C.E.H.

[Herrick.  A collected edition of the poems is published by
J.M.  Dent at 1s. net.—­ED. N.Q.A.]”

Afterthought by ED. N.Q.A.:  “At least I think it’s HERRICK ... or WORDSWORTH ... but wait till the Editor comes back from Algiers.  He’s sure to know.”

* * * * *

    “Sir John Thornycroft kicked off in a football charity match
    at Bembridge, Isle of Wight, in which the combined ages of the
    players was 440 years.”—­Hull Daily Mail.

Why not?

* * * * *

    “M.  Timiriazeff, president of the Anglo-British Chamber of
    Commerce, followed with a speech.”—­Daily Telegraph.

We like his Anglo-British name.

* * * * *

WINTER SPORTS.

    [Some additional aspects of the fashionable topic that
    seem to have escaped the writers of similar articles in our
    contemporaries.]

(I.)—­BUYING THE HOTEL.

For this game several players are required, who form themselves into one or more parties according to numbers.  A player, preferably a woman, is selected as leader, and should possess nerve, coolness, and an authoritative voice.  The object of the game is to secure (1) The best rooms; (2) Tables with a view; (3) The controlling interest in all projects of entertainment.  It is an important advantage for the leader to have stayed in the hotel at least once previously.  If she is able to announce on arrival, “Here we are as usual!” and to greet the proprietor and staff by name, this often gives an initial blow exceedingly hard to parry.  English visitors have been proving very adept at the sport this season, with Americans a good second.  The German game, on the contrary, is slower and less subtle.

(II.)—­SPOTTING THE PARSON.

An amusing game that has been very popular at many Swiss resorts lately, and one that calls for the qualifications of a quick brain and a keen eye.  The universal adoption of sweaters and woollen caps makes the task of the players one of considerable difficulty.  Envelope-reading should be forbidden by the rules, and some codes even debar the offering of a Church Times to a suspected stranger.  The Athenaeum and Spectator may, however, be freely employed as bait.  A simpler version of the same sport called “HOW MANY SCHOOLMASTERS?” is often indulged in between December 20th and January 15th, after which latter date it loses its point.

Other games, seldom chronicled but inquiring at least as much skill from their votaries as the better known varieties, are EARLY MORNING SKI-BAGGING—­at which the Germans frequently carry all before them—­and PRESSING THE PRESS-PHOTOGRAPHER, where the object of all the players is to appear recognizably in a snap-shot for the illustrated journals.  At this the record score of three weekly and five daily papers has been held for two successive seasons by the same player, a gentleman whose dexterity is the subject of universal admiration.