Notes and Comments.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume IV, Issue 252, 6 September 1902, Page 3

Notes and Comments.

The following letter is said to have bren received by a a letter gentleman in New from dick. Zealand lately from a friend in London ; it speaks for itself: —London, August 12, 1902. Dear Joe, —Just a line to let yon know how I am. Well, I feel just as biisk as ever, albeit I got rather taken back the other day at the reception of the Boer Generals. It fairly took me by storm as I stood there expecting to hear the crowd yelling out “ What ho I whiskers on the sky line I ’Ows your mother off far soap 1 etc.” But they didn’t; they simply went off their heads over them and cried out “ Brave soldiers 1 Good old Do Wet," etc., and chased their cabs along the street. Well, they didn’ji chase my cab, and I can tell you (although I wouldn’t tell anybody else) that they made more fuss about those btlly generals than they did about me, but I didn’t let on. After I hud recovered my composure I simply yelled in accordance with the crowd, and you know how I can yell when I like. You mind how I used to cheer the departing contingents as we sent them away to slaughter the dirty Boers, but I suppose we must accept them as brothers now that the war is over, even though they did use the white flag indiscriminately. But that’s neither here nor there; when the crowd overlooks it we must all do the same. Nevertheless, I would not trust them, they are a sly “ push ” and if ever again trouble breaks out don’t forget to remind our people that old Dick said so, but soft soap works the crowd here much more easily than it does in New Zealand. Well, I suppose you heard all about them wanting to give me a new name, but I thought the same old name my mother gave me was quite good enough, at least that’s what I told them, for you know if I came home with a now name my people might not recognise me, but I hinted to them that if it were put away carefully there might be some future time when it would come in handy, for you know there might be a possibility of me being sent to Africa on important business, then there would not be the slightest objection to me accepting a new name, but if I come back to New Zealand I imagine how my bosom will expand with pride as I tell them how old Dck came back to them, having refused all sorts of honours to be one amongst their noble selves again. Hoping to see you again shortly, if nothing serious turns up. Yours sincerely, Dick.