Parliamentary Pastimes. — Two new games have been introduced id to the House of Commons since the commencement of the extraordinary session, and played with much spirit by honorable members. The first is called "Hunt the Pressure," and is thus played : — Members having taken their seats, all the events of the last two years are called in, and set down before the house. They conceal "the Pressure" among them, and the game consists iv finding out under which of them it is hidden. The house presents the most animated appearance while the hunt is going on, and the greatest amusement is j ■caused by the wild attempts of members to guess where "the Pressure" really is hidden. "I've got it!" cries Lord George seizing fu riously on Free Trade. "Here it is!" and he brings to light something which turns out to be "Plenty" instead of "Pressure" "Nonsense!" cries Sir William Molesworth, "here it is under Railways," and he pulls out "Employment." "It's under Famine!" shouts another honorable member. "It'sun der Bank Restriction !" interpose half-a-do zen members at once tumbling over each other in their eagerness to lug the act of 1844 out of its place, to seize on " the Pressure " un der it. There is nothing. The struggle waxes warmer. Lord John grasps Railway -and Famine at once, in his conviction that they have hidden the missing object between them. His example is followed by twenty others. The whole circle of events is hurled topsy turvy. Everybody declares be ■knows exactly where "the Piessure" is, but somehow nobody catches it. The fun of the game consists in its never coming to a con clusion. The other, and equally favourite game, is called "Blind Member's Buff." A member is blindfolded. The Pressure is al lowed to run about the house, with Famine, J Free Trade, Railway Works, the Bank Act, •and the others who have just formed the cir cle for " Hunt the Pressure. 1 ' The object is to catch the Pressure. Of course, the Blind Member is continually catching the wrong, thing, and the fun of the house is excessive at his assertions that he has got hold of the pressure, when he really is grasping one or more of the bewildered crowd about him. — Punch.
