Lord RHONDDA finds his chief solace in gratifying his literary tastes.  In philosophy he is at present a convinced Rationalist.  He is devoted to the study of BACON, but not averse from the lighter sort of fiction, having a special preference for cheerful stories published in a cereal form.

The PRIME MINISTER, it may not be generally known, recruits his energies by frequent perusal of the plays of SHAKSPEARE.  At present he is conducting a correspondence with Sir SIDNEY LEE and Professor GOLLANCZ on the esoteric significance of Labour’s Love’s Lost.

Mr. WINSTON CHURCHILL is a voracious novel-reader of catholic tastes.  Just now he is revelling in Called Back and The House on the Marsh, which are being read aloud to him by his private secretary.

Mr. ARTHUR PONSONBY, M.P., the Democratic Controller, is a confirmed fruitarian, and attributes his robust health to a diet of Morella cherries and Carlsbad plums, washed down with Stockholm tar-water.

Mr. JOHN BURNS, who happily describes himself as “a dormant volcano” has of late found an agreeable stimulant in the performance of solos on the muted first violin.

Lastly, Mr. LEO MAXSE keeps himself keyed up to concert pitch by coining new nicknames for Lord HALDANE.  The list already extends to four figures.

* * * * *

“Khartum has the reputation of being a very hot place this time of year.  But last June must have been fairly damp if the meteorological statistics published by the ‘Sudan Times’ are correct.  The rainfall during this month amounted to no less than 33.6 kilometres.  No wonder a man I know there wrote to say the other day that sometimes the rain is too heavy for him to go on sleeping on the roof, and this in spite of a waterproof sheet.  A life-belt would probably be more useful.”—­Egyptian Mail.

Only NOAH’S Ark would really meet the case.

* * * * *

[Illustration:  First Tommy.  “WHAT ARE YE GOING TO DO WITH IT?”

Second Tommy (with tiny prisoner). “FIX IT ON THE BONNET OF THE GENERAL’S MOTOR-CAR.”]

* * * * *

MATILDA

(From our Adjutant’s Diary).

The depot has decided that Matilda is a notable puppy.  I could not tell you her particular make, but our motor cyclist artificer described her as a “1917 model; well upholstered but weak in the chassis and unreliable in the differential on hairpin bends; in fact, built for comfort and not speed.”

Matilda became a celebrity all in one day.  The C.O. wrote the following chit to her master:—­

“O.C.-’A’ Company.—­If your dog must stroll into my orderly-room, will you please see that she is kept reasonably clean?  Please take necessary action, initial and return.”