e paid to these
imaginative accounts. If I have said enough to secure that in future a
little more kindliness and respect will be shown to the spider in the
nurseries of this great Empire, and a little less of it wasted on the
bee, I have not misspent my time.

But I shall not be content. Can we not go further? Can we not get a
little more of the simplicity of spider life into this hectic world of
ours? In these latitudes the spider lives only for a single season.
"The young emerge from the cocoon in the early spring, grow through
the summer and reach maturity in the early autumn. _The sexes then
pair and perish_ soon after the female has constructed her cocoon."
How delicious! No winter; no bother about coal; no worry about the
children's education; just one glorious summer of sport, one wild
summer of fly-catching and midge-eating, a romantic, not to say
dangerous wooing, a quiet wedding in the autumn, dump the family in
some nice unfurnished cocoon--and perish. Is there nothing to be said
for that? How different from the miserable bee, which just goes on and
on, worrying about posterity, working and working, fussing about....

Yet all our lives are modelled on the bee's.

A. P. H.

* * * * *

[Illustration: _Mr. Meere._ "YOU'LL REALLY HAVE TO BE MORE CAREFUL,
DEAR, HOW YOU SPEAK TO THE COOK OR SHE'LL BE LEAVING US."

_Mrs. M._ "PERHAPS I WAS RATHER SEVERE."

_Mr. M._ "SEVERE! WHY, ANYONE WOULD HAVE THOUGHT YOU WERE TALKING TO
ME."]

* * * * *

DOWN-OUR-COURT CIRCULAR.

Why should not some of the other people, who also enjoy life, have
their movements recorded too? Like this:--

During Mr. William Sikes' visit to the Devonshire moors Mrs. Sikes
will remain in town.

* * *

Mr. and Mrs. James Harris have arrived in London from Southend.

* * *

Miss Levi, Miss Hirsch and Master Isaacson are among the guests at
Victoria Park, where some highly successful children's parties have
been given.

* * *

Epping is much in favour just now, and a large number of (public)
house-parties have been arranged. Among those entertaining this week
are Mr. Henry Higgins, Mr. Robert Atkins and Mr. John Smith.

* * *

Mr. Henry Hawkins, Mrs. Hawkins, Mr. Henry Hawkins, junior, and Miss
Hawkins left town on August 2nd for Hampstead Heath, for a day's
riding and shooting. A large bag of nuts was obtained. Mr. Hawkins has
not y