[Illustration: _Mr. Meere._ "YOU'LL REALLY HAVE TO BE MORE CAREFUL, DEAR, HOW YOU SPEAK TO THE COOK OR SHE'LL BE LEAVING US." _Mrs. M._ "PERHAPS I WAS RATHER SEVERE." _Mr. M._ "SEVERE! WHY, ANYONE WOULD HAVE THOUGHT YOU WERE TALKING TO ME."] * * * * * DOWN-OUR-COURT CIRCULAR. Why should not some of the other people, who also enjoy life, have their movements recorded too? Like this:-- During Mr. William Sikes' visit to the Devonshire moors Mrs. Sikes will remain in town. * * * Mr. and Mrs. James Harris have arrived in London from Southend. * * * Miss Levi, Miss Hirsch and Master Isaacson are among the guests at Victoria Park, where some highly successful children's parties have been given. * * * Epping is much in favour just now, and a large number of (public) house-parties have been arranged. Among those entertaining this week are Mr. Henry Higgins, Mr. Robert Atkins and Mr. John Smith. * * * Mr. Henry Hawkins, Mrs. Hawkins, Mr. Henry Hawkins, junior, and Miss Hawkins left town on August 2nd for Hampstead Heath, for a day's riding and shooting. A large bag of nuts was obtained. Mr. Hawkins has not yet returned. * * * * * "LITTLE PROGRESS MADE. KING STILL DEFIANT." _Daily Paper._ Oh, dear! Another complication! Who is the monarch? Which the nation? We breathe again. The Leicester pro. Kept up his end four hours or so. * * * * * "Another of the big round landlords of London is selling his estate. Sir Joseph Doughty Tichborne is selling his Doughty Estate of 14 acres."--_Evening Paper._ It recalls the famous case. "The Claimant" would certainly have made "a big round landlord." * * * * * "Here then is a new development of serious local journalism. Just an unpretentious but exceedingly well-printed village sheet, breathing local atmosphere, emitting nothing that can possibly interest the natives." _Local Paper._ But we seem to have seen journals like this before. * * * * * From a Dutch bulb-grower's catalogue:-- "Nothing but Inferior quality being sent out from my Nurseries. My terms are Cash with order only." In matters of commerce this Dutchman appears to be maintaining his country's reputation. * * * * * =THE ANNIVERSARY.= It began as quite an ordinary day. I read my paper at breakfast and Kathleen poured out the coffee. She wore that little frown between her eyebrows that means that she is thinking out the menu for lunch and dinner and hoping that Nurse hasn't burnt Baby's porridge again. This is married life. Then I started in a hurry for the office, hurling a "Good-bye, dear" through the open window as I passed. The 9.15 leaves little time for affection. That too is married life.