THE CRITIC CLUB

Otago Witness, Volume 02, Issue 2420, 2 August 1900, Page 66

THE CRITIC CLUB

Motto: Xhey were critics always, and, being critics, they spoke their minds freely, and were not afraid.

Dear Dot, — When Taffy arrived at the clubjyjorns last week and told the other members the girls were not going to attend that meeting, the look of relief on their faces was immense. Buttons said, "Thank goodness, we scan be comfortable to-day." Dick called for order, and asked if anyone had found where JNatty Bumpo's quotations were derived from. Taffy said the second was taken from the end of the lesson on ""Wheat" m the First Standard reading book. Dick said No. 3 was taken from Shakespeare's "Hamlet," and No. 4 from Henry VIII. Biittons said you would find No. 5 after dinner, and Sally gave, as a corresponding quotation, "They are as sick that surfeit with too much as they that do starve with nothing.'' He said he was not sure if it was exactly the same as m his book. When Dick read No. 7 he asked if anyone knew where it was to be found. Tom said he knew where glory was to be found, but was in no hurry to obtain it, as '' The path of glory leads but to the grave," and he was not caring about dying quite so soon. Buttons declared No. 8 was to be found on Ihe West Coast. Dick then commenced reading the letters. Everyone was indignant at the mean tuck played on Bimbecco, and Sally declared practical jokes to be vulgar. Dick read the first part of Duin Durn's letter, but refused to read the puzzle. He said he wasn't going to crack his jaws trying to read it, nor yet his brains trying to understand it. The members echo Cigarette's wishes concerning "ftullie, and they hope his throat is better. Tom says it is a wonder to him that, considering the position Wullie htjld, he was not able to "cure it.'' The -critics are sorry they cannot attend his lectures this winter. It has always been a source of wonderment to them that he was not seasick going up to Auckland, but now the matter is solved. He has doubtless been well sa-lted. Clementine says many of the liitis folk are "finding Dot out."' Buttons thinks that is true, because, so far, inspecting the Witness office have never found her in. Khaki's letter put Buttons off in one of; his patriotic moods, and he became eloquent indeed. -Space will not permit a leproducfcion. He indignantly refuted the suggestion thai Buller had lost his reputation as a general. He had had (so Buttons says) the hardest fighting and th© worst work to do before Lord Roberts arrived. (Buttons is Devonshire too.) Tom and Sally compliment Regina's boy friend on .his imagination. Flora Sinclair's letter has convinced Tom of the superioiity of lighthouses over all other houses. Boy's lemark m reference to Dot's circle of fuends met with general approval. Torn was qiate enth«.siastie, and wished Boy was a member of the C.C. The critics are ashamed to confess to Mmii their inability io play draughts. It is entirely out of their province. Scallywag is requested to asl: Churn to renew her acquaintance with Dot. We do not like to lose sight of our friends altogether. — Your a truly, TAFFY (Secretary C.C).