"The English," says the unspeakable Dr. KARL PETERS in the _Münchener Neueste Nachrichten_, "believe our natural kindness to be mere weakness." Certainly we have never looked upon kindness as being their strong point. * * * It is announced from Berlin that the Government intends to issue a new set of stamps for use in Belgium. Germany is evidently trying to attach to herself the sympathy of philatelists--a class of men well known for their adhesive propensities. * * * "TRADE WITH THE ENEMY FINE." _Daily Mail._ We think it a mistake, not to say unpatriotic, to praise illegal transactions in this way. * * * In describing the wonderful escape of the Newcastle express the other day when the engine left the rails, _The Evening Standard_ reported that "The passengers contained many soldiers returning home on leave." While we have realised that there might be a danger of some of our heroes being killed by kindness, this news frankly shocks us, and we are sorry that it should have been passed by the Censor. * * * Mr. RUDYARD KIPLING entered his fiftieth year last week. He did it quietly, without an ode from the POET LAUREATE. * * * The _Vorwärts_ reports that there is a shortage of braces among the German soldiers at the Front. Ostend, evidently, is not "so bracing" after all. * * * The Sultan of TURKEY has issued a rescript announcing that the Sultan of EGYPT will be tried by a court-martial of the 4th Army Corps, which is now operating against Egypt. They were wrong who alleged that the Turks are wanting in humour. * * * The French Government has prohibited the exportation of butter. Curiously enough the day after the prohibition our provision merchant informed us that he was quite unable to supply us with our "real Devonshire butter" as usual. * * * The latest recruiting poster at Hastings runs:-- "FALL IN! SOUTHDOWNS." But this does not necessarily mean cheaper mutton. * * * "Reuter's New York correspondent wires that Mr. Eugene Zimmerman, whose death was announced the other day, was the railway magnate, and not the noted caricaturist popularly known as 'Zim.'" This news, when conveyed to the latter, was very well received. * * * "NEW YEAR'S HONOURS. P.C. FOR LABOUR LEADER." At first we hoped that the police had come for KEIR HARDIE. * * * * * "CAPTURING THE ENEMY'S TRADE." From Craven House, Northumberland street, W.C., there has been issued a pamphlet entitled 'British Trade with Russia,' compiled from consular reports, by Mr. Malcolm Burr, M.A., D.Sc., etc., the object of the work, which is published at sixpence, being to indicate the colossal potentialities of the Russian market, and to supply some data to the British merchant or manufacturer who contemplates entering it."--_Kentish Mercury._