No Leader of the House, perhaps, since Sir STAFFORD NORTHCOTE’S time has occupied a more difficult position than Mr. BONAR LAW.  But he is daily becoming more at home in the saddle, and can even venture upon a joke or two.  Mr. PRINGLE opposed the suspension of the Eleven-o’clock Rule on the ground, inter alia, that “he only wanted to get away.”  “That,” said Mr. LAW suavely, “is a result which can easily be attained,” and the House, which is getting a little weary of Mr. PRINGLE’S frequent and acidulated interposition, noted his discomfiture with approving cheers.

Thursday, February 15th.—­Lord CURZON, in a happy phrase, described the late Duke of NORFOLK as “diffident about powers which were in excess of the ordinary.”  Is not that true of the British race as a whole?  Only now, under the stress of a long-drawn-out conflict, is it discovering the variety and strength of its latent forces.

There are, of course, exceptions to this rule—­strong men who are fully conscious of their strength.  Lord MIDLETON, for example, who sought a comprehensive return of all the buildings commandeered and staffs employed by the multifarious new Ministries, and was told that to provide it would put too great a strain on officials fully engaged on work essential to winning the War, promptly replied that if the Government would give him access to their books he would draw up a return in a couple of days.  Either the evil has been greatly exaggerated or Lord MIDLETON is a super-statistician for whose services another hotel or two ought to be immediately secured.

* * * * *

[Illustration:  Officer.  “I DON’T THINK MUCH OF THAT CORPORAL, SERGEANT.”

Sergeant.  “THAT’S ALL RIGHT, SIR; HE’S IN FOR A COMMISSION.”]

* * * * *

    “Black billy, 11 months, dam good milker; 10s.”—­The Bazaar.

It’s no use swearing; we simply don’t believe it.

* * * * *

    “This week three crows had landed at Cardiff who had been sunk by
    submarines twice, and in some cases three times.”—­Manchester
    Guardian.

If only they had stayed in the crow’s-nest this might not have happened.

* * * * *

    “Matrimony.—­Gentleman coming into means desires to correspond with
    Lady having means; this is genuine.”—­Scotch Paper.

But suppose she won’t have him; would he be “coming into means” then?

* * * * *

THE QUESTION OF THE DAY.

What are a rational nation’s national rations?

* * * * *

    “Outwardly, this has been a week devoted both at home and abroad to
    preparation for the campaign in the spring.  Actually, a great deal of
    water has passed under the Thames.”—­Liverpool Paper.