A LETTER FROM AN OLD-TIME D.L.F.

Otago Witness, Volume 23, Issue 2684, 23 August 1905, Page 76

A LETTER FROM AN OLD-TIME D.L. F.

Dear Dot, — T've taken a notion to write a few lines to the old page to-night — for why, I can hardly say, as being an old writer (who, by the way, hasn't written for some years, and therefore is hardly an old writer) I have really no right to. The only reason that I cart advance is that I was glancing through an Otago Witness (the first one I have seen for some time) a, few moments ago, and was seized with a sudden desire to write something. Always an interesting page, I think it is more interesting now than it has ever been, owing to its scope being larger — that is, the folk now have their clubs' meetings, «tc. The writers are, practically, all strangers to me, thotigh occasionally I, with pleasure, drop across a name that bring 3 back happy days, when B. 0. 8., Alys, Harry, Coose, Jessica, Devonshire Dumpling, Solomon Slow, Roby, Ziska, Sybil Scribbles, Priscillsu, Boy, Maidey, Forest Queen, Con, Doughmut, Loaf, Piccolo, Shaw, and others whose names I cannot call to mind at the present^ moment, used to ■write to the page. Occasionally in various towns in the North Island I have dropped across D.L.F. I must congratulate the present-day writers on the excellent standard they have attained in writing. I often marvel over the improvement of the page today as compared with 10 or 12 years ago, when the letters were of the "I have a cat," etc., stylo. I had a letter a few days ago that I was pleased to get, and that was from Cooee. T had. thought that the members of the old band of T).L.F. had pretty well forgotten an insignificant being like me, and it is indeed pleasing; to find tEat one is not altogether forgotten. Then another surprise is forthcoming. Alys, who is staying in th« North Island, and who has just returned from

a visit to Dunedin, has informed me thai the clxib wish me to write them a paper for one of their meetings. I hardly know what to write about, but I shall endeavour to fulfil their wish. Dear Dot, I have written quite enough, so must -stop. With every kind wish and i»meinbrances to yourself and the D.L.F., — Yours truly, DICKY DONOVAN. Masterton, August 11, 1903. [I feel certain that many more of the prosent day D.L.F. remember Dicky Donovan's amusing sketch &s than he imagines. This, however, is only a furthgr exemplification of the adage of the pa<je, "Once a D.L.F , always a D.L.F."— DOT.]