Volume 156 — LITERARY OPTIONS.

In these days of ever-increasing strikes it is suggested, for the convenience of contributors to those magazines which of necessity go to press some time in advance, that they should submit to editors stories with interchangable situations:—

Algernon Aimless rose { lazily hastily } from the breakfast-table

at { 9 A.M. 7 A.M. } on a dark winter's morning { in order to catch the 9.15 to his office in the City. in preparation for his four-mile trudge to the City (Tube strike). }

The { electric lights gleamed with dazzling brilliance solitary candle shed a dismal light (Electricians' strike) }

on the { well-polished neglected } china, silver and table cutlery

which { were the joy and pride of the admirable parlourmaid. no servants' hands had touched for weeks (Domestic servants' strike). }

Algernon { had glanced casually at his letters. had had no letters to read (Postmen's strike). }

As he stood in the { spotlessly kept and charming dusty discomfort of the dark } hall,

arranging his { sleek well-brushed brown hair long untidy hair (Barbers' strike) } before

putting on his hat, Ermyntrude Aimless { glided bounced }

{ gracefully down the staircase, clad in a charming négligée of satin and lace. breathlessly up from the basement, wearing an old over-all above her dressing-gown. }

{ "A handkerchief, dearest," she murmured. "I was afraid "Your sandwiches, old thing," she gasped. "I believe }

you'd forgotten { to take one;" about 'em;" } and she held out in her

{ white delicately-manicured hand a silk handkerchief of palest mauve, exquisitely scented. none-too-clean hand an untidy brown-paper parcel which contained his luncheon (Restaurant strike). }

NOTE TO INTENDING AUTHORS.—This is not supposed to be a complete story, but just gives you the idea.