(_An Intercepted Letter._)
[Illustration]
MY DEAR BOB,--I have got your note, sympathising with me on my
sad fate of being "tied to town" in August. Don't cry while you are in
the wood. I can assure you that bricks and mortar are just as pleasant
as green leaves. Not that we do not have the latter. Hyde Park is at
its best, and Battersea is beautiful beyond compare. And mind you, my
lad, it is unnecessary to stroll through either in the height of May
Day fashion. The House is sitting, and the Irish Members are quite
equal to keeping both sides on the move.
And at night we have plenty of gaiety, not only in the Strand, where
_The Shop Girl_ is as popular as ever, but at the Lyric too, where
_The Artist's Model_ is a pattern of prosperity. Then there are the
halls of dazzling delight. _Titania_, at the Alhambra, and _Faust_, at
the Empire, leave nothing to be desired save a lot more of them. So,
my dear young friend do not condole before you have reason. London is
going well and strong, and, while this happens, I can dispense with the
jocular joys of Shrimpington-on-Sea.
Yours, cheerfully,
DOLLY.
* * * * *
M'CARTHY'S MOTTO (_the wish being father to the
thought_).--"Sic transit gloria REDMONDI!"
* * * * *
[Illustration: UNLUCKY SPEECHES.
_She._ "OH, MR. SORNEY, I AM SO GRATEFUL TO YOU FOR YOUR
THOUGHTFULNESS IN WRITING SO PROMPTLY TO TELL ME OF POOR HARRY'S
ACCIDENT!"
_He._ "PRAY DON'T MENTION IT--I WAS VERY GLAD INDEED TO HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY OF DOING IT!"]
* * * * *
"THE CHILDREN'S COUNTRY HOLIDAYS FUND."
It will be remembered that a fortnight since appeared in _Punch_
(Vol. 109, No. 2823) an article entitled "The Country of Cockaigne,"
written as a reminder that the above excellent fund was not only in
existence, but sorely in need of contributions. Since then the appeal
has been answered by the charitably disposed, and acknowledged by the
proper official at head-quarters. It is gratifying to learn that the
paper published in these pages has been of signal service to the young
clients for whom author and artist plied pen and pencil with so much
goodwill. It is not customary to publish "serious" contributions from
voluntary contributors in these columns, but the following extract
from a letter received from the Secretary of the "Children's Country
Holidays Fund" is such pleasant reading that an apology for its
insertion seems superfluous:--
"'The Country of Cockaigne' has caused such a pressure of work here,
that I am afraid the ordinary duties of gratitude have been long
delayed. May I say that we, and here I speak for the London children,
are very grateful indeed.
"It was scarcely eleven o'clock last Wednesday when a man came in
with £1 to send JIMMY and FLORRIE away, and there
were several more on the same errand at lunch time. Since the article
appeared we have received £1,334 11_s._ 6_d._--of this over £500 has
been sent with special mention of _Punch_, and considerably more
than this is undoubtedly due to it.... One father, speeding away to
Switzerland with his family, read _Punch_ in the train, and scribbled
a note in pencil that he wanted to help before going on his holiday,
and wrote a cheque for £7--at Dover station."
Then the writer says that many of the contributors to the Fund
wanted to know whether JIMMY and FLORRIE were real
children, and concludes with an expression of "heartiest thanks to all
concerned." Of course, JIMMY and FLORRIE are children
of the brain, but they are none the less real on that account. They
are types of thousands. A correspondent suggests that the article is
calculated to do so much good that it should be reprinted. This would
be impracticable. However, it is possible to repeat "the Moral"; and
this being so, we give it:--
"The offices of the Children's Country Holidays Fund are at 10,
Buckingham Street, Strand, and contributions should be made payable to
the Hon. Treasurer."
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