East is not remotely connected with the eternal maxim, "Cherchez la
femme." Much sympathy is expressed with H.R.H. Prince Menelaus.

February 20.

Everything points to war. Orders for a substantial increase of the Navy
have been placed in the hands of Messrs. Odysseus & Co., the celebrated
firm of shipbuilders. Heroes are earnestly called for.

The Argive Chamber was, last Wednesday, the scene of an animated debate.
M. Diomedes, War Minister, demanded a vote which would enable him to
enrol three more phalanxes. He was bitterly opposed by M. Thersites,
Leader of the Extreme Left, who demanded to know why the Achaean nation
was to be plunged recklessly into war for the settlement of matters
properly pertaining to the province of a Divorce Court. Fortunately for
the success of M. Diomedes' proposal, the closure was put in operation.

Later.

M. Thersites' funeral is announced for to-morrow (about the time of
loosing oxen).

February 25.

I cannot better describe the existing political situation than by quoting
the opinion of leading newspapers in Achaea and elsewhere.

All the official journals are consistently warlike in tone. They declare
that nothing will satisfy Achaean aspirations but the annexation of
Helen. The Athenian _Asty_ declares that should King Agamemnon employ
the opened floodgates of popular enthusiasm as a stepping-stone to lop
off another limb from the decaying trunk of the (so-called) Trojan
Empire, he will have achieved a permanent blessing to civilization.

On the other hand, the _Olympian Times_ comments severely on the
precipitate action of Agamemnon, and animadverts on the rash proceedings
which have led to a rupture that might have been averted by diplomacy.
As the _Times_ is understood to be the mouthpiece of the Powers, such an
utterance may well give rise to the gravest apprehensions.

The _Oracle_--a Phocian organ of pronounced clerical
tendencies--preserves an ambiguous tone.

Everything indicates a warlike attitude on the part of the _entourage_ of
King Priam. Hector Pasha has been appointed War Minister. The
_Prehistoric Post_ speaks of the enlistment of two new regiments of
Hittite Bashi-Bazouks in the interior of Asia Minor. The _Cassandra_,
however, a journal little read although