ay I see the sign in the window, "No
fish." The fisherman, I am told, is "very independent," a euphemism for
tired, perhaps. He casts his hooks and nets only when the spirit moves
him, and is not impelled to the sea by sordid motives. A true fisherman,
I thought, though he never change his window sign.

* * *

To-day's newspapers contain the protest of the governor of Lower
California against the proposed annexing of his territory by the United
States, Senor Cantu may be a hairless dog in the manger; he may, as he
claims, represent the seething patriotism of all but a negligible
percentage of the population; but he is no doubt correct in merely
asserting that the peninsula will not be annexed. Incidentally, he is on
sure ground when he attributes the chaos in Mexican affairs to
"conflicting political criteria." It is all of that. So far as I have
casually discovered, there is no active annexation sentiment on this
side of the border, for there is no hope of overcoming that provision in
the Mexican constitution which makes it a matter of high treason to
encourage a movement for the diminution of Mexican territory.

* * *

Gov. Cantu's phrase, "conflicting political criteria," applies rather
happily to the doings in Paris these days. The Peace conference and
prohibition in the United States are perhaps the two most prominent
topics before the public, and they are the two things which I have not
heard mentioned since I began my travels.

A LINE-O'-TYPE OR TWO

_"Lord, what fools these mortals be."_

COUNTRY LIFE IN AMERICA.

Sing high the air like dry champagne,
The fields of virgin snow!
(Sing low the mile-hike from the train,
In five or ten below.)

Sing high the joys the gods allot
To our suburban state!
(Sing low the dinner gone to pot,
Because the train is late.)

Sing high the white-arched woodland way,
Resembling faery halls!
(Sing low the drifts that stay and stay,
In which your motor stalls.)

Sing high, sing low, sing jack and game,
Sing Winter's spangled gown!
(Let him who will these things acclaim--
_I'm_ moving in to town.)

* * *

Scratch a man who really enjoys zero weather, and you will find
blubber.

* * *

Born in Sioux City, to Mr. and Mrs. Matt Hoss, a daughter. Who'll
contribute a buggy?

* * *

"For Sale--1920 Mormon chummy