and Washington,' and most of the :M.P.s who took part in it are no longer in attendance at Westminster, and many of them are dead. There were some notable Parliamentary figures among for. mer chess-players, including Mr. Parnell and Mr. Bradlaugh from the House of Commons, and Lord Russell of Killowen from "another place." St. Stephen's is less of a talking shop and more of a workshop nowadays than it was when these worthies graced the scene, and that may be the reason why chess- playing, essentially a leisurely game (if it is a game), has fewer exponents among pre- sent-day M.P.s. Mr. Bonar Law is. perhaps, the most notable Parliamentarian who is given to chess at the present time, hit I do not know whether he will find time to play in the forthcoming contest. THB POLICEMAN'S LOT. I The first annual conferences of the neW I organisation which was set up within the Police Force recently have been held this week at Westminster. Conferences of the men of each rank-inspectors, sergeants, and constables, went on simultaneously in ad- joining rooms at Central Buildings, and the proceedings were, I understand, extremely successful, and indicative of a thoroughly good spirit throughout the Force, and of a desire to make the new organisation an effi- cient instrument for the purpose for which it was designed. The Press was excluded I from the conference because it was felt that delegates should be free to express them- selves with the utmost candour on the various matters which came up for discus- sion. On Tuesday the delegates at the con- ference assembled at the Cenotaph in White- hall, and on their behalf the Home Secre- tary laid a wreath in memory of the men in blue who made the great sacrifice durmg the War. This was a brief but impressive func- tion. 1 had a chat with some of the dele- gates, ana was much impressed by their confidence in the good-will of the Home Secretary towards the police, and by the ab- sence of any sort of doubt on their part that the fvr arrangements will prove easy tc work with promptitude and effect.

An enthusiastic "send-off" was given by the Cavalrv Brigade to the 18th Hussars when they left Aldershot for India. M. Branting, -ttie Swedish Socialist, strongly criticises the decision to award all the three inobel science prizes to Germans. Brigadier-General H. C. Blumberg has been appointed Commandant of the Ports- mouth Division, R.M.L.I. Malta ifi to have Home Rule. The Egyptian. Cabinet has resigned, and there has been rioting in Cairo and Alex- andria. A 13-acre park, valued at £10,000, has- been given Lei-I). by Sir J.. IiI, Hoi den, Bart.

