Charged at Kingston with being an absentee from military service, a man of
retiring habits stated that he did not know the country was at war. When
told that we were fighting the Germans he was greatly interested.
***
The Hamburg hotel-keepers have decided to abolish the practice of charging
more for food in cases where wine or beer are not consumed. The reason
given--that there was no wine or beer to be consumed--is so trivial that a
deeper motive may well be suspected.
***
"That is how we lawyers live, because lay-men have such queer ideas," said
Judge CLUER in a recent case. Nevertheless, the view that lawyers shouldn't
be allowed to live is not without its ardent supporters.
***
_The Manchester Guardian_ has issued an "Empire number." It is pleasant to
know that all differences between the Empire and our contemporary, due to
the former's ill-advised participation in the War, have been satisfactorily
adjusted.
***
Events have happened so swiftly of late that up to the time of going to
press a contemporary had not decided who should be "_The Man who Dined with
the Tsar_."
***
Virginia-creepers are recommended by a contemporary as a "tasty vegetable."
In one large house where the experiment was tried they were pronounced to
be quite all right on the second floor, but rather tough in the basement.
***
The businesses of Southgate men called to the colours are being conducted
by a committee. Small sons of those absent fathers are going very warily
until they have ascertained exactly how far the powers of the committee
extend.
***
Writing on the German retreat Major MORAHT says: "Only a personality like
that of Marshal von Hindenburg could give proofs of so great an
initiative." Possibly he has never heard of the Dukes of York and Plaza
Toro.
***
A boy of eleven charged with the theft of clothes is said to have stolen
the notebook of the policeman who arrested him. His first idea was to pinch
his captor's whistle, but he rejected this plan on finding that the
policeman was attached to it.
***
Russian soldiers under the new _régime_ will be allowed to smoke in the
streets, travel inside trains, visit clubs and attend political meetings.
There is a very strong rumour that they will also be allowed to go on
fighting.
***
A ten-months-old boy at Prescot, Lancashire, has been called up for
military service. It is, however, authoritatively stated that this is
merely a precautionary measure on the part of the War Office, and will not
necessarily apply to other men in the same class.
***
A Bromley gentleman is advertising for a chauffeur "to drive Ford car out
of cab-yard." Kindness is a great thing in cases of this sort, and we
suggest trying to entice it out with a piece of cheese.
***
"You have lost the privilege of serving on the last grand jury during the
War," said the judge at the London Sessions last week to a shipowner who
arrived at the court late. We understand that the poor fellow broke down
and sobbed bitterly.
***
Nearly every Russian newspaper contains congratulatory references to Free
Russia, and poets are busy composing verses on the same theme. It is this
latter item which is said to be keeping the Germans from having a similar
revolution.
***
We understand that the new "No Smoking near Magazines" enactment is
profoundly resented in editorial circles.
***
To fill the gap which will be left in the ranks of Parliamentary humorists
by the retirement of Mr. JOSEPH KING, M.P., who has decided not to seek
re-election, the Variety Artistes Federation have nominated a candidate for
the Brixton Division.
***
"On whatever day you sow your wheat," says Miss MARIE CORELLI, "you cannot
stop its growing on Sundays." Mr. HALL CAINE has not yet spoken on this
point, and his silence is regarded as significant.
***
Incidentally we are not so sure that you cannot stop wheat growing on
Sundays. There is good precedent for plucking its ears on the Sabbath, and
that ought to stop it.
***
The KAISER, it appears, is much annoyed at the CROWN PRINCE and the way he
has mis-managed so many brilliant opportunities. It is even suggested in
some quarters that the KAISER has threatened, if LITTLE WILLIE does not
improve, to abdicate in his favour.
***
A respectably dressed man was recently arrested for behaving in a strange
manner in Downing Street. Others have done the same thing before now, but
have escaped the notice of the police by doing it indoors.
***
With reference to the taxi-cab which stopped in the Strand the other day
when hailed by a pedestrian, a satisfactory explanation is to hand. It had
broken down.
* * * * *
[Illustration: _Overheard by a distinguished singer, who has just concluded
the first of two Scotch ballads._
_Jock (to his neighbour)._ "A FINE VOICE, YON LASSIE. I'VE HEARD WORSE AN'
PAID FOR IT."]
* * * * *