DEAR MR. PUNCH,--Although you are a humorist, there is a serious side
to your character. I want to appeal to that serious side. I wish to
complain of the prevalence in all our West-End Co-operative Palaces of
that annual pest, appropriately called "the Club Sweep." Why should it
be allowed to prosper? It is a disgrace to civilisation. I know of
no more painful sight than the picture of old CR[OE]SUS paying the
hall-porter to put him down for a dozen places. I am delighted when
those twelve positions end in blanks, or starters out of the running.
And nearly as unpleasant an incident is the tableau of young JONES
taking a pound chance at the same fatal lottery. Put it down, _Mr.
Punch_; put it down. I repeat, "the Club Sweep" is unworthy of the
civilisation of the close of the nineteenth century. Once more, Sir,
put it down.
Yours, most truly,