NOTES ON NEWS. I i The Government's new proposals for deal- ing with the housing problem are most im- portant, and it is of interest to observe the main conditions. Dr. Addison announces the proposal is to grant a free subsidy of no more than X150 per house to any person building a house of an improved type within a specified period; to arrest luxury build- ing, and to prevent people being turned out of decent homes; and that a conference of employers and employees, with regard to the labour problem, is to take place. Dr A.ddison said the Government had no inten- tion of allowing the country to be given over to a sporadic, ill-directed, and casual system of building, which had given us I lums in every town and city. Causes of Delay. I Out of 1,800 local authorities, no fewer than 1,270 had already sent in housing schemes, he said, while in the last fortnight plans for 17,500 houses had been passed, Compared with 2,600 in the previous fort- night. Sufficient land was being laid out to icccmmodate 500,000 houses. There had been various causes of delay. In some cases it was due to the price asked for land, and in other cases the tenders for building were so high that the Ministry had to inquire into the details. It meant delay in some ase-s, but it had resulted in the average post "f the house being reduced by £80 per louse. They had also to deal with the high ost of material and the loss of 200,000 men 'rom the building industry owing to the ivar. I Civilian "Doles." I What will be the solution to the trpuble I' that is sure to arise now that there are to be no more donations for unemployed civilians? Despite pleas for delay from all parts of the House, the Commons decided, after the Whips had been taken off, by 217 votes to 123, to accept Sir R. Home's sup- plementary estimate for tl,300,000 for the purpose of continuing the ont-of-work dole to ox.s.orvio¡, men. Sir Robert stated that unemployment, as tabulated by trade unions, was to-day roug-hly only half of the average 'unemployment for 15 years before the war. Mr. Clynes condemned the con- tinuance of the allowance to eoldiers while withdraiwinc, it from men whom the Govern- ment had kept at home to do Var work. Sir E, Carson supported what he teresed ?, i r IR, Carsou -A Mf. Clynes's very moderate demands for the jxteneion of the benefit for a limited period. "Thc;> people are victims of the war," a Labour member interjected. "Surely," Lord Hugh Cecil retorted, "we ought not to say L'hat 12 months after the wár." Mr. Bonar Law said the ÙOVernrtlfrtt were ajmii^r lit I sciutj method of compulsory insurance Against unemployment. How long will it r be before the Government "hits" what it is r limincr at in this case? I Counting London. J London is to be counted in 1921. Recom- mendations dealing with the approaching decennial census are to be laid before the L.C.C. by the Local Government Committee. One of the more important suggests that the Act authorising the taking ,of a census in 1921 should also provide for a census in 1926. The Committee say: "The Council has on several occasions pressed for the taking of a quinquennial census to aid in the more accurate estimation of population in the later years of a decennium. The Council is directly interested in such esti- mates from the point of view of the administration of the London (Equalisation of Rates ) Act, 1894, which provides for the distribution of the equalisation fund on the basia of the estimatedpopulation in each year. The necessity for the taking of such a census in this connection was recognised by Parliament when the fund was first insti- tuted, as it provided, by Section 3 of the Act, that a census of the Administrative County of London should be taken in 1896. An iiiter-deceiinial census is also desirable, it is said, in connection with the Council's work in regard to housing, etc. I Street Markets. I A difficultv has arisen at Edmonton, where the District Council is troubled be- cause of an unofficial street market at the I local Green, which is the shopping centre for miles around. In a much less advan- tageous position adjacent is the official street market, for which the Council charge 6s. a week per stall. Hawkers pitch their stalls on the Green free of charge. Dis- charged soldiers who occupied the official market complained of this free rent trading. Some of the ex-soldiers have failed because of the unfair competition. Their champion, Ex-Sergeant Deffee, a member of the Coun- cil, threatened that unless the Council moved in the matter he would lead his men and capture all the stalls on the Green. Thereupon the Council decided to give- the hawkers notice to quit, and hand over their pitches to the fighting men. But the Coun- cil's Clerk said they could not remove the hawkers, as they stood on the public high. wav. The stalls had stood at the Green for 100 years. So here's a knotty problem foi solution. I Fish Dealing Restrictions. I r It is announced by the Food Controller that no person may trade in fish by whole. sale unless he holds a wholesale certificate of registration as a dealer in fish. New cer- tificates of registration to wholesale dealers not at present in possession of certificates will be issued by the Ministry of Food under the following conditions: England and Wales; (1) In the case of a member of a wholesale fish merchants' association the cer- tificate will be issued by the Ministry of Food on receipt of a recommendation from the secretary of the association; (2) in other cases applications should be supported by a recommendation srom a local Food Com- mittee or Divisional Food Commissioner, and addressed to the Director of Fish Sup- plies, Ministry of Food. The Value of Coalition. { At a banquet of the National Unionist Association, Mr. Bonar Law observed: "Do not be frightened by by-elections." So long as they were part of a Coalition, one wing of the supporters could not have a policy different from that of the Government (he added). Great Britain, France, and Italy, who were near the struggle and realised the life of the nations was in danger, formed Coalitions to save them. America, which played a great part in the war, was further l away, and did not form a Coalition. They saw now the danger; it would be terrible, if ft became a reality, that that great nation might not play a part in the reconstruction after the war, becatise there had been no Coalition, and the party spirit was as ram- pant as if there had been no war. "Do not let us assume," continued Mr. Bonar Law, "that the Government which is now work- ing together is going to fall to pieces." Enormous Cotton Profits. I Especially in Lancashire have the rating authorities been noting with increasing vigilance the enormous profits disclosed by hundreds of limited cotton spinning com- panies, and, incidentally, also the fabulous prices paid by wealthy and powerful syndi- cates for the acquirement of mill properties. As a result it is authoritatively reported that the rateable value of cotton miils in many industrial areas is to be re-assessed. The last assessment was made many years ago, when the properties were not worth a tithe of what they are now valued at. During the last few weeks over £ 6,000,000 have been paid for mill properties in Bol. ton, Oldham, and Stockport districts which, 10 years ago, were not valued at above li million.

The Fire Brigade Committee decided to recommend the London County Council to pay the firemen on the same standard as that of the Metropolitan Police, and to adopt a two-shift system as from June 1 next. Spotted fever, it was stated at a Stepney inquest, caused the death of a Poplar schoolboy, William Ernest Lee. At Oxford, the Rev. D. Walter Lock, Warden of Keble College, was appointed Lady Margaret Professor of Divinity. Dr. W. Brown, Reader in Psychology at King's College, in a lecture mentioned a case in which a woman, while under hyp- notic influence, was able to write in detail a story of a fright she had at the age of five when a white cat bad a fit in her arms.

