Yesterday was Guy Fawkes day, and because so many of the children have been evacuated from the big cities it is quite probable that the day was not celebrated with all the verve with which children generally Observe the escape of the Houses of Parliament from the Gunpowder Plot of 1605. Indeed it has been reported in the home newspapers that the large stocks of fireworks which were being prepared for yesterday, have been, owing to the outbreak of the war, stored away in anticipation of peace celebrations. In addition manufacturers are also proceeding with the manufacture of additional stocks against the same happy event. Nevertheless despite blackout regulations, which may have prevented many an after dark bonfire, and the setting off of fireworks, doubtless children paraded their guys, and exhorted the generously disposed to "Please to remember the fifth of November Of gunpowder, treason and plot I see no reason why gunpowder treason Should ever be forgot."
What similitude the guys took must be a matter of speculation at this date, but if the masks which top off the heterogeneous collection of stuffed clothing which goes to form the image, took the likeness of a certain well known European leader no one in England would be in the least surprised. They may not have had the satisfaction of seeing him go up in a blaze of flame, though the doggerel of the occasion did permit of them to dance around him singing:
"Guy, guy, guy, hit him in the eye Hang him on a lampest and there let him die..."
Fashions in guys do change, and if the face is ihat which is suggested above it will merely mean that the man represented will have joined that galaxy of villains who have at one time or another engaged the temporary attention of England's children. They may be above or below politics in their extreme youth, but they do know the characters of whom they cordially disapprove.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.