Don Quixote visits a London library

THE Children's Department proved to be a neat and cosy little room, somewhat sparingly furnished with books (“Overstocking was the bane of the old children's libraries,” said my companion) but with pictures (“Kindly donated by the L.N.E.R.”), cardboard models, and flowers much in evidence. In the centre of the room a tall sallow individual in a baggy suit, which might have been designed by Omar the Tentmaker, was wearing himself to the bone to amuse the young. A rabbit and the historic ruins of a top‐hat appeared to be the leading motifs of this entertainment. The former disappeared and reappeared four or five times while I watched, and I reflected that its views on serialism would have been of great value to Professor Dunne. I asked the meaning of this phenomenon.