THE READING ROOM.

Hastings Standard, Issue 369, 10 July 1897, Page 3

THE READING ROOM.

"To the Editor/ 1 Sir —"Will the person who visits the reading room at the Ath. n.ruui every evening please to leave his brick-coloured dog outside or chain it up at home. In complying with either one of these suggestions the owner of the said curly canine would be relieving the minds of many visitors of much annoyance. The canine and its owner walk into the room in single file, and the latter makes for the fireplace and squats down in various attitudes. Sometimes his feet, climbing half way up the wall, may be seen perched on the mantel piece, while his faithful dog is coursing round the room in pursuit of its own shadow. The expression of unrest on the faces of those wishing to read would form food for the pen of the comic ske-teher and were they to give vent to their feelings the roof would be raised by a volume of opinion and the air painted blue for miles. After the animal has finished the shadow-hunt-ing performance it takes up a prominent position at full stretch in front of the lire and distributes vermin of the grass hopper type over the the master interests himselrffiSßpaes about Hooley's proposed purchase of the Colonial meat works. I would suggest that the dog in question be placed on the chain every evening at sunset and remain thereon till sunrise next morning, or if the owner cannot separate himself from the uglv canine then he should inve*t in a chain and place himself on the end of it. Visitors to the reading room would soon notice the difference. —I am, &c-, Visitor.