antes
in gurgite vasto_, their arguments sounded hollow even to themselves.
With an obvious effort they tried to carry on what the SPEAKER
described--and deprecated--as "the usual Monday fiscal debate." This
time it turned upon the large imports from Russia in 1913. One side
seemed to think that similar imports would be forthcoming to-day but
for the obstructiveness of the British Government, while the other
was confident that Russia had nothing to export save propaganda. The
controversy was beginning to pall when by a happy inspiration Mr.
RONALD MCNEILL, with mock solemnity, inquired if the last egg in
Russia had not been eaten by a relation of the SECRETARY OF STATE FOR
WAR.

[Illustration: "His conscience now quite clear."

SIR J. T. AGG-GARDNER.]

A long-standing Parliamentary tradition enjoins that the reply to any
Question addressed to the CHAIRMAN OF THE KITCHEN COMMITTEE should be
greeted with laughter. By virtue of his office he holds, as it were,
the "pass-the-mustard" prerogative. Members laughed accordingly when
he replied to a question relating to the number of ex-Service men
employed by his Committee; but they laughed much more loudly when the
hon. Member who put the original Question proceeded to inquire "if his
conscience is now quite clear," and Sir J. T. AGG-GARDNER, looking as
respectable as if he were _Mrs. Grundy's_ second husband, declared,
hand on heart, that it was.

[Illustration: THE DEFENDER OF KUT--WITH ESCORT.

SIR CHARLES TOWNSHEND.]

The House gave a rather less stentorian welcome than might have been
expected to Sir CHARLES TOWNSHEND, who was escorted up to the Table
by Mr. BOTTOMLEY and Colonel CROFT. Perhaps it was afraid that cheers
intended for the defender of Kut might be appropriated by the Editor
of _John Bull_.

Encouraged, I suppose, by the emptiness of the Ladies' Gallery, it
then proceeded with great freedom to discuss a proposal for the
employment of women and young persons "in shifts."

[Illustration: THE FAT BOY OF DULWICH.

SIR FREDERICK HALL.]

_Tuesday, November 30th._--The EX-CROWN PRINCE OF PRUSSIA will be
tremendously bucked when he reads the report of to-day's proceedings,
and discovers that there is one person in the world who takes him
seriously. Sir FREDERICK HALL has been much disturbed by the reports
of Hohenzollern intrigues for a restoration, and begged the Government
to send a protest to the Dutch Government. But the Fat Boy of Dulwich
quite fa