UNLUCKY SPEECHES.
She. "Oh, Mr. Sorney, I am so grateful to you for your thoughtfulness in writing so promptly to tell me of poor Harry's accident!"
He. "Pray don't mention it—I was very glad indeed to have the opportunity of doing it!"
"THE CHILDREN'S COUNTRY HOLIDAYS FUND."
It will be remembered that a fortnight since appeared in Punch (Vol. 109, No. 2823) an article entitled "The Country of Cockaigne," written as a reminder that the above excellent fund was not only in existence, but sorely in need of contributions. Since then the appeal has been answered by the charitably disposed, and acknowledged by the proper official at head-quarters. It is gratifying to learn that the paper published in these pages has been of signal service to the young clients for whom author and artist plied pen and pencil with so much goodwill. It is not customary to publish "serious" contributions from voluntary contributors in these columns, but the following extract from a letter received from the Secretary of the "Children's Country Holidays Fund" is such pleasant reading that an apology for its insertion seems superfluous:—
"'The Country of Cockaigne' has caused such a pressure of work here, that I am afraid the ordinary duties of gratitude have been long delayed. May I say that we, and here I speak for the London children, are very grateful indeed.
"It was scarcely eleven o'clock last Wednesday when a man came in with £1 to send Jimmy and Florrie away, and there were several more on the same errand at lunch time. Since the article appeared we have received £1,334 11s. 6d.—of this over £500 has been sent with special mention of Punch, and considerably more than this is undoubtedly due to it.... One father, speeding away to Switzerland with his family, read Punch in the train, and scribbled a note in pencil that he wanted to help before going on his holiday, and wrote a cheque for £7—at Dover station."