* * * * *

“Father Waring’s boat became jammed while being lowered and hung
dangerously, but the ship’s surgeon cut the cackles and they descended
safely.”—­The Pioneer (Allahabad)

Another of our strong silent men.

* * * * *

Symposium of the Central weaknesses.

FERDIE.

My nerves are feeling rather bad
About the news from Petrograd. 
Briefly, and speaking as a Tsar,
I think the game has gone too far. 
When Liberty gets on the wing
You cannot always stop the thing. 
Vices from ill examples grow,
And I might be the next to go.

Tino.

Yes, what has happened over there
May very well occur elsewhere. 
Fortune with me may prove as fickle as
It did with poor lamented Nicholas. 
It was a silly thing to do
To ape the airs of William two;
I cannot think what I was at,
Trying to be an autocrat.

MEHMED.

I take a very dubious tone
About the fate of Allah’s Own. 
The Young Turk Party’s been my bane
And caused me hours and hours of pain;
But, what would be a bitterer pill,
There may be others younger still,
Who, if the facts should get about,
Would want to rise and throw me out.

FERDIE.

I don’t believe that William cares
One little fig for my affairs. 
He roped me in to this concern
Simply to serve his private turn;
And never shed a single tear
Over my loss of Monastir. 
For tuppence, if I saw my way,
I’d join the others any day.

Tino.

Last year (its memory still is green) O
How William loved his precious Tino! 
He talked about our family ties
And sent me such a lot of spies. 
But since his foes began to squeeze
My guns inside the Peloponnese
His interest in me has ceased;
I do not like it in the least.

MEHMED.

I lent him troops when things were slack,
And now the beast won’t pay ’em back. 
He never mentions any “line”
Of HINDENBURG’S in Palestine. 
I cannot sleep; I get such frights
During these dark Arabian Nights. 
But he—­he doesn’t care a dem. 
O Allah!  O Jerusalem! 

                                O.S.

* * * * *

“The one new Spring fashion.

Every woman who wants the most economical new garment, should buy
to-morrow’s daily sketch.”—­Evening Standard.

It sounds cheap, but would it wear?

* * * * *

BLANCHE’S letters.

Society “War-workers.”