Dealing with the United States Navy, an American journalist says that every recruit must learn to stand squarely on his own feet. The attention of Mr. CHARLES CHAPLIN has already been drawn to this passage. *** Sir HERBERT TREE has arrived in England, and, according to _The New York Telegraph_, Mr. CHARLES CHAPLIN is now demanding a higher price for his work. *** A strange case is reported from Northumberland, where a man who was taken ill last weak admitted that he had not been eating rhubarb tops. *** With reference to the complaint of an allotment-holder that cats cause more damage than the pea weevil, a correspondent sends the following hint as to the treatment of cats on the allotment: "These should be sprayed with a good shot-gun and planted out in soft soil." *** Leading provision-merchants state that there will soon be cheese-queues outside the grocers' shops. One enterprising firm of multiple shop grocers is said to have already engaged a troupe of performing cheeses to keep the customers amused during the long wait. * * * * * [Illustration: THE FATAL LURE.] * * * * * New Combination Head-gear for Troops. "Service dress caps in wear and those in stock will be used up and worn side by side with the soft caps."--_Army Council Instruction No_. 824. * * * * * "To a school in Battersea to-day the High Commissioner for New Zealand presented an Australian flag sent by the school-children of Dunedin."--_Evening News._ The children of Dunedin seem to have accepted in a very excellent spirit the annexation of New Zealand by Australia, of which this is the first news to reach us. * * * * * "The Germans wore absolutely dismayed at the promptness of President Wilson's rupture of relations. Then followed an amazing attempt to brow-beat Mr. Gerard into singing a revised version of the Prusso-American Treaty of 1799."--_Planters' and Commercial Gazette_ (_Mauritius_). Happily Mr. GERARD refused to oblige. * * * * * "The annual report of the Kneckenmueller Lunatic Asylum at Stettin states that a number of lunatics have been called up for military service at the front, adding: 'The asylums are proud that their inmates are allowed to serve the Fatherland.' It appears, however, that the results are not always satisfactory."--_The Times_. We have heard of no complaints on our side. * * * * * "Meat, particularly mutton, is (says 'The Times') likely to remain dead this week-end." _Lancashire Daily Post_. But if the hot weather continues-- * * * * * LITTLE WILLIE'S OPINION OF FATHER.