'Down with the Accursed Thing.'

Observer, Volume xi, Issue 667, 10 October 1891, Page 7

' Down with the Accursed Thing.'

The little story that we published last week under the above heading proves to be a ' big st-jry,' Dr. Egan writes as follows under date 2nd Oct : —

* In your paper published yesterday appears a paragraph on page 6 relating to myself as having told a story at a concert at Unehunga. The paragraph from beginning to end is a story, but told by your reporter or contributor. — Yours, etc.,

D. O. EaAN.' We of course accept the genial Doctor's denial unreservedly ; but a man who has such a reputation aa a clever story-toller and humorist must expect to be occasionally credited with ' good things ' told by other people. Another correspondent, T. T., writes as follows : Your amusing article in last week's issue, ' Down with the Accursed Thing,' reminds one of the Rev. Father's stump speech on Temperance. After exhorting his audience to be temperate, nearing the stump he would say ; — ' If I saw a man about to touch a drop of liquor, I would implore him not to, I would beg of him to desist, I would go on my knees to him, I would — drink the stnff myself.' Is this another ' story ?'