Some one says “Absence of Income-tax.” This is met with Absence of Income. Solution rejected.
***
We found afterwards on our Scientific Lecturer's table MSS. of
“Letters to Rothschild” by a Professor of Scientific Economy.
One commences thus:—
Dear Baron,
You will doubtless be surprised at hearing from an humble individual who has nothing but his Scheme of Personal Scientific Economy, and his unblemished character, to recommend him to your notice.
I am getting up a subscription for myself. This sounds, put shortly, egotistical. On the contrary, it is Cosmopolitanly Philanthropical. If I am enabled to teach my doctrines for nothing, I shall, then, be slave to no man, no, not even to myself, as represented by my own necessities. May I head the list with a sum worthy your munificence and perfectly Oriental wealth? Yes. I hear you say ‘yes.’ I knew it. I shall put your Lordship down for £20,000, and will be careful to send you a receipt for the money. Business is business.
Yrs., &c.
J. Soames.
***
Perhaps one day the Professor of Scientific Economy will publish his “Letters to Baron Rothschild.” But I don't think there will ever appear a very voluminous collection of “Letters of Baron R. to Mr. Jenkyns Soames.”
Milburd asks him “what he should say were the pleasures of poverty.”