m very pleased to meet you. Can you tell
me----?"

The explanation relieved me; I turned to my fellow-traveller.

"My dear Sir," said I, "I congratulate you on being the perfect pupil.
Your teacher, could it feel such emotions, would be proud of you. Only
to an exceptional student can it be given so faithfully to reproduce
'His Master's Voice.'"

* * * * *

FIGURE-HEADS.

"You never see a decent figure-'ead,
Not now," Bill said;
"A fiddlin' bit o' scrollwork at the bow,
That's the most now;
But Lord! I've seen some beauties, more 'n a few,
An' some rare rum uns too.

"Folks in all sorts o' queer old-fashioned rigs,
Fellers in wigs,
Chaps in cocked 'ats an' 'elmets, lords an' dukes.
Folks out o' books,
Niggers in turbans, mandarins an' Moors,
And 'eathen gods by scores;

"An' women in all kinds o' fancy dresses--
Queens an' princesses,
Witches on broomsticks too, an' spankin' girls
With streamin' curls,
An' dragons an' sea serpents--Lord knows what
I've seen an' what I've not!

"An' some's in breakers' yards now, thick with grime
And weathered white wi' time;
An' some stuck up in gardens 'ere an' there
With plants for 'air;
An' no one left as knows but chaps like me
How fine wi' paint an' gold they used to be
In them old days at sea."

C. F. S.

* * * * *

"BAG AND BAGGAGE."

"According to present arrangements the Turkish Peace Treaty
will be presented to the Turkish delegation on May 11 at
4 p.m. in the Cloak Room of the French Foreign
Office."--_Times._

These ceremonies are usually conducted in the Salon de l'Horloge, but
the new _venue_ was doubtless thought more appropriate for disposing
of the Turkish _impedimenta_.

* * * * *

[Illustration: MANNERS AND MODES.

THE STRIKE AGAINST THE PRICE OF CLOTHES IS SPREADING.

[_Fashion Note._--Lady Germanda Speedwell was seen walking in the Park
looking sweet in a rhubarb-leaf hat, the stalk worn at the side. Her
corsage was of clinging ivy leaves, in contrast to the fuller effect
of her banana-skin skirt. Her companion wore the usual morning-coat
and kilt of grass, but struck a new note with a pumpkin hat.]]

* * * * *

THE MAKING OF A CRISIS.

[We are privileged to-day to publish