Let us leave him there, alone with his emotions, into which it would be
impertinent to probe. I may tell you quietly apart that there is a
difference of opinion between me and _Amtliches Schweizerisches Kursbuch_
about this name. He wants to ration the l's, but, having been there and
heard the name pronounced, I have refused to be taught how to spell a good
Welsh name by a darned foreigner. If we are going to have any nonsense
about it I have said that I shall stand out for the proper, full and
uncorrupt spelling: FLLEWELLYN.
* * * * *
[Illustration: "'ERE--CHUCK IT, MISSUS. WHY CAN'T YER LET US FIGHT IN
PEACE?"]
* * * * *
"'That,' declared Mr. Lloyd George amid loud cheers, 'is one of the
most formidable challenges ever given to democracy. Without hesitation
every Government must accept that challenge.' 'Certainly we will,'
retorted the Prime Minister."--_Evening Paper._
No wonder Mr. LLOYD GEORGE wants a holiday if he has begun to talk to
himself.
* * * * *
"A telegram from Paris says: It is announced here that an agreement has
been concluded between France, Great Britain and Italy regarding the
delimitation of the open golf championship."--_Provincial Paper._
It will be noticed that America seems once more to have held aloof from the
councils of the Allies.
* * * * *
"TO HIM THAT HATH ..."
It was Butterington who first put me up to the idea. I asked him a simple
question about the habits of the Sigalion Boa, a certain worm in whose ways
I was taking an interest at the time, and he at once replied that he
himself was not in the fur line.
"Whenever," he went on, "I require information on any subject I apply to my
bank. Why don't you do the same?"
This opened up an entirely new prospect. To me my bank was an institution
which kept my accounts, issued money and, on occasion, lent it. It never
entered my head that it was also ready to perform the functions of an
inquiry office and information bureau.
Previous communications from me had always begun, "Sir, with reference to
my overdraft"--you know the sort of thing one generally writes to banks;
expostulating, tactful, temporising letters.
This time however I addressed them in different vein. Rejecting all mention
of overdrafts as being in doubtful taste, I wrote:--
SIR,--I shall be greatly obliged if you will kindly inform me, at your
early convenience:
(1) Whether it is a fact that the African rhinoceros has no hair on the
hind legs?
(2) Whether, in the case of my backing Pegasus in the first race, 'any to
come' on Short Time in the fourth, and Short Time not starting, I am
entitled to my winnings over Pegasus?
(3) Whether, after perusing seventeen favourable reports from mining
engineers and eighty-seven enthusiastic directors' speeches, I am justified
in assuming that gold actually does exist in the Bonanzadorado mine?
Yours faithfully,