It needs no little exercise of the imagination to form a mental picture of Lord HALDANE as a member of the Russian ballet, or, to put it in a more concrete form, making the famous flying exit in _Le Spectre da la Rose_. Could fancy be translated into fact, the drawing power of such a spectacle would be prodigious. On the other hand, and in view of the notorious adaptability of the Slavonic temperament, we can well imagine NIJINSKY proving an admirable Lord Chancellor. Exchanges of this sort would add to the comity of nations besides enhancing the amenities of public life, and it is perhaps not too much to hope that provision for carrying this out may be in the Government's scheme for the Reform of the House of Lords. * * * * * "New Zealand mutton was yearly increasing in public flavour."--_Times._ It mustn't get too powerful. * * * * * From an advertisement of a land sale in _Ceylon Morning Leader_:-- "An undivided 1/3 + 1/36 + 1/2 of 3/80 + 1/24 + 1/2 of 1/18 parts of the land called Vitarmalage Gamwasama at Yatawala in extent 500 amunams paddy sowing." A chance for a newly-created peer who wants a family seat from which to take his title and quarterings. * * * * * The meeting of ANTONY and CLEOPATRA as described in HUTCHINSON'S _History of the Nations_:-- "When they met first he was twenty-nine and she was sixteen; now he was forty-two and she was twenty-seven." Anyhow she would say so. * * * * * [Illustration: _Kind Old Gentleman._ "WHAT A DELIGHTFUL LITTLE PET! I HAVE ALWAYS A SOFT PLACE FOR ANIMALS."] * * * * * A LOST LEADER. "Enid," I said, "we must offer something to somebody." "You don't mean Squawks?" she pleaded piteously. "I wish I did," I sighed. Squawks is a Pomorachshund--at least I think so; though Enid inclines towards the Chowkingese theory. Anyhow, he himself has always realised that someone had blundered, and has worked steadily to make a dog of himself. "Well, if it's not Squawks, I don't care," remarked Enid. "I wish you'd take some interest." "What in?" "In what I say." "What _did_ you say?" "We must," I repeated, "offer something to somebody." "That's not very enthusey. Unless"--and her whole face brightened--"you mean what you call your reading-chair. It threw me on to the floor and knelt on me only yesterday; and I know Aunt Anne----" "Enid," I said sternly, "that's not the point." "I was afraid not." "The thing is, one must be in the swim. Everybody is offering things right and left now. Look at SUTHERLAND, DERBY--even LLOYD GEORGE." "I didn't know they were friends of yours." "Not exactly; but----" "Then why so familiar?"