LUNCH AND A NOVEL

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 885, 3 August 1910, Page 4

LUNCH AND A NOVEL

AN EXASPERATED PUBLICAN. The "counter lnnch" has occasionally been the ground of strained relations b» tween some publicans and their patrons, Sometimes it brings on open hostilities.' The landlord of a certain big Wellington hotel has liberal ideas on the subject of counter-lunch, but his liberality and patience has each its limit. The other day his hostelry was Invaded by a person of mild and sober mien, who, after modest patronage, settled down to counterlunch and a novel! He began his book at chapter one, and by the time ho turned a page the visibl? supplies of light refreshment had already diminished, woefully. Boniface stood it as long aa he could, but at last was moved to take action. He said it was too much, and in a tono that brooked no denial demanded that the omnivorous reader should instantly depart. To those who remained mine host ' explained that if his too willing guest had begun on the lost chapter he would not have been so much hurt, but to see an attack on tbe counter-lunr.L begun as an accompaniment to the first chapter of a novel was "out of bounds" altogether.