7. On the true construction of the Finance Acts, 1894-1916, do you consider that a sugar card is "Free Personal Property," or "Settled Property," or "An Estate by itself," or "Property in which the deceased's interest was less than an absolute interest." The card is apparently "aggregable" with something or other for the purposes of duty. Would this be the testator's furniture? Yours, etc., A CONSTANT READER. * * * * * [Illustration: [struck through: GERMAN] EAST AFRICA.] * * * * * [Illustration: _First Tommy_ (_in lorry_). "YOU'VE STOOD THERE WATCHING US LONG ENOUGH. I SUPPOSE YOU FIND US INTERESTING?" _Second Tommy_. "NOA. A WUR JUST THINKIN' O' WHEN T' PUNCH AND JUDY SHOW USED TO COOM TO OORR VILLAGE."] * * * * * THE WATCH DOGS. LXVII. MY DEAR CHARLES,--In the little village I'm thinking of it is a sight on no account to be missed to see the same old British Tommy shopping by telepathy. He doesn't speak their language and they don't speak his, and when the article required is not in the window or on the counter to be indicated by the thumb, a deadlock would appear to be inevitable. Our Master Thomas, however, never did realise what a deadlock is; he goes on till he gets what he wants. So you see them in pairs, taking up a stolid position at the counter, obstinately stating and re-stating their demands in a composite language of which the foreign element is almost negligible, until the merchant or his wife gives in and produces the article required. I know one simple soldier who managed to reconcile himself to the confirmed habit amongst the French people of addressing each other in the French language, but could never understand their addressing horses and dogs in such an unintelligible tongue. "If you want a dog to come 'ere, why not say 'Come 'ere!' and 'ave done with it?" Men may learn strange lingoes to humour their fellow-men, but how can any dog be expected to understand "_Viens ici_"? Three years and some odd months have not changed this point of view; and now for Thomas to find himself in Italy is only to discover another lot of unfortunate people who cannot understand or make themselves understood. A little thing like that, however, is not going to be allowed to stand between friends; already new words and phrases are being coined, mutually acceptable to both parties.