CHARIVARIA.

The announcement of Mr. Justice Bray that bigamy is rampant at the present time has been drawn to the notice of the food-controller, who wishes it to be clearly understood that under no circumstances will the head of a family be allowed a sugar ration for more than one wife.

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“I have in my possession,” writes a correspondent of The Evening News, “a loaf of bread made by my husband’s mother in 1821.”  This should dispose of the popular belief that nobody anticipated the War except Mr. Blatchford.

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Lug-worms are being sold at Deal for five shillings a score.  They are stated to form an agreeable substitute for macaroni.

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“In China,” says The Daily Express, “a chicken can still be purchased for sixpence.”  Intending purchasers should note, however, that at present the return fare to Shanghai brings the total cost a trifle in excess of the present London prices.

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A recent applicant to the Warwickshire Appeal Tribunal claimed that he had captured the German shell-less egg trade.  He denied that the enemy had purposely allowed it to escape.

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A tramp charged at Kingston with begging was wearing three overcoats, two coats, two pair of trousers and an enormous pair of boots.  It seems strange that this man should not have realised that he was in a position to earn a handsome salary as a music-hall comedian.

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Owing to a cow straying on the line at Acton Bridge last week a goods train was derailed.  It seems that the unfortunate animal was not aware that cow-catchers had been abolished.

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It is reported that the two thousand taxi-drivers still on strike have decided to offer their services to Sir Auckland Geddes for munition work.  Suitable employment will be found for them in a high-expletive factory.

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In New York a club has been started exclusively for golfers.  The others insisted on it.

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A notice exhibited in the window of a Bermondsey public-house bears the words, “There is nothing like Government Ale.”  Agreed.

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“Shrimps,” says a Southern Command Order, “should not be purchased where a long train journey is involved.”  For soldiers, however, who require this kind of diet little excursions to the seaside can always be arranged for with the C.O.

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At Aberavon the other day the son of an interned German was bitten by a dog which he had kicked by accident.  The dog of course did not know it was an accident.

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We are the first to record the fact that a dear old lady, the other morning, went up to the Tank in Trafalgar Square and offered it a bun.

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We should like to deny the rumour that when he heard of Lord ROTHERMERE’s appointment to the Air Ministry Lord Northcliffe muttered, “Alas! my poor brother.”