PROPHETIC SHAKESPEARE.

Lake County Press, Volume VIII, Issue 435, 11 September 1879, Page 3

PROPHETIC SHAKESPEARE.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE AH ROW OBSERVER. Sib.—The columns of the 'Cromwell Arqus' closed abruptly against, the cun-

I tinuation of the wordy war bet ween Mr ,T. A. Miller and myself; he having, like the true old woman, the " last word " —which I many consider a fitting conclusion to the I correspondence. The warlike editor of I that paper suggests a oourse which might J end our difficulty; but then, the conse*- , quences from such an opponent! The game is hardly worth the candle. Mr I Miller only attempted to controvert my statements by a reiteration of fahsehooJs. One can guard himself against a thief, but against a perverter of the truth—never! There is one statement of his, however, which I cannot allow to pass. He states that I said, " The weekly returns from the Morven Perry Punt were £l6, and I was prepared to prove it by my oath." What I did say was this, "According to the book submitted to me the takings amounted for the past seven weeks to £l6'per week, and the man who kept the accounts could prove the same on oath." Further, he writes that'the Countj Chairman discovered, on taking over the Ferry, that the takings were only £6 per week- This might well be, as after.Mr.Owens agreed with the County Council about the punt, he worked it for a month at reduced fares as follows : Horses (previously charged 2s) reduced to 6d. Loading ~ ~ 2s per ton) ~ Is. Coach ~ ~ 18a per week) ~ Free Foot-passengers ~ « 6d each .. Free If Mr Miller will take the trouble to calculate the above, he will find that the weekly receipts for that month must have been less than one-third of the preceding ones, and it was upon those receipts that the Coanty Chairman based his report. Mr Miller says this report appeared in print; but I did not see it, nor do I believe he did. Mr Miller is a great dis* coverer—of " mare's nests''; he can add this one to his already long list. Mr Miller, by his general behaviour, irresistibly reminds tne of "Bottom" in Shakspeare's Midsummer NigM s Dream when the fairy '• Puck " adorns him with an ass's head, to the great surprise of his companions- on- witnessing the metamorphosis : ACT in,—Scene I. Snout —O Bottom ! thou art changed ! what do I see on thee ? Quince— Bless thee, Battorn ! bless theo ! thou art translated. Bottom—l see their knavery : this is to i make an ass of me, to fright me, if they could. Hut I will not stir from this place, do what tli6y can: I will walk up and down hero, and I will sing, that they shall hear I am not afraid,If this. i3.not, a correct picture of our worthy librarian, I am. no true artist. There is a strange superstition in some parts of the world that I have read of; it is. " If children afflicted with whoopingcough are allowed to kiss the back of an ass they will straightway be healed." Now, if ever this superstition and the disease should go hand in-hand through Arrow'own, our friend Mr Miller, alias " Bottom," would have a golden opportunity of receiving many a chaste salute. As the candidates Say, " With these few remarks, gentlemen, I conclude." Geo. B. Douglas. Arrowtown, September 9th.