ral air of tense expectation. Against
whom were these preparations? Without an earthly doubt against Germany's
greatest rival, whose millions of young men, even in this hour of
danger, preferred playing or watching football or cricket on Saturday
afternoons to realising their duty. The conclusion of an ill-pointed but
earnest speech was punctuated by the furtive entrance into the hall of
a small boy selling evening newspapers, and there was a temporary
diversion from any interest in the proceedings on the part of the
younger portion of the audience, whilst they satisfied themselves as to
the result of various Cup Ties. The Member of Parliament then descended
upon them in a whirlwind of oratory and in his best House of Commons
style. He spoke of black clouds and of the cold breeze that went before
the coming thunderstorm. He pointed to the collapse of every great
nation throughout history who had neglected the arts of self-defence. He
appealed to the youth of the nation to prepare themselves to guard their
womenkind, their homes, the sacred soil of their country, and at that
point was interrupted by a drowsy member of the audience with stentorian
lungs, who seemed just at that moment to have waked up.

"What about the Navy, guv'nor?"

The orator swept upon the interrupter in his famous platform manner. The
Navy, he declared, could be trusted at all times to do its duty, but
it could not fight on sea and land. Would the young man who had just
interrupted do his, and enroll his name for drill and national service
that evening?--and so on. The distinguished soldier, who was suffering
from a cold, fired off a few husky sentences only, to the tune of
rounds of applause. The proceedings were wound up by the Duke, who was
obviously, with the exception of the distinguished soldier, much more
in earnest than any of them, and secured upon the whole a respectful
attention. He brought in a few historical allusions, pleaded for a
greater spirit of earnestness and citizenship amongst the men of
the country, appealed even to the women to develop their sense of
responsibility, and sat down amidst a little burst of quite enthusiastic
applause.--The vote of thanks to the chairman was on the point of being
proposed when Mr. Seaman, standing up in his place, appealed to the
chairman for permission to say a few words. The Duke, who had had some
experience with Mr. Seaman before, looked at him severely, but the
smile with which Mr. Seaman lo