AN OPEN LETTER

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 62, 6 December 1917, Page 4

AN OPEN LETTER

TO THE MAYOR OF EABTBOUKNH. (By "Wi.") Dear Mr. Mayor,—My friend M. dt. St. Cliaromond (formerly of Soi6sons) lias written mo a lotter which I think I ought to send 011 to you, as its purport is a matter of publio interest. After reading the letter you will probably come to the conclusion that tbo author of it was labouring under Bome excitement at tlio time of writing. He was. From my knowledge of bis temperament I should say that 110 wanted I somebody's blood. In his present state j of mind he is quite capable of doing considerable damago to life and property, as, for oxample, puncturing the woazand of some member of your ferry boat traffic staff or kicking a hole in the Duchess or the Cobar. However, judge for yourself: Wellington, Dcc. 4. My Very Dear Monsieur — I desire that you Bhould do Boraothing for me. I am amazed; lam angry. lam so angry that I cannot permit myself to Bpe&k of that of which lam full. Bo! I will tell you. Yoßterday I bo to visit my chateau at Day's Bay. Ah! It is beautiful I Tho | birdst Tho trees! But, my dear monsieur, have I not spoken of these before many timoß? It 1b bo. I continue. I purohase for myself a newspaper. It 1b your Dominion. Bo! I proceed to the pier, where I buy for myself a tioket, and proceed to set myßclf on board tho Duoheßß. It is done. Wo voyage upon your beautiful harbour. Presently I arrive at my chateau, whero I spend many charming momonts, 60! Thon I say to myself: "I must return to the city by tho Bteamer which departs from tho pier at 6.20 p.m." Therefore, Igo down to the pior to await tho Bteamer. Nom do Dicu! Thoro 1b no steamer till after 6 o'clock! lam late for tho city; I am lato for dinner; I am late for an appointment with one who is moßt charming. "Bacro!" I Bay to myself. Can it be that there is srmo information in my newspaper that J. have not read? No! It is not so. 1 ask of Bome one why I do not Know these tilings—l, who road my newspaper most carefully for announcements. lam informed that it is in tho evening paper that an announcement speaks of a change in the timetable. "Nom de Dieul" I say. I do not read the evening paper! I have never read an oveninc paper in my life!" 80! The person to whom I havo spoken desires then to know why I, Aiiston de St. Charemond, do not proceed to make music on the subject, fiacre! He says: Why dont you malto a song about it? My dear monsieur, I implore that you w II explain to me that which I can not myself comprehend. I am not informed in my newspaper that my Bteamer service is altered. That, monßieur. is not good business. It is not even polite to myself. Monßieur will explain? I am, monßieur, Your very dear friend, ARISTON DE ST. OHAEEMOND. Now, Mr. Mayor, Monsieur do St. Charemond has put to ma a question which I cannot answer. I myself cannot understand why, if this be so it should ho so. Nor can I say to M. de St. Charemond by way of reply: Aslc mo something easier, for, as I nave previously observed, my correspondent is in Buch a frame of mind that he is probably capable ■of marking his displeasure hv some extraordinary demonstration. No doubt a verylam.part of his annoyance is due to tho fact that he missed an appointment with a very charming lady. Cherchez la femme! I ask you, Mr. Mayor, to hark hack to tho days of your youth, put yourself in the place of my friend Ariston de St. Charemond, and tell mo, frankly, exactly what you would have felt impelled to Bay in similar oirCTirnstanccs. Smaller causes have wrecked kingdoms and sent bishops to the scaffold.