The land-taxers made a gallant effort to frighten their opponents away by chanting the “Land Song” in the Lobby, but it is supposed that the Government supporters had copied Ulysses’ method with the Sirens, for enough of them remained faithful to defeat the land-taxers by 190 to 68.

[Illustration:  Mr. Neal. “Your fares will cost you more.”]

Thursday, July 15th.—­Mr. Neal’s announcement that the proposed increase in rail way fares had been postponed until August 5th, in order not to spoil the Bank Holiday, was far from satisfying the House.  Mr. Clynes pointed out that large numbers of the working-classes now took their long holidays in August.  Mr. Palmer was of opinion that the working-classes could pay well enough; it was the middle-class that would suffer most; and Mr. R. McNeill, following up this assertion, suggested (without success) that for the sake of poverty-stricken M.P.’s the House should adjourn before the fateful date.

Sir H. Greenwood gave particulars of the Sinn Fein raid on the Dublin Post-Office, but declined to give an opinion as to whether there had been any collusion with the staff inside.  Judging by the promptitude and efficiency of the raiders’ procedure it seems highly improbable that postal officials had anything to do with it.

* * * * *

    “Each day the barometer seems to drop a little lower, the rain
    seems to drop a little more persistent and wet.”—­Provincial
    Paper.

It is this persistent wetness that is so annoying.  Nobody would mind a little dry rain.

* * * * *

[Illustration:  Farmer. “I wonder what some of these London folks ’ud say to this?”

Farm-hand. “Zay?  They’d zay as we must be makin’ our fortunes out o’ mushrooms.”]

* * * * *

TWENTY YEARS ON.

We were sitting in the verandah, Ernest and I. On the greensward before us Ernest Junior and James Junior (I am James) disported themselves as became their years, which were respectively 1-3/4 and 1-5/8.  In the middle distance, or as middle as the size of our lawn permits, might be seen the mothers of Ernest Junior and James Junior deep in conversation, discussing, perhaps, the military prowess of their lords, though I rather fear I caught the word “jumper” every now and then.

A loud difference of opinion between James II. and Ernest II. as to the possession of a wooden horse momentarily disturbed the peaceful scene.  It was left to Ernest and myself to settle it, our incomparable wives being still completely engrossed with the subject of our military prowess (or of jumpers).  When quiet reigned once more Ernest said, “Have you ever looked twenty years on?”

“Practically never,” I answered.  “It is too exhausting.”

“It is exhausting, but with my usual energy I do it all the same,” said Ernest, who is as a fact the world’s champion lotus-eater.  “Last night I was picturing a little scene in the year 1940.  Shall I tell you of it?” And without waiting for my assent he proceeded:—­