ure of
the House of Lords the Government began the day with a victory. Lord
SHANDON had moved an amendment, to which the LORD CHANCELLOR objected.
But he did not challenge a division when the question was put. Lord
DONOUGHMORE, most expeditious of Chairmen, announced "the Contents
have it," and the matter seemed over. But then the LORD CHANCELLOR
woke up, and said he had meant to ask for a division. "All right,"
said the CHAIRMAN; "clear the Bar," and when the white-wanded tellers
had counted their flocks it appeared that the Government had a
majority of three.

I do not suppose anyone will say of Lord BIRKENHEAD, as a celebrated
judge is reported to have said of one of his predecessors, "'Ere comes
that 'oly 'umbug 'umming 'is 'orrid 'ymns;" but he is evidently a
student of hymnology, for he referred to the Government victory as
this "scanty triumph" and for a long time did not challenge any more
divisions.

In the House of Commons an attack upon the new liquor
regulations--"pieces of gross impertinence" according to Mr.
MACQUISTEN--found no favour with the PRIME MINISTER. Mr. MCCURDY
announced that he had reduced the price of wheat to the millers and
hoped that "in a few weeks" the consumer might begin to receive
the benefit. The CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER excused the delay in
publishing the Economy Committee's reports on the ground that the
MINISTER OF MUNITIONS was "at sea," and elicited the inevitable gibe
that he was not the only one. Sir ERIC GEDDES, with a judicious
compliment to the motorists for setting "an extraordinary example of
voluntary taxation," got a Second Reading for his Roads Bill; and Sir
GORDON HEWART with some difficulty induced the House to accept
his assurance that the Official Secrets Bill was meant for the
discomfiture of spies and not the harassing of honest journalists.

* * * * *

[Illustration: _Golfer._ "HAVE YOU EVER SEEN A WORSE PLAYER?" [No
answer.] "I SAID, 'HAVE YOU EVER SEEN A WORSE PLAYER?'" _Aged Caddie._
"I HEERD YE VERRA WEEL THE FURRST TIME. I WAS JEST THENKIN' ABOOT
IT."]

* * * * *

[Illustration: _Margaret_ (_not satisfied with the parental
explanation of the recent disappearance of a pet rabbit_). "MUMMY,
IS--IS _THIS_ GLADYS?"]

* * * * *

TO A CLERICAL GOLFING FRIEND.

Fine is your temper as your hand-forged iron!
Even should you hack the ball from out the sp