Since ever and ever the world began They have danced like a ribbon of flame, They have sung their song through the centuries long, And yet it is never the same. And though you be foolish or though you be wise, With hair of silver or gold, You could never be young as the fairies are And never as old. R. F. * * * * * RARA AVIS. From a cigarette-card:-- "REED WARBLER. "_Acrocephalus streperus._ "This bird is found in nearly every part of the British Islands. It builds a nest about a foot off the ground in the reed beds, and is formed of grass, horse hair and sometimes feathers." * * * * * From a list of medallists of the new Order of the British Empire:-- "G. P. Hamlet.--For courage in persisting with dangerous work, with a certainty of suffering from poisoning as a result." Just like his illustrious namesake. * * * * * "Melbourne, Friday. "The House of Representatives to-day passed the second reading of the War Times Profits Tax Assessment Bill. The tax will be 50 per cent. for the year ending June 30, 191161, and 75 per cent. for afterwards.--Reuter." _Aberdeen Paper._ Well, well, we need not worry. * * * * * "What is being fought out is a long-drawn battle for the important shipping port of Trieste, with the whole of the railway and road communications of the Iberian Peninsula." _The People._ Rather a shock for Madrid. * * * * * [Illustration: THE REVERSE OF THE MEDAL. OPTIMISTIC GERMAN _(reading paper)._ "THIS IS KOLOSSAL! OUR IRRESISTIBLE AIRMEN HAVE AGAIN, FOR THE TWENTIETH TIME, DESTROYED LONDON." GLOOMY DITTO. "THAT BEING SO, LET'S HOPE THEY'LL STOP THOSE CURSED BRITISH AIRMEN FROM BOMBING OUR LINES EVERY DAY AND NIGHT."] * * * * * A STUDY IN SYMMETRY. The following story, however improbable it may seem to you, is true. Once upon a time there was an artist with historical leanings not unassociated with the desire for pelf--pelf being, even to idealists, what petrol is to a car. The blend brought him one day to Portsmouth, where the _Victory_ lies, with the honourable purpose of painting a picture of that famous ship with NELSON on board. What the ADMIRAL was doing I cannot say--most probably dying--but the artist's intention was to make the work as attractive as might be and thus draw a little profit from the wave of naval enthusiasm which was then passing over the country; for not only was the picture itself to be saleable, but reproductions were to be made of it.