howing that even without a levy on capital the
rich man bears his share of the burdens of the State, Sir EDWARD
CARSON remarked that, when he receives a retainer, he immediately
allows for the super-tax and enters it in his fee-book at only
half the amount. He had had one that very morning. "Say it was five
pounds"--and the House laughed loudly at such an absurd supposition.

Then we had Lord HUGH CECIL pointing his argument that the importance
of the proposed Preference to the Dominions was political rather than
economical by the remark that if he was going to be married--which he
fervently hoped would not happen to him--he would expect his mythical
bride to value his engagement-ring less for its pecuniary than its
sentimental value.

A capital speech by Mr. STANLEY BALDWIN, one of the few men in the
House who talks finance as if he really understood it, wound up the
debate, and procured the Finance Bill a second reading _nem. con._

_Thursday, May 22nd._--The Ministry of Health Bill came up for third
reading in the Lords. An eleventh-hour attempt by the Government
to provide the new Minister with an additional Under-Secretary was
heavily defeated, Lord DOWNHAM being appropriately enough one of the
Tellers for the Opposition.

The Commons heard some good news. Mr. KENDALL'S pathetic story of an
angling-party which, after walking five miles along a dusty road to
its favourite hostelry, found it adorned with the now too frequent
notice, "Closed--No Beer," brought a most sympathetic reply from Mr.
GEORGE ROBERTS, who boldly confessed, "I am a believer in good beer
myself," and later on announced that the Government had decided to
increase the output from twenty million to twenty-six million standard
barrels.

* * * * *

[Illustration: _Geordie (after intently watching conductor of Jazz
band for some time)._ "AH'VE HAD ENOUGH O' THIS. YON CHAP WI' STICK'S
ONLY CODDIN'. HE'S NOT HIT ONE OF 'EM SINCE WE CAAME IN."]

* * * * *

[Illustration: _Farmer._ "WELL, I BE MAIN GLAD TO SEE YOU BACK FROM
THE WAR. I SUPPOSE YOU'LL BE THINKING OF TAKING TO WORK NOW?"]

* * * * *

WHAT'S IN A NAME?

The original answer to the question at the head of these insignificant
remarks was (correct me if I am wrong) nothing. "A rose," said
_Juliet_, "by any other name would smell as sweet." But of course she
was wrong. If a rose were handed t