"I am a bachelor, therefore I say, men, you are welcome to my very simple hospitality if it is of any use to you. I can do with a limited number every or any Saturday. Any creed or class is welcome. All I stipulate for is honest souls. Come and smoke and talk under the trees and spend a quiet time away from the town. I simply condition--no publicity or fuss, the giving and acceptance of the invitation quietly, honestly, brother to brother. Would you, Sir, forward any letters on to me?"
This is of course an example which will be followed, and _Mr. Punch_ has already had the following letter (amongst others), which he now prints with pleasure.
SIR,--Owing to the Death Duties, I am no longer a rich man, but I have a little house in Piccadilly, not more than a twopenny 'bus ride from Charing Cross. It has occurred to me that some hungry working-man might like to drop in to a quiet little dinner some night. I am a Duke, therefore I say, comrades in depression, you are welcome to my roof, if it's of any use to you. I can dine a hundred or so of you any or every night. All I stipulate for is that there shall be no speaking, for speaking bores me horribly.
_Jones._ "WELL, MY LITTLE MAN, WHAT ARE _you_ THINKING ABOUT?"
_London Boy (who has never been out of Whitechapel before)._ "I'M THINKIN' IT'S TIME YER MOTHER PUT YER INTO _Trousers_!"]
Rates, rates, rates, Of an exigent L. C. C.! And I'm glad they can't hear the language We utter so frequentlee!
O well for the excellent Chairman For trying to reduce them a bit! O well for those Councillors wary Who on costly "improvements" sit!
And "demand-notes" still go on, And our pockets are steadily bled; But "O (we oft sigh) for a tenpenny rate, And the sins of a 'Board' that is dead!"
Rates, rates, rates! Thanks, men of the L. C. C.! We trust the farthing now taken off Will never go back to ye!
SCENE--_A Ball Room at the Mansion House._
_She._ Quite. But tell me, have you been attending the Congress?
_He._ Of course; that is why I received an invitation to-night.
_She._ And you found the lectures and all that most interesting?
_He._ Yes, very; and then there were the Opera and the theatres in the evening.
_She._ But do let us talk about the Congress. Did you not discuss sanitation?