On the famous site of The Star and Garter Hotel at Richmond Hill, a Home is to be built for Soldiers and Sailors totally disabled by the War. The work has been undertaken by the British Women's Hospital, and, on its completion, Her Majesty the Queen will present the building to the British Red Cross Society, by whom it will be maintained. The cost of construction will be L50,000. Mr. Punch can think of no cause which should appeal more strongly to the gratitude of the nation and he begs his generous readers to send gifts in aid of it to The Hon. Treasurer, "Star and Garter" Building Fund, 21, Old Bond Street, W.] * * * * * A Smooth Passage. "In the Lords Viscount French took his sea but it was a quiet affair."--_Morning Paper._ * * * * * "EMPLOYMENT as odd man offered to a disabled soldier in a very good gentleman's household."--_Morning Paper._ As the above advertisement appeared several times we are afraid the gentleman must have been regarded as almost too good to be true. * * * * * [Illustration: _Bank Manager._ "Now please understand, Miss Jones, you must make the books balance." _Miss Jones._ "Oh, Mr. Brown, how fussy you are!"] * * * * * THE DUG-OUT DOMINIE. Some thirty years ago or more He tried his hand at gerund-grinding, But very speedily forswore The _role_ before its ties grew binding; He earned a living by his pen, Paid court to Clio and Melpomene, Until the War broke out, and then Enlisted--as a dug-out dominie. Shortsighted, undersized and weak, Intolerant yet self-distrusting, There could not well have been a "beak" Less fitted for the nice adjusting Of his peculiar point of view To that of forty-odd years later, Less eager to acclaim the New, Less apt for Georgian tastes to cater. He strove, 'tis true, to keep abreast Of MASEFIELD'S grim poetic frenzy, Sought Truth in WELLS, and did his best To like the Oxford of MACKENZIE; With YEATS he wandered in the Void, Tasted of SHAW'S dramatic jalap, Then turned with rapture unalloyed To DICKENS, THACKERAY and TROLLOPE. Thus handicapped, thus fortified, Behold him perilously faring Into a world where all are tried By boyhood's scrutiny unsparing; Where ev'ry trick of gait or speech Is most inexorably noted, And masters, more than what they teach, Are studied, criticised and quoted. His idols mostly left them cold-- BAGEHOT, MATT. ARNOLD, SCOTT and MILTON; But they were quick in taking hold Of PRAED and J.K.S. and HILTON; And once undoubtedly he scored When, on a day of happy omen, He introduced them to A. WARD, The wisest of the tribe of showmen.