Various

“ It is true that all nations were becoming weary of a violent and hectoring diplomacy, of a restless and jealous punctilio seeking out occasions for misunderstandings and quarrels, and rushing wildly from one crisis to another; but under your direction this intolerable system had been patented and put in operation by Germany and by no other nation. ”

“ Blagg had been forcibly removed by a couple of constables, "that I had the presence of mind to telephone to the police station. I really thought once or twice that that dreadful man would have got the better of you."
"And no thanks to you if he didn't," grunted the soldier. "I notice that, if your conscience goes against lighting yourself, it don't object to calling in others to fight for you." ”

“ You believed that, after spending a few thousands of men and a few millions of marks, victory would be yours, and you would be able, as an unquestioned conqueror, to dictate peace to those who had dared to oppose you. And thus in a few months at the most you would return to Berlin and prance along the flower-strewn streets at the head of your victorious and but little-injured regiments. ”

“ You are the man, Sir, who by a word spoken in a seasonable moment might have forbidden the War, and this word you refused to speak because, knowing your own preparations for war and those of the nations whom you forced to be your enemies, you anticipated an easy and a swift triumph. ”

“ Any omission on his part was more than made good by Colonel Churchill, who for an hour or more kept the House interested with his views on the proper employment of our Armies. Whenever he speaks at Westminster one is inclined to remark, "What a strategist!" whereas it is rumoured that his admiring comrades in the trenches used to murmur, "What a statesman!" One of his best points was that the War Office should use their men, not like a heap of shingle, but like pieces of mosaic, each in his right place. ”

“ For I know that even where you sit walled about by your flatterers, ramparted against the intrusion of any fresh breath of criticism, and protected by entanglements of barbed wire against any hint of doubt as to your god-like attributes—even there I know that my voice shall in time reach you, and you shall become aware that there is a German who dares to say of you what millions of Germans think and soon will dare to say. ”

“ Gordon Selfridge said he was glad that President Wilson, "who had had his ear to the ground for a long time, had at last seemed to realise that the American nation was at heart wholly with the principles that animated the Allies in this world struggle." ”

“ But this day was the Boy's birthday and the Father took from his pocket an envelope and placed it with a smile by the side of the little parcels.
Would he never look at his letters? The Mother was on the point of speaking, but long habit, the old habit of obedience to her lord, restrained her. Even now, when she was cold with anxiety, those old concealed forces of habit restrained her. Might she not offend him? ”

“ What bias there is is that of the extreme republican against his autocratic government. "I have read," says Herr Fernau in effect, "this perfectly serious and definite indictment lucidly drawn in legal form. I hope as a German (not afraid to sign my name) there is an answer. But whereas the Entente Powers have supported their official case by documentary evidence we are asked to accept mere asseveration in the case of Germany. That is the less allowable as the obvious (though not necessarily the true) reading of the facts is against her. ”

“ Does he imagine that the heart of the American nation is in its boots?
The Lord Mayor of London states that he expects that within a couple of years he will be able to reach his estate, seventy miles from London, in half-an-hour by aeroplane. We hope his prophecy may be realised, but we cannot help wondering what would happen if his aeroplane were to turn turtle on the way.
A legal point has been raised as to whether a woman who, while attempting to kill a wasp, breaks her neighbour's window is liable for damages. ”

“ So, as the house was already uncomfortable by reason of a row about the young man, Beatrice determined to shake the suburban dust from her shapely feet and take service as maid to her ex-domestic. That is why the story of it is called Miss Million's Maid (Hutchinson) . An excellent story, too, told with great verve by Mrs. Oliver Onions. I could never attempt to detail the complicated adventures to which their fantastic situation exposes Beatrice and Million. Of course they have each a lover; indeed, the supply of suitors is soon in excess of the demand. ”

