Sir,--A victim since birth to congenital lassitude, which has rendered all labour, whether manual or mental, distasteful, nay, intolerable to me, I find myself at the age of 41 so out of touch with the spirit of strenuous effort which has invaded every corner of our national life that I am anxious to confer on the State or, failing that, some meritorious millionaire the privilege of providing for my modest needs. A snug sinecure with a commodious residence and a good car--cheap American motors are of course barred--represent the indispensable minimum. I am, Sir, yours faithfully, Everleigh Slack. * * * * * Some day, says the President of the Aero Club, we shall be able to go into a shop and buy a pair of wings. But we can do that already; the only difficulty is to fly with them. * * * * * "Gentleman, middle aged, would be glad of a few correspondents (40 to 60)." _T. P.'s Weekly._ Too Many. * * * * * THE SILENT CHARMER. [Speaking of flowers a contemporary recently remarked:--"These careless-looking creatures filling the air with delight, robbing tired brains of tiredness, are a delicate texture of coloured effort that has prevailed out of a thousand chances, aided in all that effort by man. Without man they would be but weeds--a profusion of Nature's quantity."] My dearest Thomas, I would not Deny the fact that you are clever; You've taught Dame Nature what is what At horticultural endeavour (She has not got that useful thing, The shilling book of gardening). She has her merits, but, of course, Her wild attempts won't stand comparing With such a floral _tour de force_ As that geranium you are wearing; Yon chosen emblem of your skill Must surely make her wilder still. But give me Nature; when we meet She does not prattle of her posies, Dull facts of what begonias eat, The dietetic fads of roses, And how she strove with spade and spud. Or nipped the green fly on the bud. 'Tis she that really soothes the brain, Spreading her weeds in bright profusion, And never troubling to explain How much they owe to her collusion, While, Thomas, _your_ achievements seem To be your one and only theme. * * * * * Mr. J. C. Parke, writing in _The Strand Magazine_ on the best way to beat Wilding, says:-- "Personally, after close observation and from playing against him, I would suggest a determined attack on the champion's forehead from the base-line." That ought to learn him. * * * * * "His Majesty has been pleased to confer the dignity of an Earldom of the United Kingdom upon Field-Marshal the Viscount Kitchener of Khartoum, P.G.C., B.O.M.G.C., S.I.G.C.M., G.G.C.I.E." _Newcastle Daily Journal._ The old orders change, yielding place to new.