Untitled

Observer, Volume 2, Issue 36, 21 May 1881, Page 385

The results of being "burgled" are very various. Some people seemed to be honestly astonished at the idea of our possessing such a sum as £67 and even hinted that it couldn't be honestly come by, whilst others were of opinion (possibly the wish was father to the thought) that the loss of £45 must inevitably lead the Observer direct to the Bankruptcy Court. For instance, on Saturday afternoon "OldTuriite" came in and asked for a cheque for a pound on account of some contributions, which we of course handed to him. The banks being closed lie betook himself to the nearest public house to get it changed. This happened to be that eminently respectable "nobbier- shop" the Queensferry in Vulcan-lane, But do yon think the pious and much-revered Mr. .Sutherland or his amiable spouse would risk giving twenty shillings for that one pound cheque. Not they; they knew better. You don't put salt on the tails of old birds like Mr. and Mrs. Sutherland. Other people, perhaps, remembering that there was a plant and paper worth at least £SOO at the OBSERVER office and that it had transpired through the daily papers that sums varying from £50 to £80 had been banked either on Wednesdays and Saturdays for .several weeks previous to the robbery, might have paused before they refused to cash such a trifle as a one pound cheqxie. Not so mine host and hostess of the Queensferry. ' ' He was fobbed last night " they said sagely and wagged their heads with that affectation of knowing something which your deadly stupid people who arc entirely without reasoning faculties, invariably assume. But perhaps after all we are too hard on Mr. and Mrs. Sutherland. Maybe they judge others by themselves. The loss of £45 would possibly have rendered Mr. S's cheques valueless, and he thinks it must be the same with us. If this is indeed the case, the poor man's conduct seems intelligible. True, we have always heard that the Sutherlands were tolerably' well ofF and have a kindly relative to look to in case of a disaster, but, everything considered, it is preferable to believe them unfortunate rather than stupid.