THE THAMES SCOTTISH BAND.

Thames Advertiser, Volume XII, Issue 3235, 4 February 1879, Page 3

THE THAMES SCOTTISH BAND.

To the Editor of the Thames Advertiser.

Sib,—Many great men published their Reflections. Pascal, Boyle, Swift, Burke, have all, in their several ways, reflected upon various topics, and given the result to the world. We . are glad* dened in spirit to know that the day of great thinkers is not yet over, and that the world is cheered, if not in its onward course by the Reflections of a " Tattler" in the Evening Star, Thames. \ Shades of Sir Richard Steele and the I mighty dead of Queen Anne's reign! has your genius reblossomed under the Southern CrossP Alas! no. Though a. "Tattler" has reappeared, it is not the genial Isaftc Biokerstaff.. Though, the name be that of the lion, the voice ia that 1 of the ass. Let us strip the usurper of: his borrowed name; let him reflect under any other nom de plume from Aaroa to. Zaoharias, bnt let not the saored dust on , the tomb of the mighty dead be disturbed by any latter-day Tattler. Amongst , many other subjects he revives the dispute about the Thames Scottish band,.' of which we fondly hoped he had had I enough, and would say no more regarding it. Since he has reopened the oorroapon-'. dence, with an entire disregard to our. former explanation, we will again rate for his edification our statements. ■ Bat ere he makes any charge he kindly, likens us to a certain long-eared animal : usually selected as typical of stupidity. ' How grateful we are to him for keeping " our folly within bounds so moderato as those of asshood, and not seeking to swell ; it into vihalelih or elephantine proper- ; tions; but our sympathies go out fully to the unfortunate quadruped when we leard - the ohange of occupation procured for it by " Tattler." It was our humble opinion, derived from the association we have with the ass, according to "Tattler," that thistle-cropping was the specialty mostly affected by the creature, but now have a wonderful phenomenon in natural history never dreamed of by Buffon, that an ass can take to mud-stirring and mudthrowing. We were under the impres-, sion that this was an occupation affected only by the lowest sort of journalists,, whose adjectives are of the earth, earthys and it saddens us beyond measure to find that such an animal as the ass should' condescend to■ such a work. Alas! poor Neddy, thou art indeed fallen low; yet, we thank heaven, not so low but that there is one work beneath thee—that of making suohreflections as "Tattler" is wont to do. We intimated in our former letter that, although the Thames Scottish Band considered the first rendering of their account perfectly reasonable, yet, upon the committee making representation that refreshments had been supplied to the band at the town's expense, the sum of £9 was deducted from the £25, making the balanoe £16 for both occasions. This was to facilitate the payment of the account, and not from any aoknow* ledgment of the extortionate nature of the demand, for if the refreshments were grudged the band preferred to virtually pay for them themselves, Further, we made special inquiry as to the item-* £3 lis—at the only hotel the Thames Scottish Band visited that day, and found that drink had been consumed to the extent of 31s, not £3 lis, as stated by " Tattler." What a mercy it is that the oompulsory clause of the Education Act is coming into force that sapient newspaper correspondents may have an opportunity to learn arithmetic, so as not to mistake £3 lis for 31s. If the committee were not prepared to pay for the musio they desired why not have honestly said so, knowing as they did the fixed charge of the band; but if they still stand out, let some neutral arbiter be appointed to go over the bills and the rates of wages received by those connected with the band, so that some solution of this business may be effected,—l am, &0,, of the Thames Scottish Band,