FUN AND FANCY. We never know what we can do till we try, and then we are often sorry we found out. She: "You know, Jack, I always epeak as I think." He: "Yes, dear-only oftener!" Flo: "You can't believe everything you hear." Gertie: ",No, but you can repeat it!" Quite often the man who tells a girl he will never love another woman can make himself believe it-for a time. Householder: "Do you guarantee that the meter registers the amount of gas I burn?" Gas Man: "It registers the amount of gas you've got to pay for." Mike and Pat were passing a jeweller's shop. "Would you like to have youi^pick?" asked Pat, pointing to the gems displayed in the window. "Not me pick, but me shovel," said Mike. She: "Yes, she is a woman who has suffered a great deal because of her belief." He: "Indeed! And what is her belief?" She: "That she can wear a No. 3 shoe on a -No. 4 foot." James: "So William came back from col- lege with M.D. after his name. What does that mean?" John: "Medical doctor, of course." James: "H'm! I thought maybe it meant Many Debts.' "How did you feel just after the car struck you?" "Very much run down, doctor. "Dearest," ecstatically murmured the enamoured poet, "don't you think we would make a good couplet?" "As!" sighed the dear girl, nestling still closer, "I am not averse." "Silence is golden, you know." "Well, I don't know about silence being golden, but I've heard of people making money out of a s-till." Lawver to client): "Now, you must keep nothing from me!" Client: "I haven t' You've had my last penny Fathor: "Well. Johnny, what did yon learn in school to-day?" Johnny (ruefully): "I learnt that the teacher's got eyes is the back of his head." o "Mueh bothered with tramps out yout W £ y?" "I was until I tacked up a sign on iH? gate:" "Ah! Beware of the dog' I suppose." r¡Oh, no. Simply, Farm help wanted.' y Poor Relative: "They are splendid fowls. Do they lay well" Mrs. Snobson: "Oh, they can lay beautifully, but of course in our position they don't have to." Small Boy: "Mother, won't you buy me a watch?" Mother: "What do you want a watch fer?" Small Boy: "I want to swop it with Jimmy Jones for one of his pups." "Can you stand on your head?" asked a visitor of little Dudley. "No," he replied; "it is too high up." Curate: "How is your husband getting along, Mrs. Fogarty?" Mrs. Fogarty: "Well, sometimes he's better, an' sometimes he's worse, but from the way he growls an' takes on whin he's better, Oi think he's better whin he's worse!" Flora: "When I was young I had at least fifty offers for my hand." Fanny: "Those were what you might call your palmy days, I suppose ?" "What's that terrific noise?" "The girl next door is having her voice cultivated." "It appears that the process of cultivation has reached the harrowing season." Charitable Lady: "I gave your father the money to buy you a coat last week. I see you re, not wearing it." Boy: No, mum; he put it on a horse." Lady: "On a horse! But he should have thought of your com- fort before that of an animal!" Doctor: "And what sort of a night did Col. Mopper spend? Mrs. Mopper: "He seamed a little feverish, Doctor. He asked for water several times." Doctor: "H'm, still Aelirious, apparently:" "Edith is one of those girls whose interest in a man is governed by his wealth." "I see; the greater the principal the greater the in- terest." "Well, my young lad," said the facefcioua man to the lift-boy, "I see in your position you have a chance to rise." "Oh, yes," growled the boy; "but I get called down every time I do it." "Wouldn't you like some motto for your house, mum? It's very cheering to a hus- band to see a nice motto on the wall when he comes home." Mrs. Browne: "You might sell me one if you've got that one that says, Better late than never! Inspector: "Can anyone tell me what a lie is?" Smart Boy: "Please, sir, I can." In- spector: "Well, my little man?" Smart Boy: "A lie is an abomination unto every one, but a very pleasant help in time of trouble." Kind Lady: "It's strange that a strong man like you cannot get work." Tramp: "Well, yer see, mum, people wants refer- ences from me last employer, an' he's been dead nigh on twenty years."

1Z.za. THE WAY TO BE STRONG The possession of physical fitness is a more urgent necessity than ever in these times. Health is essential to all who would maintain that high efficiency which is increasingly in demand. Physical fitness and all that the term implies-vigour, energy, activity, a sense of well-being and a capacity for hard work or full enjoyment-can only be realised if the digestive system is sound and I healthy. The way to be strong is so easy that it is astonishing how many people miss it. You have just to- j | keep your digestive system in good order and you will rarely be ailing. I j It is, therefore, well to remember that, in the great majority of cases, a good digestion can be ensured by the use of Beecham's Pills. This famous medicine will strengthen the stom, ach, promote appetite, stimulate the liver and kidneys, regulate the bowels and purify the blood. All those who value sound and stable health will be well advised to take BEECHAM'S PIUS. In bcxes, labelled 1s.-3d and 3I4f.