Meanwhile the fact remains that it is dangerous to boast.

* * * * *

[Illustration:  Tommy (back from Blighty).  “YUS, I GRANT YER A BIT O’ LEAVE’S ALL RIGHT.  BUT IT’S AWFUL DEPRESSIN’, TOO, AT HOME—­NOTHIN’ BUT WAR—­WAR!  IT GIVES YER THE FAIR ’UMP.”]

* * * * *

“JAPANESE POLITICS.

PRIME MINISTER’S ATTACK ON THE DIET.”—­Daily Paper.

We wouldn’t be the Food Controller in Japan for anything.

* * * * *

    “Wanted situation as Groom Coachman or Coachman General; disengaged
    early in March; can milk and care motor if required.”—­Irish Paper.

A modern improvement, we suppose, on “the cow with the iron tail.”

* * * * *

“At a special meeting of the Duma held to-day, the Minister for Agriculture, M. Rittich, in reply to an urgent question on the measures for supplying Petrograd, stated the supplies were sufficient for the present.  Difficulties in purchase are due to excessive building and storing by individuals in the shape of rusks.”—­Daily Chronicle.

No authority for this remarkable statement is given, but we suspect the Russky Invalid.

* * * * *

    “A trifle of a trinket for his women-folk is the only saving as an
    insurance for the poor against famine and starvation for a rainless
    day.”—­A Native Writer in “The Times of India."

KIPLING was right, East is East and West is West.

* * * * *

“The undersigned has great pleasure in informing all the ladies, gentlemen and the other travellers in the Station that a very nice comfortable motor car can be obtained on hire from him for a walk in or out of the Station for any period of time at very reasonable charges.”—­Peshawar Daily News.

The petrol shortage evidently extends to India.

* * * * *

“Ireland is accustomed to disappointment; she is accustomed to what she signalises as betrayal, but her spirit remains unbroken, and she goes on her way undaunted to seek, it may be by new methods and a new road, her appointed gaol.”—­Manchester Guardian.

Irishmen may justifiably resent this cynicism on the part of an old friend.

* * * * *

[Illustration:  A MODIFIED SALIENT.

The Old ’Un (surveying recently called-up warrior). “WELL, JARGE, YOU’M STILL TURR’BLE FAT, BUT THE ARMY DO ZEEM TO ’AVE REARRANGED IT, LIKE.”]

* * * * *

GOLD BRAID.

  Same old crossing, same old boat,
    Same old dust round Rouen way,
  Same old narsty one-franc note,
    Same old “Mercy, sivvoo play;”
  Same old scramble up the line,
    Same old ’orse-box, same old stror,
  Same old weather, wet or fine,
    Same old blooming War.