_Mrs. M._ Yes; before his time the nobles lived exclusively on cake and venison, while the peasantry subsisted on herbs and a substance named woad, which was most injurious to their digestions. ALFRED, who among his many accomplishments was an expert baker, himself gave instructions to the wives of the poor, supplied them with flour, the grinding of which was carried out in mills of his own devising, and insisted that all loaves should be made of a certain quality and size, with results most beneficial to the physique of his subjects. The story of his quarrel with the woman who would insist on baking cakes illustrates the difficulties he encountered in effecting his reforms. _Mary._ Was not ALFRED called "England's Darling"? _Mrs. M._ Yes, my dear, and no wonder. Before his time there were no proper newspapers, the few issued being of high price and written in an elaborate style which only appealed to the highly educated. ALFRED changed all this, and insisted that they should be written in a "simple, sensuous and passionate style." This was one of the causes of his falling out with Withsak, who supported the old-fashioned methods, while ALFRED was in favour of simplicity and brevity. You will find all this related in the work of Leo Maximus, a learned writer, the friend and admirer of ALFRED and author of his Life. _George._ How much I should like to read it. _Mrs. M._ You would find in it some inspiring and interesting particulars of ALFRED's conversations and private life. _Mary._ How many things ALFRED did! I cannot think how he found time for them all. _Mrs. M._ He found time by never wasting it. One-third of his time he devoted to religious exercises and to study, another third to sleep and necessary refreshment, and the other to the affairs of his kingdom. The benefits he bestowed on his country were so great and various that even to this day we hardly comprehend them fully, and some ungrateful people refuse to regard them as benefits at all. _Richard._ How sad! But thanks to you, dear Mamma, we know better. When Papa comes in to tea I will ask him when he thinks I shall be old enough to read all the books that have ever been written about KING ALFRED. I want to know everything about him. * * * * * [Illustration: _Mother (to curate)._ "AND DO YOU REALLY PRAY FOR YOUR ENEMIES?" _Ethel (overhearing)._ "I DO, MUMMY." _Curate._ "AND WHAT DO YOU SAY IN YOUR PRAYER, MY CHILD?" _Ethel._ "I PRAY THAT THEY MAY BE BEATEN."] * * * * * IL FLAUTO MAGICO. "The Lord Mayor formally declared the aerodrome opened, and turned on the flute diverting the waters of the Cardinal Wolsey river underground."--_Evening News_. * * * * * From an interview with Lord ROBERT CECIL, as reported by _The Manchester Guardian_:-- "It is literally true of the British soldier that he is _tans peur et tans rapproche_."