Tommy.  “NEITHER, THANK-YE.” Helper.  “COCOA, THEN, OR BOVRIL?”

Tommy.  “NO, NO.  NONE OF THEM FOR ME, MISS.”

Helper (with asperity).  “WELL, WE’VE NOTHING ELSE EXCEPT WATER.”

Tommy (earnestly).  “AN’ I DAREN’T TOUCH THAT.  D’YE SEE, MISS, WHEN ME FATHER LAY DYIN’—­GOD REST HIS SOWL!—­HE SEZ TO ME, ’I’VE GIVEN YE AN IRON CONSTITUTION, ANNYWAY, AN’ LET YE SEE TO IT THAT YE NIVER TAKE ANNYTHING THAT ‘UD RUST IT ON YE.’”]

* * * * *

THE QUEST OF KNOWLEDGE.

MR. BLAIR, the L.C.C.  Education Officer, is dissatisfied, according to The Daily Chronicle, with the questions put at school examinations, on the ground that they do not test the thoughtfulness and ingenuity of the pupil.  The “Why” as well as the “What” should be developed, and to illustrate the value of the method proposed Mr. BLAIR suggests various sample questions, e.g.:—­

“How do you account for the density of the population in Staffordshire?

“Find out from your atlas the distance from London to Glasgow.  How long would it take you to go there by train?  What would the third-class fare be at a penny a mile?

“How can we discover the minimum conditions necessary for the germination of a bean?

“ARISTOTLE remarked that a bee will visit one type of flower only during one journey from the hive.  Find out if this is true, and, if true, point out its significance from the point of view of the flower.”

As Mr. BLAIR remarks, a quest is better than a question.  We agree, and venture to start a few more quests:—­

“Find out from Who’s Who the literary productions of Miss MARIE CORELLI and Mr. HALL CAINE, and trace their effect on the density of the population of Warwickshire and the Isle of Man respectively.

“ARISTOTLE remarked that one swallow does not make a summer.  Find out whether this is true, and, if true, explain its bearing on the thirst of the swallower.

“Find out on your map the distance from Madrid to Jaffa, and state what would be the cost of a cargo of Spanish onions and Jerusalem artichokes delivered in the London Docks.

“What is the minimum time necessary for the incubation of a Scarlet Pimpernel?

What are the statutory dimensions of a gigantic gooseberry?  Have you ever seen one, and if not why not?”

* * * * *

    OUR YOUTHFUL HEROES.

    “C.Q.M.S.E.A. ——­, brother of Mr. W.M. ——­, Falmouth, spent
    his third birthday in the trenches on the 8th inst.”—­Royal
    Cornwall Gazette.

* * * * *

“One or two of the Councillors are on war service, and their places will be kept warm for them....  Councillors ——­ and J.R. ——­ have not once been able to sit since they donned khaki.”—­Southern Times.

We infer that the Councillors in question are training for the cavalry.