(To THE EDITOR or THE " SPECTATOR.") Sia,—The correspondent in
the last Spectator, who wants the full reading of this epitaph, will find it in Mr. Gurney Benham's Book of Quotations, under "Tired." Its authorship is unknown. Thirty-eight years ago I saw it in a Kingston, Jamaica, journal— either Gall's Newsletter or The Gleaner: I forget which—but certainly it did not originate then or there. It is evidently the work of a skilful hand, and is reminiscent of American rather than of English humour. It attracted me at the time, and I tried to trace it. I half expected to find it in Out of the Karig Burly, a book then very popular, but was disappointed. Max Adeler abounded in profane epitaphs, revelled in comic obituary notices, and wal fond of referring to domestic service as "hired help," and to the housemaid as "the hired girl." Our home writers have too much respect for the ancillary maid to let themselves go in that fashion. They held that she "Who sweeps a room as for Thy laws, Makes that, and the action, fine." I still believe the verses to be of Transatlantic origin.—I am, Sir, &c., " Aandgke," Janson Road, Southampton. THOMAS CARR.
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