3 JULY 1915, Page 24

[To THE EDITOR. or THE 0 erzcraron."] Sin,—When I was

at Cambridge what was called "tile Daily Telegraph version of Uncle Ned" was popular, and I well am:ember one who is now an ornament of the Judicial Bench singing it with considerable address. It requires a consum- mate mastery of the art of using one'stbreath in order to avoid disaster. The whole song is too long for quotation, but the

third verae and chorus are perhaps the gem of the whole :—

"It was on a morning remarkable for the inclemency of the weather when the poor old member of the coloured popu- lation departed from this vale of tears,

And his numerous friends and relatives all shed the bitter effluvious dewdrop of sorrow When they reflected that there was an antecedent improba- bility which no human testimony could surmount That they would ever again behold the face of this member of the coloured population any more.

Chorus.

Suspend up the agricultural implements, let the musical para- phernalia be dependent from the wall; For there's no more manual or instrumental labour, or amuse- ment, for our avuncular relative Edward, Seeing that he has departed to that bourne from which no member of any population, whether coloured or otherwise, returns."