was positive cruelty to keep these two animals separated a moment longer than was absolutely necessary.  He said that his conscientious objections to betting were well known and life-long, but that even they would not stand in the way of his wife’s putting a fiver on their dog Stanislaus.  He added a few remarks about O’Brien’s grandfather, the “transplanter”; but what annoyed the owner of Elixir most was Mulligan’s remark that he had not seen the dog, but heard it was some new kind of German pug.

Billy came in with the libelled animal at his heels to show me Mulligan’s letter and discuss his wrongs, before he went round to talk dog with the writer.  His shortest way to Mulligan’s was through my back-yard.  Elixir, without anybody’s permission, at once started to break his way through in order to tell Mulligan’s dog to his face what he thought of him.  He had hardly set a paw in it when an infuriated ball of fur lit somewhere out of space on to his back, cursing and spitting and tearing the hair out in slathers.  This new enemy was my wife’s tortoise-shell kitten Emmeline, whose existence I had for the moment forgotten, but who owns that backyard and whose permission had not been asked.

What was left of Elixir let a yell out of it like a foghorn and bolted.  It returned twenty-four hours later with its tail between its legs, a convinced pacifist.  The disgusted O’Brien at once changed its name to Bertrand Russell, after some philosopher who palliates German methods of warfare, and gave it to a tinker.

O’Brien has abandoned theories about dogs and is now trying to encourage hygiene in our midst, and Mulligan is sleeping better than ever.

* * * * *

[Illustration:  Diner (choking).  “QUICK!  WATER!  CRUMB IN ME THROAT.” War Waiter.  “AH, SIR, IF ONLY THE WELL-TO-DO WOULD LEAVE BREAD FOR THE LESS FORTUNATE.”]

* * * * *

     AN UNUSUAL RECOMMENDATION.

     “Governess (Nursery), L40, seasick, one pupil, usual subjects,
     about 30.”—­Melbourne Argus.

* * * * *

From a Cadets’ examination: 

“Q. What is a Roster?

A. A Roster is a soldier who frequently gets drunk or rowdy.  Not what could be called a steady man.”

* * * * *

From a Publishers’ advertisement:—­

     Wild Foods of Great Britain:  Where to Find them and How to Cook
     them. 46 figs.  Post free 1s. 9d.”

The figs alone are worth the money.

* * * * *

     “Leytonstone’s best effort was by a wounded soldier, who at great
     risk of pneumonia gallantly rescued a number of women from a
     tramcar that couldn’t swim.”—­Daily Sketch.

The attention of the L.C.C. is respectfully called to this deficiency on the part of its vehicle.