“ Anne was standing in the hall looking like nothing on earth. One of the reasons why I gave in to Anne and married her was because of her repose. She can look more tragic than Bernhardt, but she never makes a noise. In moments of domestic stress, as when the six hens we had purchased contributed one egg and that in the next garden (date of birth unknown) , Anne assumes a plaintive smile that leaves the English language at the post. ”

“ Givers of theatre parties have been divided into those who buy a programme for each guest and those who buy one programme for all; and programmes, for some occult reason which seems to satisfy the British ass, cost sixpence each. ”

“ Of course it is a cheap line to welcome as a miracle of wisdom every German who takes a pro-Ally view. But I honestly detect no shadow of pro-Ally bias in this book, and it is certainly no tirade against Germany. ”

“ She had not been long gone before a burly stranger entered unceremoniously by the study window. "'Scuse me, guv'nor," he said, "but ain't you the party whose name I read in the paper—'im what swore 'e wouldn' lift 'is finger not to save 'is own mother from a 'Un?"
"I am," replied Mr. Plapp complacently. "I disbelieve in meeting violence by violence."
"Ah, if there was more blokes like you, Guv'nor, this world 'ud be a better plice, for some on us. Blagg, my name is. ”

“ I was in that hospital for three months, and I verily believe that if it had not been for Abdul I should have been in three months more. He had his own way of doing things and people, but he modelled himself unconsciously on some personality half-way between Florence Nightingale and Fagin's most promising pupil. ”

“ One paper is not enough for any house, and some houses or families require many. In the house in which I write, situate in a foreign country, there are many exiles from England and only one paper, which arrives on the fourth day after publication (thus making Wednesday a terrible blank) , and sometimes does not complete the round of readers until to-morrow. The result is that a bad spirit prevails. Normally open and candid persons are found concealing the paper against a later and freer hour ”

“ An arsenal worker has pleaded for exemption on the ground that he had seven little pigs to look after. The Tribunal however promised him that in the German trenches he would find as many full-grown pigs to look after as the heart of man could desire. ”

“ Constantly have I seen appeals for Ruritania in the Press."
Anne permitted herself a faint gesture.
"Everything was going so well," she continued, dusting the shepherdess abstractedly. "We had a splendid committee, and Lady Rogerson was leaving for Ruritania with our Ladies' Coffee Unit this morning. They were going to provide hot refreshment for the gallant mountaineers as they marched through their beautiful mountain passes—they have them, haven't they, Herbert?"
"They must have," I said hotly. ”

“ Most of us smoke more cigarettes than we need, to an amount far exceeding the cost of six extra morning papers.
The worst of it is that other people can never read a paper for us. Most people don't try ”

“ Especially as the pompous parent, lacking nerve to carry out a matrimonial venture on his own account, relented and behaved quite decently to the rebellious pair. So the rich man's table would have, as all tables should, more than one pair of legs under it again. ”

“ In introducing a Vote of Credit for 300 millions, making a total of £2,382,000,000 since August, 1914, the Prime Minister said very little about the War, except that we were still confident in its triumphant issue. ”

“ No, she's going to be in the care of someone I can depend on—my old aunt!"
"I don't like losing Louisa," murmured Mrs. Plapp, so softly that her husband failed to catch her remark, "but—I think you're wise."
F. A.
First Slacker (to second ditto) . 'Well, no one can say we're not patriots. We're not keeping able-bodied caddies from joining the Army.'
A Dangerous Quest. "Lost, at Bestwood, Saturday, Irish Terrier Dog, finder rewarded, dead or alive."—Provincial Paper.
[365]
Sergeant. ”

“ For however much you may like or dislike the mark at which Mr. Bullett has aimed there is no doubt that he has hit it. Villadom, by his art, takes on a revived significance, and Kay's career encourages reflection touched by a vague sadness.
FALSE ECONOMY. A Tale for the Horse-Marines. "London, Sunday.
"While a British submarine was rescuing the Zeppelin crew in the North Sea, a German cruiser fired at it. ”