The amount of harm done by disparaging nomenclature is incalculable. Take the word "thief," for example. Its meaning can be expressed with infinitely greater precision and delicacy in the phrase, "one who is unable to discriminate between _meum_ and _tuum_." Here you have in place of one mean little word a well-cadenced phrase of ten. Euphony as well as humanity prompts the variation. Classical writers may have objected to the use of sesquipedalian words, but we know better, and Mr. WINSTON CHURCHILL'S famous synonym for "lie" is permanently enshrined in the annals of circumlocution. One of the most offensive words in the language is "idiot"; yet it can be shorn of nearly all its sting when replaced by the definition, "a person of infra-normal mentality." * * * * * [Illustration: _Demolilisation Officer_. "WHAT IS THE NUMBER OF YOUR GROUP?" _Private_. "I DON'T KNOW, SIR. I WAS A TURF ACCOUNTANT." _Demobilisation Officer_. "AH! AGRICULTURE--GROUP 1."] * * * * * "London, Dec. 16.--At a meeting of the County Cricket Advisory Committee it was decided to run the County Championship during 1919, the matches to be limited to two days. There will be no change in the number of balls in the over.--Reuter's. The Soviets are preparing the sharpest counter-measure.--Reuter's."--_Canton Times_. But we are confident that whatever the Soviets' little game is it will not be cricket. * * * * * STATE LOTTERIES. [An Equality Theatre is being-run in Munich, where the public pays a fixed price and is allotted by chance a seat in the stalls or the gallery.] The Equality plan we will run if we can So that never a man or a woman need grumble-- If theatres, should the idea not include Books, clothing and food for the great and the humble? You will pay a fixed sum and accept what may come, Be it loser or plum; and, to shun all that vexes, We'll even eliminate what modern women hate, And will not discriminate as to the sexes. The question of dress may at first, I confess, Make a sort of a mess of our smart Small-and-Earlies, Where the First Footman John wears the garb of a don, And Lord CURZON comes on from the House in his pearlies; But when our char kneels on the steps and reveals The last word in "Lucilles," will she not put her heart more And more in her duties while great social beauties Slink by in "pampooties" and arrows from Dartmoor? Our tastes and our breeding no more will be leading The paths of our reading; we'll read what we've got to (And it _will_ be a sell for Mamma if her Nell Gets the last ETHEL DELL, when Mamma told her _not_ to); It may be a worry to poor GILBERT MURRAY To read Hints on Curry and Blouses and Batter In _Home Chat_, it's true; but still more of a stew _The Occult Review_ may appear to his hatter.