Nov. 16th.—­Thought of a plan for simplifying money-orders, by making the sender fill up two duplicate papers, one of which he hands in to be transmitted by the postmaster—­it containing a key-number which the receiver has to supply in his copy to get the money.  I think of suggesting this, and my plan for double postage on Sunday, to the Government.

    Dec. 19th.—­The idea occurred to me that a game might
    be made of letters, to be moved about on a chess-board till
    they form words.

A little book, published during this year, “Alice (a dramatic version of Lewis Carroll’s ’Alice’), and other Fairy Tales for Children,” by Mrs. Freiligrath-Kroeker, was very successful, and, I understand, still has a regular sale.  Mr. Dodgson most gladly gave his consent to the dramatisation of his story by so talented an authoress, and shortly afterwards Mrs. Kroeker brought out “Through the Looking-Glass” in a similar form.

Jan. 17, 1881.—­To the Lyceum to see “The Cup” and “The Corsican Brothers.”  The first is exquisitely put on, and Ellen Terry as Camma is the perfection of grace, and Irving as the villain, and Mr. Terriss as the husband, were very good.  But the piece wants substance.

Jan. 19_th_.—­Tried to go to Oxford, but the line is blocked near Didcot, so stayed another night in town.  The next afternoon the line was reported clear, but the journey took 5 hours!  On the day before the Dean of Ch.  Ch. and his family were snowed up for 21 hours near Radley.

March 27_th_.—­Went to S. Mary’s and stayed for Holy Communion, and, as Ffoulkes was alone, I mustered up courage to help him.  I read the exhortation, and was pleased to find I did not once hesitate.  I think I must try preaching again soon, as he has often begged me to do.

April 16_th_.—­Mr. Greenwood approves my theory about general elections, and wants me to write on it in the St. James’s Gazette. (The letter appeared on May 5, 1881.)

May 14_th_.—­Took the longest walk (I believe) I have ever done—­round by Dorchester, Didcot and Abingdon—­27 miles—­took 8 hours—­no blisters, I rejoice to find, and I feel very little tired.

May 26_th_.—­The row-loving men in College are beginning to be troublesome again, and last night some 30 or 40 of them, aided by out-College men, made a great disturbance, and regularly defied the Censors.  I have just been with the other Tutors into Hall, and heard the Dean make an excellent speech to the House.  Some two or three will have to go down, and twelve or fifteen others will be punished in various ways. (A later note says):  The punishments had to be modified—­it turned out that the disturbers were nearly all out-College men.

[Illustration 229:  DR. Liddell. From a photograph by Hill & Saunders.]