grasped
his meaning from the comprehensive gesture. Rapidly he outlined chairs,
a delightful baby's cradle, a clock with cuckoo complete, a fire-place,
until at length a complete pictorial inventory had been made of the
contents of the living-room of just such a cottage as had obviously been
buried beneath the rubbish heap upon which he sat. Those children of the
stricken country-side entered with keenness into the spirit of the
make-believe. The little girl, searching for an appropriate stone to
place on the imaginary table for imaginary bread, thrust her hand down
among the _debris_ and, withdrawing it, exposed a relic. It was the
faded remnant of a baby's shoe, grotesque in the autumn sunshine.

"Oui, par exemple, les Boches ont passe par ici," said the little boy as
impersonally as before.

* * * * *

In a Good Cause.

An auction of stamps will be held on the 13th and 14th of March at 47,
Leicester Square, in aid of the National Philatelic War Fund, the
proceeds to be given to the Societies of the British Red Cross and St.
John of Jerusalem. Collectors should seize this chance, as the Allies
may shortly be arranging to modify the map of the world.

* * * * *

"The year 1914 showed a drop of 441 million eggs in the year."
_Trade Paper._

Taking our population as 46 millions this means 9-1/2 eggs dropped per
head in the year. Under the influence of the thrift campaign a great
effort is being made to drop only half an egg per head this year, but
should there be a General Election there may be a rise in the drop.

* * * * *

[Illustration: WHO PAYS?

THE FATHER. "WE ARE MAKING TERRIBLE SACRIFICES."

THE SON. "YES, FATHER, BUT I AM VERY BRAVE; I CAN BEAR THEM."]

* * * * *

[Illustration: _Visitor._ "AND WHAT DID YOU DO WHEN THE SHELL STRUCK
YOU?"

_Bored Tommy._ "SENT MOTHER A POSTCARD TO HAVE MY BED AIRED."]

* * * * *

THE GREAT MAN.

Every Saturday, about four P.M., I am to be found worshipping at the
Shrine of the Open Mind. Once within its portals I put off the subfuse
vestments of J. Watson, Esq., Barrister-at-Law, and become simply Uncle
James. This alone is a tonic. To-day as I ascended the steps of the
temple there floated down to me the voices of the priestesses chanting,
evidently in a kind of frenzy, and to the air of a famous