“THE LADYSMITH LYRE.”

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXIV, Issue XX, 19 May 1900, Page 931

“THE LADYSMITH LYRE.”

Copies of the “Ladysmith Lyre.” the paper that was issued by the war correspondents during the siege, have reached this country. Here are a few items: —

“The latest Lyres, from our own correspondents, by- wireless telegraphy, dated London, November sth.” include the statement that “Mr Michael Davitt, Dr. Tanner, Mr Dillon, and Mr Swift Mac Neill, have announced their intention of joining the Irish Brigade. The House of Commons without demur voted a grant in aid.” “The Second Army Corps has been discovered in the pigeon-holes of the War Office.” The editor undertook that no effort and no expense should be spared in the collection of falsehoods for the “Lyre,” and he and his staff have been as good as their word. Under “Local Intelligence" is the item “Mrs Kruger, whose health is excellent, complains that the President is becoming too English. He no longer goes to bed in hat and boots.” “What has become of Mrs Bester’s red petticoat?” is the subject of inquiryin another local paragraph. “When last seen it was gaily floating as a Geneva cross from the turrets of Bester’s farm.”

“Whisky- is selling at 35/ a bottle,” runs another paragraph. “The Army Service Corps are waiting until the price is £2 before disposing of the 11.000 bottles in stock. They- desire that the garrison should have an op-

portunity of contributing indirectly towards the cost of the 230 head of transport. oxen presented to the Boers the other day.” “The Boer losses at Mooi River are attributed to cold water. Rather than face this unfamiliar element the enemy fell upon the ‘long* assegais' of the 12th Lancers.” "President McKinlev has offered the

Boers an asylum in the Philippines, where they- will have an opportunity of learning the principles of true republicanism.”

“The Ladysmith Lyre,” a small single sheet printed on both sides, w is issued at the price of sixpence, but it does not seem to have been a profitable concern. for in the second number there is an editorial notice that “The management has observed, with regret, that the ‘Ladysmith Lyre’ is seldom, if ever, paid for. It begs respectfully- to point out that this habit, if persisted in. may have a prejudical effect on the financial success of the newspaper.” The advertisements do not appear to have been paid for, either, but they- are as amusing as the rest of the paper.

One runs: “Piet.—Return home at once; everything forgiven.—Paul.”

In another, “General Erasmus, or any duly-authorised substitute,” is asked to call at any of the British outposts, and “he will hear of something to his disadvantage.” Under the publisher’s column are announced “Minor Tactics,” by MajorGeneral Sir F. Clery, with an appendix on “The Function and Management of Armoured Trains,” and “From Park Lane to Pretoria,” by Winston Spenser Churchill.

Any newspaper editor in England would have been glad to accept the following offer:—“The advertisement editor will be glad to exchange several thousand words descriptive of the battle of Lombard’s Kop for sufficient chloride of |>otash to give the field service side of his horse, Kruger, a fresh coat of khaki colour for Christmas."