B.--This is a quotation. Sure
of it. Where from? Don't know. Tragedy probably; sounds tragic. No
matter. Can give it with effect in a speech, and Members turn to one
another and ask, "What's that from?" When they ask me confidentially
afterwards, I reply with an air of intense surprise, "What! don't
_you_ know! Well!!" and I turn on my heel, leaving CHUCKLEHEAD, M.P.,
annoyed with himself,--"_plante la_" as DRUMMY would say,--for being
so ignorant, and for having displayed his ignorance so palpably. Off
he goes to British Museum and searches for quotation. This gives him
opportunity of acquiring much useful knowledge, which, but for me,
he would not have had. Rather a long parenthesis this. So--on we goes
again.)
TO THE MINES.
_A propos_ of exploring, the other day, a digger's assistant came up
to me and inquired "If I had," as I understood him, "my gin pack'd."
I returned that I never took spirits. Found out subsequently that word
was spelt "_mijinpacht_," which is African-Dutch for "lease." Well,
why didn't he say so before? Of course I have, and plenty of 'em; else
why am I here?
To-day went to see the ore in the Robinson Crusoe Mines. As D.W. would
say, "The site strikes me with ore!"
Much interested, of course, in inspecting the Salisbury Mine.
Naturally, I put in my claim for the Salisbury. What's in a name and
a family, if one can't get some good out of 'em? Intend to start
the "Uncle Mine.
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