I THINK I may claim to be a, more or less, seasoned collector, having collected annually from luxurious hair to a bald pate, and I find that most years are marked by some peculiarity —other than myself. This year was marked by a direct association with the seat of Government—no less than No, 10 Downing Street itself, in the following manner.

My "beat," Whitehall, meant that I passed and repassed Downing Street more times than many—when it happened.

A man, wearing Government messenger's uniform, crossed from Downing Street and approached me in such a way as to lead me to think that he intended to buy a flag or die in the attempt.

I pinned an emblem to his coat and held out my box hopefully. "Can you give me a receipt for two bob?" asked the messenger. I explained that it was difficult to carry writing materials on such occasions and sugf ested that he might call at the flagay depot to which I was attached.

"You can write, can't you?" I swelled with pride at the inferred compliment and explained "No Eaper," whereupon our undaunted •iend produced a sheet of note-paper, bearing a crest and the magic words "10, Downing Street," and invited me to inscribe my dutiful thanks thereon.

I still "hedged"—"No pen," I said.

He produced a pencil, but remembering the importance of the occasion, he ventured the remark "Wouldn't look too good would it? Come into the post office." I went, and there with an implement which served to convey ink to paper— I think it has seen much service in other ways—I wrote underneath the P.M's official address—• "Received a donation of 2,?. on behalf of Life-boat Institution" and handed it to the representative of Government who then said, "Must get change," and invited me to follow him to a nearby newsboy from whom he bought a paper before transmitting the amount of "Two bob" to me.

This done he at last explained himself. "They've been having a Cabinet Meeting and the carpet is so thick that they don't hear when they drop things. Someone dropped two bob this morning and, as we don't know who dropped it, my orders are to give it to the first flag day, and here you are, but of course I must have a receipt." So there, perhaps, along with important "top secret" Government papers rests a sample of my very own handwriting (pity it's not more readable), there to remain to mystify succeeding Cabinets, unless maybe, to serve as a spill to convey a light to somebody's cigar—who knows. But we do bump into some funny how-do-you-do's don't we?.