of State for War.

_Mr. B._ Can't they be lumped together, _Mr. Punch_?

_Mr. P._ Well, yes, in the sense of being discarded. They are neither
satisfactory, although they contradict one another.

_Mr. B._ So I think, _Mr. Punch_. What is to be done?

_Mr. P._ I will do my best to answer you. But just as a preliminary
question, may I ask whether you insure your house, Mr. BULL?

_Mr. B._ Why, yes, certainly. I pay for guardianship and protection.
If I did not, I should have to start fire-engines and the rest of it
myself.

_Mr. P._ Quite so. And you find it cheaper in the long run.

_Mr. B._ To be sure. I have got much, too much to do to bother about
the details of security from fire.

_Mr. P._ Again quite so. Then why don't you pay for your Army?

_Mr. B._ But I do, and a precious round sum too!

_Mr. P._ However, it is difficult to get recruits. And in England any
and everything can be bought by money.

_Mr. B._ Pardon me, _Mr. Punch_, that's all nonsense. Abroad, they can
get soldiers at half the price that--