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[Illustration:  Vicar.  “I’M SORRY TO HEAR THAT YOUR HUSBAND IS IN GAOL AGAIN, MRS. STIBBS.  STEALING A WATCH, EH?”

Mrs. Stibbs.  “YES, SIR.  BUT ’TAIN’T ’IS FAULT THIS TIME.  THE MAGISTRATE SAID ’ISSELF THAT JOE DIDN’T KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ‘MEUM AND TOOUM,’ AN’ IN ’IS IGNORANCE ‘E’D DONE A BIT O’ ‘TOOUMING.’”]

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OUR MOVIE-MINISTERS.

(Deductions by a Political Expert.)

The admirable plan of transplanting Ministers admittedly doing excellent work in their departments just as they are settling down in the saddle, though generally commended by supporters of the Government, is meeting with a certain amount of criticism.  Appointments which show “imagination” are, it is urged, shorn of their possibilities when the holders are moved on just when they are beginning to provide the public with sensation.

Speculations are rife as to the appointment of a new Minister of Education, and the best-informed opinion inclines to the view that Sir ERIC GEDDES, who has occupied his present position for quite a number of weeks, will succeed Mr. FISHER.  Some experts however hold that the PREMIER has a magnificent opportunity for displaying his imagination by the choice of Mr. WELLS, who is burning to disprove the recent astounding allegation of General WILSON that the War could not have been won without the Universities.  The chief objection to Mr. WELLS, however, is that he cannot be transferred, because he is not already in office; and this drawback also operates in the case of Mr. SMILLIE and Mr. BOTTOMLEY.

In this context it is to be noted that Lord READING (so at least we understand from the peculiarly plaintive smile which he wears in recent photographs) is much disappointed that the claims of Mr. T.P.  O’CONNOR to the post of Ambassador at Washington have so far failed of due recognition.  American antagonism over the Irish Question has not been conciliated by this strange oversight.

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THINGS THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN WORDED DIFFERENTLY.

From the official organ of the Surplus Government Property Disposal Board: 

    “Sales by Auction of Surplus Horses by arrangement with the Food
    Production Department of the Board of Agriculture.”

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“A grand Mahogany Bedstead, 9-1/2’ x 8’, with posts and testers complete, meant for Rajas and Zemindars.  Can also accommodate 4 middle-class people comfortably.  Going for Rs. 500.”—­Advt. in Indian Paper.

Mr. KENNEDY JONES will kindly call the attention of the Middle Classes Union to this proposed congestion.

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[Illustration:  PLAYING THE 18TH—­LAST ROUND OF THE DAY.

“YOU FOOL, CADDIE!  HOW CAN I PLAY FROM THAT LIE WITH A WOODEN CLUB?”