A memorial to SIMON DE MONTFORT has been unveiled at Evesham, where he
fell in 1265. A pathetic inquiry reaches us as to whether SIMON is yet
demobilised.
***
We are informed that the project of adding a "Silence Room" to the
National Liberal Club is to be resuscitated.
***
"Small one piece houses of concrete," says _The National News_, "are
now quite common in America." The only complaint, it appears, is that
some of them are just a trifle tight under the arms.
***
We hope that the proposed revival by a well-known theatre manager of
_The Sins of David_ so shortly after the General Election is not the
work of a defeated Candidate.
***
"Some of the discredited Radical organs," says a contemporary, "are
already toying with Bolshevism." A case of "_Soviet qui peut_."
***
The report that a number of distinguished Irish Unionists have been
ordered to choose between the LORD-LIEUTENANT's Reconstruction
Committee and the O.B.E. is causing anxiety in Dublin Club circles.
***
Weymouth Council has decided to change the name of Holstein Avenue. We
deprecate these attempts to force the Peace Conference's hand.
***
Mr. HENRY FORD's new paper is called _The Dearborn Independent_. Most
independent papers, it is noticed, are that.
***
"Why has the Government raised the price of new sharps?" asks "FARMER"
in _The Daily Mail_. They may cost more, but they look to us like the
same old sharps.
***
"Sensation-mongering" is the public's verdict on the startling report
circulated last week that a Civil Servant had been seen running.
***
The National Potato Exhibition, it is announced, will in future be
held at Birmingham. The League of Political Small Potatoes, on the
other hand, has moved its permanent headquarters to Manchester.
***
There were 21,457 fewer paupers in London last week compared with
the same period in 1915, it is stated. All we can say is, it isn't
London's fault.
***
A correspondent, writing to a contemporary, thinks it should be
illegal for one taxi-driver to talk to another in the streets. It
would be interesting under these circumstances to see what happened
if two rival cabs collided.
***
With reference to the Upper Norwood gentleman who is reported to
have arrived home early one night last week, it is not true that he
travelled by tube. He walked.
***
One thing after another. No sooner is influenza on the wane than we
read of a serious outbreak of Jazz music in London.
***
We gather from the interviews appearing in the papers that Mr. PHILIP
SNOWDEN is of the opinion that his defeat was due to the General
Election.
***
We are asked to deny the rumour that the KAISER has offered to compete
for _The Daily Mail_ trans-Atlantic flight and has offered to forgo
the prize.
***
Scientists are agreed, says _Tit-Bits_, that there is nothing to
prevent people living for five hundred or even one thousand years. We
feel, however, that in the case of certain very objectionable persons
exemption might be given at the age of about forty years.
***
"Blwyddyn Newydd Dda i bawb Ohonynt" was the reported greeting sent by
Mr. LLOYD GEORGE to his election agent. Other delegates to the Peace
Conference are talking in the same truculent strain.
***
One of the men for whom our heart goes out in sympathy is a South
Carolina farmer who has been in the habit of doctoring himself with
the help of a medical book. When only fifty-five years of age he died
of a misprint.
***
A prisoner charged at London Sessions with stealing was described as
"one of a most daring and clever gang of thieves." It is said that he
has asked counsel for permission to use this excellent testimonial on
his note-headings.
***
An Irish farmer aged one hundred-and-four years, who took a prominent
part in the General Election, has just died. This should be a lesson
to people who meddle with politics.
***
"The current open secret in Society," says _The Star_, "is the
engagement of Lady DIANA MANNERS, but when it will be announced only
she herself will decide." This is extraordinary. A few weeks ago the
decision would have rested with the newspapers.
***
There were 523 fewer books published last year than in the year
before. This, we understand, is explained by the fact that Mr. CHARLES
GARVICE and Mr. E. PHILLIPS OPPENHEIM each went to the theatre one
night in the early autumn.
* * * * *
[Illustration: "I WISH MY HUSBAND HAD JOINED THEM PIVOTS INSTEAD OF
THE FOOSILEERS. HE'D 'A' BEEN DEMOBILISED BY NOW."]
* * * * *