Following upon his remarkable speech of the other night, there has been some discussion as to whether Colonel CHURCHILL will definitely take up a political career, or return to the trenches. We have it on good authority that an old friend, Sir HEDWORTH MEUX, strongly advises him not to sacrifice his military prospects. On the other hand, his colleagues at the Front feel that in the national interest they are prepared to do their best without him, in view of the benefit likely to accrue from his remaining at home. In any case it is confidently asserted by those who know him that Colonel CHURCHILL has gone far towards making a name for himself, and that he is likely to go further still if the opportunity is given to him. His future is certain to be watched with interest. * * * * * The Delay Before Verdun. Bosch (quoting "_unser_ Shakspeare"): "If it Verdun ven 'tis done, then 't vere vell it Verdun quickly."--_Macbeth, Act_ I. 7. * * * * * Music for Conscientious Objectors. "St. George's Cathedral.--Anthem, 'I was slack when they said unto me' (Elvey)." _Cape Times._ * * * * * [Illustration: _Sergeant._ "Keep yer dressin' by the left there! Blimey! you don't want N.C.O.'s--what you want is a bloomin' sheep-dog!"] * * * * * OUR BOOKING-OFFICE. (By Mr. Punch's Staff of Learned Clerks.) I never open a book by Mr. ROBERT HALIFAX without a feeling of pleasant anticipation, nor close one without a sense of quickened sympathy for my fellow-mortals, especially those of them who dwell in Camden Town. His latest story, _The Right to Love_ (METHUEN), finds him again on familiar ground; but the inhabitants of Widdiford Street have all the freshness of real human beings. Perhaps more than its predecessors _The Right to Love_ is a story with a purpose and a moral; in it Mr. HALIFAX has illustrated by two groups of characters the vexed question of marriage failures and the hard lot of the unwanted woman. But do not suppose that these characters are merely "cases." On the contrary, it is because they are realized as understandable creations of flesh and blood that the disasters of _Norah_ and _Tom Spain_ and the tragedy of _Letty Summerbee's_ enforced spinsterhood move one to so personal a concern. From the moment when _Norah_ and _Tom_ enter their little house after the short honeymoon to that in which the tormented young wife finally leaves her worthless husband for the protection (word rightly used) of his long-suffering friend one is made to feel that exactly thus and thus the affair happened, and is happening to like persons every day. As for _Letty_, with her restraint, her practical helpfulness and her occasional outbursts of emotion thwarted and suppressed, she is a type only too convincing. Perhaps one might object that Mr. HALIFAX brings an