The National Gallery with its three thousand pictures is practically priceless, we are informed. This probably accounts for the fact that the hall-porter invariably takes visitors' umbrellas as security. * * * What is now wanted, says a contemporary, is a good spell of fine weather. We feel that no good can be done by rubbing it in like this. _The Daily Mail_ is doing its best. * * * We understand, by the way, that _The Daily Mail_ has definitely decided not to offer a prize of a hundred pounds for a new world, but to leave the matter entirely in the hands of Mr. LLOYD GEORGE. * * * The Astronomical Correspondent of _The Times_ suggests that the new star may have been produced through a sun being struck by a comet. This raises the question as to whether suns ought not to carry rear lights. * * * There is some talk of a series of week-end summers being arranged for next year. * * * "If necessary I will walk from John-o'-Groats to Land's End, distributing propaganda literature all the way," announced a well-known strike agitator at a recent conference. Personally we do not mind if he does, provided that when he reaches Land's End he continues to walk in the same direction. * * * According to a weekly journal the art of camouflage played a most important part in recent naval warfare. It is, of course, quite an open secret that the Naval authorities are aware that one of our largest Dreadnoughts is somewhere in a certain English harbour, but, owing to the excellence of its camouflage, they have not yet been able to locate it. * * * We now learn that it was merely through an oversight that the pit ponies did not record their votes at the strike ballot. * * * * * [Illustration: "WHO'S BILL 'IGGINS PLAYIN' FOR THIS SEASON?" "OH, 'E AIN'T SIGNED ON YET, BUT WE'VE OFFERED HIM FIRST SUCK AT THE LEMON."] * * * * * =The Journalistic Touch.= "Shamming death, he moaned loudly." _Irish Paper._ * * * * * =Our Critics.= "'The Seven Deadly Sins.' Frederick Rogers. This is a subject that Mr. Rogers is eminently fitted to explore."--_Review of Reviews._ * * * * * "Tenor wanted, to join bass; must have voice."--_Scotch Paper._ Some people are so exacting. * * * * * "Bride in apricot."--_Daily Paper._ A new significance is added to the calculation of one's fruit stones--"This year, next year, some time, never." * * * * * THE ASHES. [A final salutation to the M.C.C. team, from one who is destined to perish in the event of a coal strike.]