“London, Dec. 16.—­At a meeting of the County Cricket Advisory Committee it was decided to run the County Championship during 1919, the matches to be limited to two days.  There will be no change in the number of balls in the over.—­Reuter’s.

    The Soviets are preparing the sharpest
    counter-measure.—­Reuter’s.”—­Canton Times.

But we are confident that whatever the Soviets’ little game is it will not be cricket.

* * * * *

STATE LOTTERIES.

    [An Equality Theatre is being-run in Munich, where the public pays
    a fixed price and is allotted by chance a seat in the stalls or
    the gallery.]

  The Equality plan we will run if we can
    So that never a man or a woman need grumble—­
  If theatres, should the idea not include
    Books, clothing and food for the great and the humble? 
  You will pay a fixed sum and accept what may come,
    Be it loser or plum; and, to shun all that vexes,
  We’ll even eliminate what modern women hate,
    And will not discriminate as to the sexes.

  The question of dress may at first, I confess,
    Make a sort of a mess of our smart Small-and-Earlies,
  Where the First Footman John wears the garb of a don,
    And Lord CURZON comes on from the House in his pearlies;
  But when our char kneels on the steps and reveals
    The last word in “Lucilles,” will she not put her heart more
  And more in her duties while great social beauties
    Slink by in “pampooties” and arrows from Dartmoor?

  Our tastes and our breeding no more will be leading
    The paths of our reading; we’ll read what we’ve got to
  (And it will be a sell for Mamma if her Nell
    Gets the last ETHEL DELL, when Mamma told her not to);
  It may be a worry to poor GILBERT MURRAY
    To read Hints on Curry and Blouses and Batter
  In Home Chat, it’s true; but still more of a stew
    The Occult Review may appear to his hatter.

  In the matter of meals, since the rations one feels
    Hedonistic ideals have so soundly been shaken
  That even the swankiest Duke might say, “Thankee!”
    For Hodge’s red hanky of bread and cold bacon;
  But if in the sequel all chances are equal
    You’ll have to see me quell a volume of curses
  When our “jobs” they allot, and I still have to swot,
    If I like it or not, writing topical verses.

* * * * *

A HARDY ANNUAL.