_11 A.M._--We are off; handshakings, wavings of handkerchiefs. Still dreaming of Algeria, I am recalled to actuality by a stoppage at Herne Hill. _Calais._--The home of the _demi-poulet_, not forgetting the _flageolet_. Perpetual entrances of imperturbable officials with chorus "_Les voyageurs pour...._" Consequent series of shocks inimical to quiet eating. At last our turn comes. Each of us has bagged a _demi-poulet_ in record time. Why all this hurry? At any rate we are off. _Laon, 7 P.M._--Dinner. English traveller wants whisky. "_Avez vous doo visky?_" Lady of restaurant shakes her head. "_Visky Ecossais. Eau de vie Ecossais._" A brilliant inspiration, but the landlady, protesting she can supply _eau de vie_, denies all knowledge of the Scotch variety. "Perhaps," says a helpful old lady, an English fellow-traveller, looking at the tariff-board on which the word "_rhum_" figures, "perhaps they call it 'room.'" Suggestion received with enthusiasm: "_Avez vous doo room?_" Enter guard: "_Les voyageurs pour Bâle._" Only just time to pay. Off we go again. _Bâle, 5.30 A.M._--Train stops: consultation of watches. Can't be Bâle: not due till 6.30. Another hour for sleep; turn over, when door opens suddenly and an alarmed Swiss porter ejaculates "_Mais deshendez donc, Monsieur, le drain fa bartir_." Out we go: the sky becomes dark with hats, sticks, wraps, handbags. Have we got everything? Yes--no--where is my waistcoat? Quite forgot I had discarded it at night: it contains watch, money, everything. Approach of beaming porter carrying waistcoat like a banner. Transference of silver from self to porter. He beams more and more. Unduly early arrival explained by fact that we are now under Central European time. Breakfast. At Bâle I purchase the Paris _Temps_ of to-day's date. An article on the Swiss Referendum. At last I am at close quarters with the Referendum. Question for decision was, is the sale of matches to be a State monopoly? The Swiss voter has said no by an overwhelming majority. The _Temps_, analysing results, sees in this "a victory of the individualist spirit, and of French tradition over the German spirit instilled in the universities of Zurich, Berne, and Bâle, or brought home by Swiss writers and politicians who have studied in Germany itself." Sédan is avenged. It appears, too, that the Swiss voter is getting bored with Referendums. He has had too many of them, and on this occasion barely half of him recorded his vote. Merry Swiss voter, awaking on a Sunday morning, inquires of his merry Swiss wife, "Any voting to-day, my dear?" "Only those silly matches," replies M. S. W. "Oh, drat they matches," says merry Swiss voter (or words to that effect). "I'm not going to trouble about _that_," and turns over to sleep again. Anyhow, matches are not to be a State monopoly. Long live the Referendum!