there is grief for the untimely cutting off of one of the Liberal Whips. William Jones was much too good for human nature's daily food as it is earned in the Whips' Room of House of Commons. A scholar, a poet, an orator of rare loftiness of tone and beauty of style, he was among the most modest, the least self-seeking of men. One can imagine how embarrassed he must have been when he woke up one morning to find himself a Junior Lord of the Treasury with a salary of £1,200 a year and appointed to the work of a Whip.
No one envied him his good fortune. On the contrary it was universally applauded. Still, under chorus of approval there was note of regret that the trammels of subordinate office would rob the House of one of its chiefest ornaments in debate.
William Jones rarely addressed the House. Whenever he did he commanded its instant and held its entranced attention. Among his chief admirers was Prince Arthur, himself an expert in the art of speech. Gifted with a beautiful voice, attuned to the intonation of his native tongue, his contributions to Parliamentary debate were things apart. Equally successful on the platform, he swayed mixed multitudes in fashion that surprised and to some extent alarmed him.
A self-made man, he found his way to the front without pushing. Perhaps the one-time country schoolmaster more highly prized his tutorship at Oxford than his Parliamentary honours. His scholarship was as unobtrusive as were his other qualities. The Member for Sark recalls an occasion when it unexpectedly flashed forth. At a small, intimate dinner-party, whereat William Jones sat opposite the then Lord Advocate, now Lord Dunedin, chance reference was made to a topic in Greek literature. Forthwith the two involuntarily, apparently unconsciously, dropped into colloquial Greek and continued the conversation in that tongue.
Business done.—Premier announced drastic procedure in respect to enemy aliens. There are 40,000 Germans and Austrians still at large. Of the men all who are of military age will be interned. Above that age they will be packed off to Fatherland. Women and children are also liable to be repatriated, but cases will be considered upon their merits, with object of avoiding unjustifiable hardship. Proposals greeted with general approval. Only regret that found expression was that they were not enforced nine months ago.
AN ECHO FROM NEW ZEALAND.
"I hear the doctor wouldn't pass your boy for the reinforcements, Sir."
"No. Poor lad's as mad as a hatter."
"Dear me, Sir! Is that the trouble? I thought it was his heart."
"Sir,—On February 2nd I drew attention to the fact that there existed a remedy for the vermin which are so unpleasant a feature of life at the front through the medium of the London Press. Large quantities of this have been sent out and have proved entirely successful."—Letter to "Scotsman."
It would be interesting to know the names of the journals that have proved so effective.
In a review of John Wesley's "Journal" The Daily News gave as one of the causes for his excellent health "constant punching, particularly at five in the morning—one of the healthiest exercises in the world." The pleasing picture thus conjured up of the famous revivalist keeping in condition "by apostolic blows and knocks" was spoiled by the conscientious reviewer, who wrote next day to say that the word should have been "preaching."
