“Yet we no hoarded fuel of mine or well require,
That drives your fleets to battle or lights the poor man’s fire;
We need no white-hot furnace for tending night and day,
No power of harnessed lightnings to speed us on our way.

“By Tavy, Dart and Derwent, by Wharfe and Usk and Nidd,
Here’s many a trusty vassal is yours when you shall bid,
With the strength of English rivers to push the wheels along
And the roar of many a mill-race to join the victory song.” 

                                C.F.S.

* * * * *

“The Berlin Municipality has issued the following order.  ’Despite the present unfavourable conditions of production, it has become possible that from Friday this week one shss will be available for every citizen of Berlin,’”—­Egyptian Gazette.

Judging by the mystery surrounding it we infer that “shss” must be some kind of sausage.

* * * * *

[Illustration:  FOOD RESTRICTION.

SCENE:  Hotel.

Little Girl. “OH, MUMMY!  THEY’VE GIVEN ME A DIRTY PLATE.”

Mother. “HUSH, DARLING.  THAT’S THE SOUP.”]

* * * * *

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.

“MINSTREL BOY.”—­You are confusing TENNYSON’S “Brook” with the Tigris.  Also it is the Turkish Army and not the river (which flows the other way) that is speaking in the famous lines—­

  “I come from haunts of Kut (return);
    I make a sudden sally.”

“ANXIOUS INQUIRER.”—­No, we are without reliable news of FERDIE.  But it is rumoured that he is preparing to conform to the general movement of the Central Allied Powers, and is therefore taking a little gentle running exercise in the Vulpedrome at Vienna.

“V.T.C.”—­We rejoice with you that already—­not more than 21/2 years since the revival of the Volunteer Force—­the War Office has recognised the desirability of giving the Volunteer a rifle to shoot with; and it now seems almost certain that he will receive one, free of charge, before the conclusion of peace.  We welcome this wise and generous decision, for though we have never pretended to be a military authority we have always held the view that in a tight corner a man with a rifle has an appreciable advantage over an unarmed man.

“FORTUNE-TELLER.”—­Like you, we are greatly impressed by the convincing arguments advanced by our military experts in support of the view that the Germans are likely to put forth a great effort this year at some point on one of their fronts; and we share your belief that the time has come when the Government should supply a long-felt want by establishing a Department of Intelligent Anticipation.  It is a happy suggestion of yours to offer, for a reasonable consideration, to place at the disposal of such a Department your admirably-equipped premises in Bond Street.