athing-establishment must have been a
source of cruel grief to you. And now there are already myriads who
have washed away the stains of war in the pellucid waves that lap your
coast of azure.

Here, too, at your hospitable Board of Green Cloth there is
forgetfulness of Armageddon save when the cry of "Zero" recalls to the
convalescent British warrior the fateful hour for going over the top.

And to think of Monte Carlo without the guttural Hun and his raucous
"_Dass ist mein_" as he swoops upon his disputed spoils! An Eden with
the worm away!

_A bientot_!

O.S.

* * * * *

"PUBLIC SCHOOLS' HIGH JUMP CHALLENGE CUP.--E.C. Archer
(Merchant Taylors'), 5 ft. 4 in. (unfinished), 1."--_The
Times_.

We are glad to have later advices which state that he has returned to
earth safely.

* * * * *

"Alabaster Lady's Evening Cigarette Case, lid and hinges set
with diamonds; left in taxi."--_Advt. in "The Times."_

We trust the alabaster lady has by now regained her property and with
it her marmoreal calm.

* * * * *

[Illustration: IMPERIAL PREFERENCE.]

* * * * *

[Illustration: "THEY 'ALSO RUN' WHO ONLY STAND AND WAIT."]

* * * * *

THE ARRIVAL OF BLACKMAN'S WARBLER.

I am become an Authority on Birds. It happened in this way.

The other day we heard the Cuckoo in Hampshire. (The next morning
the papers announced that the Cuckoo had been heard in
Devonshire--possibly a different one, but in no way superior to ours
except in the matter of its Press agent.) Well, everybody in the house
said, "Did you hear the Cuckoo?" to everybody else, until I began to
get rather tired of it; and, having told everybody several times that
I _had_ heard it, I tried to make the conversation more interesting.
So, after my tenth "Yes," I added quite casually:--

"But I haven't heard the Tufted Pipit yet. It's funny why it should be
so late this year."

"Is that the same as the Tree Pipit?" said my hostess, who seemed to
know more about birds than I had hoped.

"Oh, no," I said confidently.

"What's the difference exactly?"

"Well, one is tufted," I said, doing my best, "and the
other--er--climbs trees."

"Oh, I see."

"And of course the eggs are more speckled," I added, gradually
acquiring confidence.

"I often wish I knew more about birds," s