A HAPPY EMBLEM.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume X, Issue 290, 1 November 1875, Page 4

A HAPPY EMBLEM.

Westminister Palace Hotel, London, July 19, 1871.— 1 have just come from a meetjog where I had a pretty row with the Attorney- Genera! of Australia. The 1 meeting waa that of a Colonial Society,, and took place ia the large hall of this hotel . In seconding a vote of thanks to Jenkios— author of Ginx's Baby—\ made some remarks touching the colonies as a field for oar ragged school children, which were greatly oheered. After me cam* the' same Attorney - General, who opposed the idea of sending out, aa he chose to characterise my proposition, «• the scum of the country to the colonies." This (set up my birse. I waited till he was done, then rose and gave him an answer. My Boisher, she coup de grace, was furnished by a sheet of paper lying on the table before the chairman (the Duke of Manchester.) fieisiog it, I held it out before the meeting, by that tima pretty well wrought up in sympathy with myself, aajing, M This was once the 'scum' which (he gentleman charged me with wishing to introduce into the colonies j— once foul, dirty, wretched rags. In it, now white, as ibe snows of heaven -—this gentleman (who spoke, I believe, in sheer ignorance 00 the subject) may see an emblem of the material we would send to the colonies, of the work our ragged schools have achieved." So, tossjfnj? down the paper, and. bowing to the Duke amid the cheers of- the audience, taken by surprise, and manifestly pleased with this illustration, I left, thankful to God that I was ready witted enough for the occasion, the last words I heard as I left the room to Bcribble off this letter being, "Well done, Gathriel" (To Mrs Guthrie). •■ Autobiography of Thomas Guthrie,