ft-nosed pencil; ink, he explained,
being an abomination.

I also saw him pay 21/2d. for a _Daily Mail_.

* * * * *

I got a letter from George just before he went back. He patronized me
delightfully--seemed more than half a Colonial already. He said he was
glad to have seen us all again, but was equally glad to be getting
back, as he was beginning to feel a little homesick. He hinted we were
dull dogs and treated people we didn't know like strangers. Didn't we
ever cheer up? He became very unjust, I thought, when he said that
France was at war, but that we had only an Army and Navy.

Incidentally I had to pay twopence on the letter, the postman
insisting that George's neat signature in the bottom left-hand corner
of the envelope was an insufficient substitute for a penny stamp.

* * * * *

"The raiders came in three suctions."--_Evening News_.

So _that_ was what blocked the Tubes.

* * * * *

[Illustration: THE LETTER AND THE SPIRIT.

Air Raid
Reprisals--
Lloyd George
says
We'll give them
HELL

PRIME MINISTER. "YOU YOUNG RASCAL! I NEVER SAID THAT."

NEWSBOY. "WELL, I'LL LAY YER MEANT IT."]

* * * * *

[Illustration: _Keeper_. "ANY BIRDS, SIR?"

_Officer (fresh from France)_. "YES. THREE CRASHED; TWO DOWN OUT OF
CONTROL."]

* * * * *

THE WATCH DOGS.

LXVI.

MY DEAR CHARLES,--Here is a war, producing great men, and here am I
writing to you from time to time about it and never mentioning one of
them. I have touched upon Commanding Officers, Brigadiers, Divisional,
Corps, even Army Commanders; I have gone so far as to mention the
COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF once and I have mentioned myself very many times.
But the really great men I have omitted. I mean the really, really
great men, without whom the War could not possibly go on, and with
whom, I am often led to suppose, the decision remains as to what day
Peace shall be declared. Take the A.M.L.O. at ---- for example.

Now, Charles, be it understood that I am not saying anything for or
against the trade of Assisting Military Landing Officers; I have no
feeling with regard to it one way or the other. For all I know it may
require a technical knowledge so profound that any man who can master
it is already half-way on the road to greatness. On the other hand,
it may requ