Page:Mr. Punch's history of the Great War, Graves, 1919.djvu/102

 of our mercantile marine. The least satisfactory aspect of Parliamentary activity has Been the ventilation of silly rumours at Question time, in which Mr. Ginnell has been so well to the fore as to suggest some subtle connection between cattle-driving and hunting for mares' nests.

Steps have already been taken to restrict the imports of luxuries, and Ministers are believed to be unanimous in regarding "ginger" as an article whose importation might be profitably curtailed. It has been calculated that the annual expenses saved by the closing of the London Museums and Galleries amount to about one-fifth of the public money spent on the salaries of Members of Parliament. In other words:

Intellectual retrenchment, of course, is desirable,

But let us still keep open one collection
 * Of curiosities and quaint antiques,