lewood_--a very fine interpretation of an interesting character. Mr.
CHARLES V. FRANCE adds another decent Colonel to his military repertory.
This actor always plays with distinction and with an ease of which the art
is so cleverly concealed as perhaps to rob him of his due meed of applause
from the unperceptive. Lady TREE made a beautiful thing of the character of
_Mrs. Wharton_, whose simple unselfishness was the best of all Mr.
MAUGHAM'S arguments for the defence. Mr. R.H. HIGNETT nobly restrained
himself from making a too parsonic parson, yet kept enough of the
distinctive flavour to excite a passionate anti-clerical behind me into
clamorously derisive laughter; a very good piece of work. Miss O'MALLEY
acted a difficult, almost an impossibly difficult, part with a fine
distinction. Mr. BASIL RATHBONE'S _Major_ and Mr. BLAKISTON'S _Doctor_ were
excellent. I am sorry to be so monotonously approving....

I am not convinced that Mr. MAUGHAM'S experiment has succeeded.

T.

* * * * *

"Mr. ---- maintained that it was extraordinuary that if he was only
slightly dead deceased did not hear the lorry."--_Local Paper._

Most extraordinuary.

* * * * *

[Illustration: _Generous Stranger._ "WILL YOU HAVE ANOTHER PINT? (_No
answer._) I SAY--WILL YOU HAVE ANOTHER PINT?"

_Hodge._ "DON'T 'EE ASK ZILLY QUESTIONS. ORDER IT."]

* * * * *

THE MYSTERY.

George and I are two ordinary people. He studies the Weather Reports every
day; I do occasionally. He thinks he understands meteorology; I don't. But
lately I felt that I _must_ have some explanation of the weather, so I
asked George to explain it.

He said, "Certainly; it's quite simple. Take wind. Wind is caused by
differences of _pressure_."

"What _is_ pressure? Who is pressing what?"

"Pressure is what the barometer tells you--not the thermometer; you must
keep the thermometer out of this. Suppose it is very hot in London--"

"Don't be ridiculous."

"Well, suppose it is very hot at a place A--"

"I thought we were keeping the thermometer out of this."

"It comes in indirectly. But don't keep interrupting. If it is very hot at
the place A, the air at A rises. You see?"

"No."

"Obviously it does. If you light a candle--"

"Yes, yes, I do see that. Don't begin about candles."

"Well, the result of that is that there is less _pressure_ at A. In other
words,