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From a list of Canon MASTERMAN’S lectures on “The War and the Smaller Nations of Europe":—­

    “April 2nd (possibly), ‘The Reconstruction of Europe.’”—­Western
    Morning News.

We commend the lecturer’s caution, but hope it will prove to have been superfluous.

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[Illustration:  THIS IS NOT A SCENE FROM A REVUE—­IT IS HARDLY DULL ENOUGH FOR THAT—­BUT AN EVERYDAY PERFORMANCE ON THE PLATFORM OF ANY RAILWAY STATION DURING THE RECENT COLD SPELL.]

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A FORWARD MINX.

The garden wall was high, yet not so high but that any young lady bent on attracting the notice of her neighbours could look over it.  Miss Dot indeed regarded an outside flight of steps which led to an upper storey as an appointed amelioration to the hours which she was expected to spend in the garden, for it was an easy scramble from the stairs to the top of the wall, whence she could survey the world.  To be sure the wall was narrow as well as high, but a timorous gait shows off a pretty figure, and slight nervousness adds a pathetic expression to a pretty face; to both of which advantages Dot was not, it is to be believed, altogether indifferent when khaki coats dwelt the other side of that wall.

On this particular day she was trying to attract notice in so unrestrained a manner that her mother remarked it from an upper window.  But mothers, we are told in these latter days, are not always the wisest guardians of their “flapper” daughters.  This mother had a decided penchant for a khaki coat herself; only she demanded braid on the cuff and a smartly cut collar, and these she would greet in the street with a tender act of homage which rarely failed to win admiring attention.  But for a daughter who would dash down the road after a Tommy she had contempt rather than disapproval.  So she watched with interest, but, alas! with no idea of interference.

At first there were only “civvies” about, and though the admiration of any youthful male was dear to Dot’s heart, and though chaff and blandishments were not wanting, still the wall was high, and she lacked the resolve to descend.  But presently two khaki coats appeared and the matter grew more serious.  It was evident that it was not principle or modesty that held her back, but just timidity, for she responded eagerly to the advances of her admirers, but could not quite pluck up courage for that long jump down.  Affairs grew shameless, for the khaki coats fetched a ladder to assist the elopement; but Dot made it clear that there were difficulties in that method of flight, though she wished there were not.  At last she was enticed to a lower portion of the wall, and there, half screened by shrubs, she was lifted off by the shoulders, deliciously reluctant, and received into the cordial embrace of an enthusiastic soldiery.