A debate on the popular theme, “Make Germany Pay!” was initiated by Col.  CLAUDE LOWTHER, who not long ago produced a specific scheme for extracting twenty-five thousand millions from the enemy—­a scheme which by its unconventional handling of the rules of arithmetic excited the amazed admiration of professional financiers.  Possibly Mr. BONAR LAW, as ex-Chancellor of the Exchequer, was jealous because he had not thought of it first.  At any rate he subjected the plan to so much caustic criticism that Col.  LOWTHER, having appealed in vain for the protection of his namesake in the Chair, walked out of the House.

[Illustration:  Treasury Bulldog (to Minister of Transportation).  “ERIC—­NAUGHTY!”]

Thursday, April 3rd.—­Some of NAPOLEON’S many complaints of his treatment at St. Helena concerned the cost and quality of his food.  The exile of Amerongen need have no fears on that score should the Allies decide to remove him to Longwood, for the present Governor has been so successful in keeping down the price of foodstuffs that the merchants of the island have petitioned for his recall.

The CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER has so far relaxed his non-possumus attitude on the joint income-tax question as to consent to receive a deputation of Members interested, and even to allow them to be accompanied by a small number of ladies.  Mr. CHAMBERLAIN, by the way, has exchanged his hereditary monocle for a pair of ordinary spectacles, which may account for his taking a less one-sided view of this question.

Mr. T.P.  O’CONNOR now enjoys the distinction of being the “Father” of the House of Commons, having sat there uninterruptedly since the General Election of 1880.  Perhaps his new dignity sits rather heavily on his youthful spirit, for his speech on the Irish Estimates was painfully lugubrious.  He took some comfort from a statement in The Times that “We are all Home Rulers now,” but as a veteran journalist he is probably aware that what The Times says to-day it will not necessarily say to-morrow.

“Leave politics alone and give us decent houses for our people and better education for our children” was Sir EDWARD CARSON’S prescription for invalid Erin; and Mr. IAN MACPHERSON, making his first speech as Chief Secretary, indicated that he meant to apply it.  But the patient is suffering from so many disorders at present that she must have a tonic—­with iron in it—­before her Constitution can be regarded as completely restored.

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P.B.

  Oft when the world was bent
    Solely on killing
  Heard we in Parliament
    PEMBERTON billing.

  Now the Dove hovers near,
    Now the League’s brewing,
  May we not hope to hear
    PEMBERTON cooing?

* * * * *

MACEDONIA.

The Allies having won the War, and myself having been released from the hands of the Hun, I spent a happy repatriation leave, and began to think about soldiering again.  My orders were to rejoin my reserve unit in the North of England.