irth of a Fluence," it will be seen, does not confine its energies
to the office of the paper. So thorough is the scheme that various
pictures have been taken--always, of course, at the usual enormous
expense--at even distant places, where its activities, or the result of
them, can be studied. For example, we are shown a section of the Front
and the delight of the English soldier as he unfolds the paper and
discovers that his country is still being goaded towards that healthy
disintegration which must necessarily accelerate our victory. And we are
even shown one of the paper's defeated candidates seeking the
railway-station after the election; for it is notorious that, vast as
are the paper's other influences, it is often unable to persuade an
electorate to follow it.

The last picture, which also should be of particular interest to the
public as proving how sacred the Fourth Estate holds the duty of
providing it with accurate reports, shows the whole of the building
draped with the habiliments of woe and the staff in deep mourning on
learning that the secrecy of the secret session is to be callously and
rigorously enforced by the Government. And in this state of prostration
the _personnel_ is left. So ends one of the most enthralling films that
this country has yet invented.

"The Birth of a Fluence" would, of course, be more instructive still
were there any paper that at all corresponded to the fantastic and
incredible organ here illustrated. But of course a sheet that during the
progress of an anxious war so consistently belittled its country and
aspersed its rulers would be impossible. Still, enough verisimilitude
remains to make an amusing half-hour.

* * * * *

[Illustration: Conscientious married M.P. (WHO UNFORTUNATELY TALKS IN
HIS SLEEP) GAGGING HIMSELF BEFORE RETIRING TO BED AFTER SECRET SESSION.]

* * * * *

NURSERY RHYMES OF LONDON TOWN.

IX.--The Poultry and the Borough.

The Fox ran to London
Starving for his dinner;
There he met the Weasel
Looking even thinner.

The Weasel said to Reynard,
"What shall be our pickin's?"
Said Reynard to the Weasel,
"Rabbits and Spring Chickens."

Then they went a-hunting,
And they did it very thorough,
The Fox in the Poultry
And the Weasel in the Borough.

X.--Wormwood Scrubbs.

Wormwood scrubs, Wormwood scrubs
Windows, walls, and floors,
Pots and