GEORGE AUGUSTUS SALA AND THE CAMBRIDGE PUBLIC LIBRARY.

Waikato Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2085, 17 November 1885, Page 2

GEORGE AUGUSTUS SALA AND THE CAMBRIDGE PUBLIC LIBRARY.

On learning that it w.n the intention of thm journalistic star to pay a \i*ittotho Hot Lakes prior to his departure from Now Zealand, and that being n, man of a little intelligence, ho would choose the Cambridge route, the chairman of the Cambridge Town Hoard, on the representation of several other leading residents, conceived the idea of Cambridge beiiiß fay oured with a lecture, and the local public library being f.-nouied with the proceeds. The idea was certainly a grand one fiom ft Cambridge point of t lew, and accordingly a wire w.is hent to Mr Sala, asking him would he, on parsing through tho toun, repent his Auckland lecture on Dickens and Thackeray in aid of the loed public library. Unfortunately tho telegram seems to have fallen into the.hnnds of Mr Smyth* 1 , Mr Sal.is agent. Mr Symthe had his eye to buxinesH, and p'rhaps George Augustus never saw tho humble request of the Cambridge public. Anyhow a reply wai received in Mr Srnytlm's nime, asking: — "Wh.it fee could you Mr Sala?" We don't believe tti.it Mr S.d.i has ever seen or heard of the requoat, and can only depl'ne tho fact th.it a gout lonian of his reputation for genuine liberality, ha-, fallen into the hands of such a sordid agent as Mr Smythe.