Messrs. Sowerly and Bitterton, the well-known vinegar manufacturers, have undertaken to provide the necessary plant for illustration of the famous exploit of splitting the rocks with that disintegrating condiment, and Messrs. Rappin and Jebb, the famous cutlers, have been approached with a view to furnish the necessary implements for the portrayal of the tragedy of the Caudine Forks.  Professor Chollop, who is superintending the taking of the pictures of the battle of Cannae and the subsequent period of repose at Capua in their proper atmosphere, states that he is receiving every support from the local condottieri, pifferari, banditti and lazzaroni, and expects to be able to complete his task by the late autumn.

A certain amount of antagonism, on humanitarian grounds, has been shown by the Italian Government to the importation of a herd of elephants, which were essential to the realistic depiction of the passage of the Alps by the Carthaginian army; but it is hoped that by the use of skis the transit may be effected without undue casualties among the elephantine fraternity.

Lord FISHER has been invited to impersonate SCIPIO, and the role of FABIUS, the originator of the “Wait and See” policy, has been offered to Mr. ASQUITH, but authentic details are as yet lacking as to their decision.

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[Illustration:  THE BLAMELESS ACCOMPLICE.

IRISH RAILWAYMAN (to Sinn Fein Assassin).  “YOU’LL BE ALL RIGHT.  DETESTING MURDER, AS MR. THOMAS SAYS I DO, I’VE TAKEN CARE THAT THAT FELLOW SHOULD HAVE NO AMMUNITION.”

["The Irish members of the N.U.R. expressed publicly their feeling of disgust at murder and outrage.”—­Mr. J.H.  THOMAS.]]

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ESSENCE OF PARLIAMENT.

Monday, June 21st.—­While the PRIME MINISTER was celebrating the longest—­and pretty nearly the hottest—­day by a vin d’honneur at Boulogne Mr. BONAR LAW had to content himself with small beer in the Commons.

The Government, it seems, is to offer its services to effect a peaceful settlement between the Imam YAHYA and the Said IDRISSI, who are rival rulers in Arabia.  There is believed to be a possibility that in return the said Said will offer his services to effect a peaceful settlement in Hibernia Infelix.

The Government is not so indifferent to economy as is sometimes suggested.  The PRIME MINISTER’S famous letter to the Departments was only written in August last, yet already, Mr. BONAR LAW assured the House, some progress has been made in reducing redundant staffs, and the Government has appointed—­no, I beg pardon, “decided to appoint”—­independent Committees to carry out investigations.  The hustlers!

[Illustration:  DO YOU EXPECT ME TO SEND THE SERGEANT-AT-ARMS TO FETCH THE MINISTER OF TRANSPORT?—­The SPEAKER.]

The Member for Wood Green, who urged that the Treasury should prepare an estimate of the national income, with the view of limiting the national expenditure to a definite proportion of that amount, displayed, it seems to me, amazing temerity.  The course of taxation in recent years encourages the belief that the only thing that restrains the CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER from taking our little all is that he does not know how much it is.