Trying moment for WEDGWOOD BENN. Faced it with customary courage and something more than habitual rotundity of official phraseology. "Employment as an onion-peeler," he oracularly said, "has in a special order been specified as a subsidiary employment, and contributions are not required to be paid in respect of persons so employed." That all very well as far as it went. It did not go to the length of explaining the mystery that racked the mind of all sections of parties. Why the onion-peeler in particular? * * * * * Illustration: [According to Mr. HEALY'S interpretation of what he called "a kind of foreshore doctrine of legality," the PRIME MINISTER had laid it down that guns are liable to seizure on the shore below high water mark, but that, once they are fairly on dry land, "the proclamation has exhausted itself."] I.--OUTSIDE THE LAW. II.--WITHIN THE LAW. * * * * * SPEAKER stayed storm of renewed interrogation by calling on next question. Some time before ordinary calm was restored. On benches above Gangway on Opposition side there is rooted belief that there is more in this than meets the eye. LLOYD GEORGE is evidently at the bottom of what begins to look like a bad business. _Business done._--In Committee of Supply, Colonial vote agreed to. Progress made with Education vote, amounting this year to modest total of L9,480,621. * * * * * MR. PUNCH'S HOLIDAY STORIES. (_Constructed after the best models._) I.--AN ALPINE ADVENTURE. Inside the Fahrjoch Hut a merry clatter of tin mugs proclaimed that a climbing party was supping. Ralph Wonderson paused for a moment, thoughtfully stroking his crampons, before he threw open the door and entered. Two stalwart and sunburnt young Englishmen, a beautiful fair-haired English girl, and three hirsute and jovial Swiss guides were feasting on the sardines and dried plums which experience has shown to be the best diet for mountaineers. They looked up cheerily as he entered, and greeted him with the easy camaraderie of the mountains. Gratefully relieving himself of his rope, ice-axe, _Baedeker_, goggles, corkscrew, crampons and other impedimenta of the expert Alpinist, Ralph seated himself beside the girl. "You look tired," she said sympathetically. "Yes," he replied, picking up a sardine by its tail and dropping it into his mouth with the ease of one long accustomed to mountain huts. "Yes, I've just satisfied a long-cherished ambition by doing the Matterhorn and the Jungfrau in the same day without guides." There was an instant chorus of admiration. The three guides rose to their feet and gazed at the newcomer in astonishment. "_Ja wohl! Auf wiedersehen!_" they said warmly. There is no body of men in the world so free from petty jealousy as the Swiss guides.