nnot cause those old
antagonists, STEVENSON and REECE, to cease their perpetual contest;
and if the War lasts another ten years you will read in _The Times_
of October 17th, 1927, a paragraph to the effect that "at the close
of play yesterday in the billiard match of 16,000 points up between
Stevenson and Reece, at the Grand Hall, Leicester Square, the scores
were: Reece (in play), 4,676; Stevenson, 2,837."

* * * * *

NOT CANNIBALS AFTER ALL.

"The first contingent of the American troops brought food for six
months, and hence the fears of the peasants in France lest they
should be eaten up are groundless."--_Adelaide Advertiser_.

* * * * *

"If the public continue to spend the same sum of money on bread
at 9d. as they did when it was 1s., it is easy to see that the
consumption will rise by a quarter or 25 per cent."--_Glasgow
Evening News_.

We are always timid about questioning a Scotsman's arithmetic, but we
make the increase a third, or 33-1/3 per cent.

* * * * *

[Illustration: _He (connoisseur of wines)_. "WE STAYED SEVERAL DAYS AT
AN INN IN A LITTLE GLOUCESTERSHIRE VILLAGE, AS WE FOUND THEY HAD SUCH
AN EXCELLENT CELLAR."

_She_. "REALLY! I HAD NO IDEA THE RAIDERS HAD GOT SO FAR WEST AS
THAT."]

* * * * *

CROSS-TALK WITH PETHERTON.

Petherton and I have just emerged from another bombardment. Certain
correspondence in _The Surbury Gazette and North Herts Courier_ gave
me a welcome excuse for firing what I may term a sighting shot. I
wrote to my genial neighbour as follows:--

DEAR MR. PETHERTON,--No doubt you have seen the recent letters in the
local paper anent the remains of the old Cross, which are at once an
ornament to Castle Street, Surbury, and a standing menace to the peace
of mind of the local antiquarians.

I am exceedingly interested in the matter myself and feel that the
views of one who, I am sure, adds a wide knowledge of archaeology
to the long list of his accomplishments, would be both interesting
and instructive to myself and (if you would allow your views to be
published) to our little community in general.

If therefore you will write and let me know your opinion on the
matter I shall take it as a friendly and cousinly (_vide_ certain
eighteenth-century documents in the Record Office) act.

Yours sincerely,

HENRY J. FOR