"Werry much surprised to see as that windictive Bounder, the
'Brummagem Bantam,' has bin a letting out wicious like at his old
pals, the 'Arwarden Old 'Un and his Pugilistic Company. '_They_
was muffs and muddlers,' he sez. Well, he ought to ha' said 'we,'
considerin' as _he wos one on 'em_!!! The Old 'Un was his first
patron, and me and other members of the Company his pertikler pals,
and _then_ he used for to crack us all up sky-high. _Now_ he rounds
on us for 'making a mess of it.' Well, praps if _all_ wos knowed--but
no matter! Only, to quarrel with your old pals, and then go about
a-sneerin' and a-jeerin' at them for wot you yerself wos a party to,
_I_ call 'hitting below the belt'"!
(_Comments of the I.B.H. "Bosh! 'Honest JOHN' is a shrew, and not a
Practical Pug. Is one prizefighter never to criticise another's style
because he's once been in the same Company with him? Might as well say
he must therefore never improve his own style. Besides, any stick is
good enough to beat the Grand Old Pug-dog with!"_)