When the Committee-stage of the Home Rule Bill was resumed the subject of debate was the Irish Council, the pivot on which all hopes of unity are centred. Exactly fifty Members were present to listen to this epoch-marking discussion, carried on entirely by a few English enthusiasts and the Members from Ulster. They differed profoundly on most of the details of the Council's constitution, but were unanimous in expressing the belief that nothing much mattered since it would never work. Lord WINTERTON indeed prophesied that if it is composed, as seems probable, of a solid _bloc_ of Sinn Feiners from the South and another of Unionists from the North there would be a free fight at every meeting. In that case it may become a popular body after all. * * * * * [Illustration: _Keeper at the Zoo (exhausted with efforts to catch refractory ibex)._ "WELL, THEY CAN 'AVE THEIR FANCY MAPPIN TERRISSES. A CAGE FOR ME EVERY TIME."] * * * * * Commercial Candour. "Dry Old Chickens, 50s. to L4 4s. per doz." _Local Paper._ * * * * * Our Musical Athletes. "Double action Gothic Harp (by Erard), suitable for a lady in perfect condition." _Provincial Paper._ * * * * * For Domestic Interiors. "For the Blood, Stomach, and Liver, there is nothing to compare with CORK LINOS. 800 rolls to choose from" _Provincial Paper._ Buttered rolls, we trust. * * * * * UNIVERSAL "TRAINING." The Great Eastern have inaugurated a new plan for helping food-producers. They are sending out an instructional train, manned by experts and full of live stock--poultry and rabbits and goats--which is to traverse their system for two months. The contents will be on view and lectures will be given to cottagers, artisans, clerks--to all in fact who are interested in the breeding of the lesser live-stock, apple-growing, etc. The plan is so excellent that we feel sure it is bound to lead to further developments in regard to the industries and pursuits that really matter. The rural districts, it may be safely assumed, already know something about agriculture. But many areas are still in a state of benighted ignorance about the results of intensive culture applied to the arts. There are parts of the Cornish Riviera, for example, in which you may travel for miles and miles without hearing a syncopated orchestra. Here is the opportunity of the Great Western--to equip and despatch a train band or band train, with a _personnel_ carefully selected from the best negro performers (of whom there are now several thousands in London), with the view of brightening and enlightening the existence of those unfortunate villagers hitherto beyond the range of the beneficent dominion of din. As an antidote to agricultural discontent we can conceive nothing more salutary.