As regards the pictures, I said that I had a friend who was in love with the daughter of an A.R.A., and who, in telling me about a financial controversy between himself and his prospective father-in-law, had let slip the information that a slump in artists' prices was imminent. In view of this I suggested that the agreement with the artists commissioned by the club should for the present be a verbal one and elastic in its wording.
In the last part of my letter I reviewed the history of my own connection with the club, covering a period of five years. I recalled the epoch-making day when I received my first letter from Mr. Secretary—a letter acquainting me of the fact that I was a full-blown member—all but, at least. What was thirty guineas? And each year since then, I reminded him, I had disbursed a further ten guineas without a murmur.
On the other side of the account I showed in tabulated form all the change the club had given back:
| d. | |
| Use of soap, 1916 | 0½ |
| Laundering of towel, ditto | 3 |
| Use of soap, 1919 | 1 |
| Laundering of towel, ditto | 3 |
| Fifty per cent. excess for ditto | 1½ |
| Stolen: Three matches, one tooth-pick | 0¼ |
| —– | |
| Total | 9¼ |
I pleaded a moral right to dispose of the balance. I suggested that seventy-three pounds nine shillings and twopence three-farthings (waiving the question of interest) might be sufficient to buy a third War picture, the interior of a Government office during the tea-hour, or something of that sort. I begged that he would lay the matter before the Committee.
I am not very hopeful about my letter. Probably he has spent that seventy-three pounds odd already on stationery and postage-stamps.
I think that, if it finds its way into print, I may send him half the proceeds of this article. No harm in keeping the matter in view, at all events.