It is not without good reason that high-brows, deep thinkers, heavy eater- and light sleepers have coined the phrase, " Oh, cheese it !t"
AIRMAN JOHN.
It was a glorious day in June, and John Brooks was watching the 'planes go up from the aerodrome and wishing that he was an airman instead of taking meat round in a basket for his father. John was never able to pass the aerodrome without having to stop to watch. One day he put his cycle against the hedge, and was so interested in the little moth 'plane that he forgot all about the meat until the clock struck twelve, when, going back', he found two dogs eating the meat. When he reached home he was thrashed with a strap, which made him very bitter, and he decided to run away from home and join the R.A.F.
At first he got on very well working in the sheds, but he always wanted to fly. One day his chance came. He saw a moth 'plane in the field with no one about. In he got and touched the self-starter ; he pulled the joy-stick back, and then found himself rising off the ground. " This is great," he thought, and managed to circle round, watching all the faces looking up at him. " But, great scott ! What do I do to get down?"
After touching all the controls, he pushed the joy-sick forward and found the earth rushing towards him. The next thing he remembered was a big bump and someone pulling him out of the 'plane. He had nose-dived to the ground and smashed the propeller! John was taken before the Air Marshal and severely punished, but this day he is a brave airman carrying air mails to and from foreign lands.
D. REYNOLDS, age 10.
BRIEF HISTORY OF THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS.
At the present moment the qualities of the League are-being discussed widely owing to the aggressive situation which has developed between the great yellow nations. Before jumping to the unsatisfactory conclusions which seem to be advocated by the less responsible of our public newspapers, who have used every method known to the hysterical journalist to prejudice the public, let us examine briefly the constitution and history of the League.
The most unsatisfactory feature of the League in the eyes of the defeated nations of the World War was that the League owed its origin to the Versailles Treaty. This Treaty was made when the nations were inflamed with all the vindictive passions of war, and the League at first seemed but a confederation of Victory Powers, but with the entry of Germany into the League in 192G this feeling ceased to exist.
There are five main sections of the League :
(1) The Assembly of 45 nations, in which it is hoped America will soon be included. Even now, America and Russia both send representatives to some of the most important conferences.
(2) The Council of 17 members, which sit to deal with any emergencies, and can meet anywhere.
(3) The Secretariat, or permanent staff of trained international experts, who collect information on innumerable subjects, and whose observations often result in the prevention of the causes of national difference. Xo finer body of men and women exist so devoted to the ideals of Peace.
(4) The International Labour Office, which is the arbiter between employers and workers throughout the world. It aims at preventing " sweated " labour, the employment of women in unsuitable occupations, and the abolition of child-labour. The importance of this body, whose work is often unknown, cannot be under-estimated in securing decent conditions in all fields of labour, and preventing the worst form of international competition-the lowering of wages.
(5) The Permanent Court of International Justice. Quite apart from the atmosphere of Geneva, this institution considers the judicial differences of the nations. There are 12 judges, whose knowledge of international law is unrivalled. These experts are giving decisions every day, not one of which has ever been questioned by the parties concerned.