AMOR TRIUMPHANS.
(After the Pompeii mosaic.)
With Mr. Punch's best wishes to Captain Wedgwood Benn.
The Front Opposition Bench in the Commons was almost deserted at Question-time. Presently the appearance of Lieut.-Commander Kenworthy in unusually festive attire furnished an explanation. After forty years of bachelorship and four of fighting, Wedgwood Benn is Benedict indeed; and his colleagues were attending his wedding-festivities.
The Secretary to the Admiralty has not yet attained to the omniscience in Naval affairs that his predecessor acquired in the course of twelve years' continuous occupancy of the post. But Sir James Craig can handle an awkward questioner no less deftly than "Dr. Mac." Witness his excuse for not replying to a "Supplementary":—"The hon. and gallant gentleman must understand that I attach so much importance to his questions that I wish to be most punctilious in my answers." Who could persist after that?
Mr. Bonar Law stated that the treaties by which Great Britain and France were responsible for constitutional government in Greece came to an end in August last. Consequently the two Powers have "a completely free hand" in regard to the Greek Monarchy. But he begged to be excused from saying in what manner that "free hand" would bee used if Tino should think of returning.
Thursday, November 18th.—In the Lords the Acquisition of Land Bill had most of its teeth drawn. Lord Sumner was the most adroit of the many operators employed, and he used no gas.
The usual dreary duel of Nationalist insinuation and Ministerial denial in regard to Irish happenings was lightened by one or two interludes. Mr. Jack Jones loudly suggested that the Government should send for General Ludendorff to show them how to carry out reprisals. "He is no friend of mine," retorted the Chief Secretary, with subtle emphasis. Later he read a long letter from the C.-in-C. of the Irish Republican Army to his Chief of Staff discussing the possibility of enlisting the germs of typhoid and glanders in their noble fight for freedom. The House listened with rapt attention until Sir Hamar came to the pious conclusion, "God bless you all." Amid the laughter that followed this anti-climax Mr. Devlin was heard to ask, "Was not the whole thing concocted in Dublin Castle?" Well, if so, Dublin Castle must have developed a sense of humour quite foreign to its traditions. Perhaps that is the reason why the Prime Minister, earlier in the Sitting, expressed the opinion that "things in Ireland are getting much better."