"That is very true," said Socrates; "something ought always to be getting itself done, and the something at this moment is that the Barbarians ought to be beaten. But tell me, with regard to the married men, are they not concerned in the safety and welfare of the State?" "That, indeed, they are," said Philogamus; "none more so." "In that case why do they hang back and complain when the State declares that its safety and welfare demand that they should be ready to go? Because one here and there has concealed himself, is it for you, a married man, to retire when by going you might help to thrust back the Barbarians? Are you one of those that are called the attested ones?" "Yes, that I am," said Philogamus, proudly displaying his brown armlet with the red crown. "Then it is you, as it appears to me, who have given a pledge and made a promise, and that promise, I am sure, you will fulfil to the best of your ability. When the time comes it is for you to go at once and not to weary the market-place with empty noise and murmurs of complaint. For remember this: the man who has taken a wife and has brought up children under the State's protection owes more, if it be possible...." (_Here the fragment ends._) * * * * * From a description of the German Crown Prince:-- "Before the war he liked to imitate the English, and posed as a German megalomaniac." _Daily News_. Yes, we believe there were some English like that--before the War. * * * * * THE MARKS OF THE BEAST. [Illustration: _Imperial Beggar_. "PITY A POOR WAR-LORD WHO HAS LOST HALF HIS MEN, AND MUST HAVE MORE MONEY IN ORDER TO LOSE THE OTHER HALF."] * * * * * [Illustration: _Voice through telephone (to officer dragged up from the first sleep he's had for two days)_. "Thought I'd better report, Sir.--we've just got the consignment of footballs up."] * * * * * THE SCOTTISH REEL THING AT LAST. Now that Sir J. M. BARRIE has shown us the Transatlantic kinema man's idea of the perfect _Macbeth_, it is up to the purveyor of American films to retaliate by presenting one of his plots for ordinary stage performance in the Kirriemuir manner. Here and there an inadvertent touch of Western colour may be anticipated. Scene.--_Kensington Gardens. The_ Heroine--_oh, the little love!--is taking a dander round the "Keep off the Grass" boards. Her feet are bare, and this is probably the reason why from time to time she dances among the trees. In the background the Hero, wearing a divided kilt, rides about on a horse. Having thus given the audience time to settle, the play starts._ _Heroine_ (_perceiving_ Hero). Gee! there's that rube I met up North. Sic a bonny lad too! (_sighing sadly_). But he hasna much siller, I'm sair misdootin'. Guess there's no twelve-pound look about him.