,
threatened with the extinction of their pet grievance. Although but seven
in number they made almost noise enough for seventy. Question-time was
punctuated with their plaints. The CHIEF SECRETARY did his best to soothe
them, but his remark that "no man in Ireland need be in prison if he will
obey the law" poured oil on the flames.

Despite the reduction of the Question-ration from eight to four per Member,
the House collectively grows "curiouser and curiouser." This is partly due
to the popularity of PREMIER-baiting, now to be enjoyed on Mondays and
Thursdays. In future, Members are to be further restricted to three
Questions _per diem_; but no substantial relief is to be hoped for until
the House sets up its own censorship, with power to expunge all Questions
that are trivial, personal or put for purposes of self-advertisement. Not
many--a dozen or two daily, perhaps--would survive the scrutiny.

* * * * *

A NEW ISLE OF THE BLEST.

(_The "Cubanisation" of Ireland, suggested by Mr. DE VALERA, is being
seriously discussed in Sinn Fein circles._)

When Ireland is treated like Cuba,
As great DE VALERA suggests,
And the pestilent loyalist Pooh-Bah
No longer our island infests,
The Pearl that adorns the Antilles
We'll speedily duplicate here,
From the Lough in the North, that is Swilly's,
Right down to Cape Clear.

The militant minstrels of Tara
Will change their war-harps for guitars;
And Clare, to be called Santa Clara,
Will grow the most splendid cigars;
On the banks of the Bann the banana
Will yield us its succulent fruit,
And the pig with the gentle iguana
Together will root.

Our poets, both major and minor,
Will work the new Manganese vein,
And turn out a product diviner
Than even the Cubans obtain;
Limerigo, Galvejo, Doblino--
How lovely and noble they sound!
And think of Don Jose Devlino
Cavorting around!

We'll borrow a leaf from Havana;
We'll cultivate yuccas and yams;
The Curragh shall be our savannah,
Swept clear of all soldiers and shams;
And then to the cry of "Majuba"
We'll shatter the enemy's yoke,
When Ireland is governed like Cuba
And grows her own smoke.

* * * * *

DEAD SEA FRUIT.

To-day the telephone has been installed. The members of our staff are going
about their duties in a dazed fashion,