THE PEER AND THE SNOB.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4546, 18 November 1882, Page 4

THE PEER AND THE SNOB.

1» Tho following story of an English nobleman, recently docoaeed, is told by the correspondent of a contemporary. "The duke," he says, "was onco in a church when a collection was announced for some charitable object. The plate bogan to go round, and the duke carefully put his hand into his pocket and took out a florin, whioh he laid on the pew before him ready to be transferred to the plate. Beside him sat a little snob, who, noticing this action, imitated it by ostentatiously laying a sovereign alongside the ducal florin. This wbb too much for his grace, who dipped his hand into his pocket again and pulled out another florin, whioh he laid by the side of the first. The little snob followed suit by laying another sovereign beside the first. His grace quietly added a third florin, which was oapped by a third sovereign on the part of the little snob. Out oame a fourth florin to swell the duke's donation, and then the little snob triumphantly laid three sovereigns at once upon the board. The duke, not to be beaten, produced three florins. Jußt at that moment the plate arrived. The little snob took up his handful of sovereigns, ostentatiously rattled thorn into the plate, and then turned defiantly towards his rival, as if he would say, " I think that takes the shame out of you." Fancy his chagrin when the duke, with a grim smile, put one florin into the plate, and quietly swept the remaining bix baok into his pocket."