SANTA CLAUS TRIES HIS HAND AT WAR
The deep interest in the war which is absorbing the thoughts of the British people at this time is illustrated by the popularity of such toys as these “made in England"

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THE RESULT OF RUNNING CARS BY THE “HIT OR MISS" SYSTEM
These cars, photographed after a recent arcident on the New York elevated road, were telescopod and burned in consequence of a system of signaling

that is almost incredible in its stupidity. See editorial pages for detailed explanation and comment

A

STERN, military-looking man seemed Southern Gothic." So we said that we would out of place at the table-d’hôte, amid run over on the afternoon train from Tou

wine-sellers, drummers for Bordeaux louse, see the Cathedral, come back the same jobbers, and other commercial men. We evening, and take the late train for Carcasagreed that, if not an anachronism in this age, sonne—which is another and quite different he was certainly without reason-for-being in tale. this peaceful little town in southern France. Albi, be it observed, is not on the mainFor this was two months before the war, and traveled road. One must study the time-table Albi looked as if it had never had even a carefully to find one's way there, or, better, nightmare about marching armies and the counsel with the hotel porter as to trains. noise of guns. Little did we imagine that a For must not one change at Tessonières, and few weeks after our visit the commercial men are not the trains from that quiet little hamwould be transformed into soldiers and would let somewhat infrequent? Then, too, the be marching away to the front, perhaps under branch road from Tessonières is old-fashioned the lead of the very man who seemed so as to its cars, and one gets into one of them superfluous when we sat opposite him at to find a representative of the French comdinner at the Grand Hôtel de la Poste. mercial class engaged in eating a late lunch

But Albi, sleepy little town that it was last with the perfect sang-froid and indifference May, is not without its history of war and to surroundings that characterize the native rumors of war. For did not the fact that it traveler in the independent land of France. contained a fortress-cathedral first interest He is ready, however, to answer the quesus in this peaceful village on the river Tarn ? tions which after a suitable interval are put • One of the few fortress-churches of France," to him, and shows himself familiar with the we read, " and one of the finest examples of neighborhood, and, what is more, proud of

ST. CECILIA'S TOWER SEEN FROM ONE OF ALBI'S WINDING STREETS The Albigensians love flowers, and window-boxes and roof gardens may be seen in many parts of the old town