NEW KING COAL CORRECTED.
In the sub-heading of Mr. Punch's Up-to-Date Nursery Rhyme, "New King Coal" (August 19, p. 74), a very obvious error was made in speaking of the colliers of Northumberland and Durham as "on strike," when in fact they were only "considering the advisability" of joining their Welsh "brothers" and Midland "mates" in a collective stand against the coal-owners. Since then, Mr. Punch is glad to know, they have "thought better of it," and have not joined the strike—having, perhaps, given "thoughtful consideration" to Mr. Punch's friendly conundrum. "The bearings" of the New Nursery Rhyme "lie in its application," and are not altered by the writer's slip of the pen, to which, however, Mr. Punch thanks various vigilant readers for, very properly, calling his attention.
To the men's Federation 'twas Punchius spoke:
"The Capitalist can drink fizz and can smoke;
And why should a lad who has eyes and can see,
Follow fools like a lamb, and lose much £ s. d.
Northumberland, Durham decline to come forth.
When strikes suit the south they may not suit the north;
So let every man who loves honour and right,
Essay Arbitration in lieu of brute fight!"
No Doubt of It.—Of course the admission detracts from our "Lika Joko's" artistic skill, but evidently Mr. Swift-to-Avenge MacNeill is a person very easily "drawn."
Coal Mine Owners have no big difficulties to contend with; in this life they have only to meet miner troubles.