His spirits were low for some days, and the sight of regiments marching, of soldiers with their friends, of placards telling the truth and the not-so-truthful, made him feel very futile. He spent hours of every evening wandering through the streets, watching the lighted windows of Buckingham Palace, gazing at the policemen who guarded Downing Street. He wanted to do so much for England, yet he must stand and wait. He had left the mimic flag in his pin-cushion at home; he was in no mood for wearing it now. Then an idea came to him. His spirits rose, his eyes brightened; he walked again with something of a martial swing, and whistled to himself softly and inoffensively that even a neighbour might not have heard. Bates had found his way. He too could serve England. He sacrificed all but his bare necessities, and grew actually thinner and even less obtrusive. His outer insignificance shrank, but inwardly he was as happy as a warrior. Every week a postal order went to this relief-fund or to that. It was regularly acknowledged to "One of the Bull-dog Breed." Bates wears his flag boldly and is confident that we shall win. * * * * * Old Proverbs re-made in Germany. I. "_Vedi Parigi e poi mori._" * * * * * KINGS FROM THE EAST. Cities of wonderment, Pink as the morn, There, of the sunrise sent, Reigned the Sun-Born; From the high heaven's gate, Sprung from the flame, Ere Nineveh was great, Ere Thebes a name! Emeralds, milky pearls Plucked from blue seas, Footfall of silken girls-- Such for their ease; Shimmer and silken sheen, Jewel and maid-- These but the damascene Chasing the blade! For on a royal day Lost in the years Chose they the Happy Way-- The way of spears; Ere Rome's first bastionings Climbed from the sods In the old East were kings Warring with gods. Lo, through the eastern sky Crimson is drawn, Kings in their panoply Ride with the dawn; Sprung from high heaven's gate, Sprung from the flame, Ere Nineveh was great, Ere Thebes a name! * * * * * THE HOHENZOLLERN STIGGINS. "'Oh, my young friend,' said Mr. Stiggins, 'here's a sorrowful affliction.... It makes a vessel's heart bleed.' Mr. Weller was overheard to murmur something about making a vessel's nose bleed." _Pickwick Papers._ * * * * * A NEW VERSION. When French joined FRENCH Then was the tug of war. * * * * * MOTTO FOR THE WAR. ENGLAND MEANS "BUSINESS--AS USUAL." "'Who that England know who only England knows.' We are not certain of the precise verbality, but thus the poet sang." _"Leader," B. E. Africa._ The "precise verbality" is merely a private trouble of the poets. * * * * * From an official notification in _The Shanghai Municipal Gazette_:--