. THE FIFTH OF NOVEMBER.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SPECTATOR..
London, 5:11 November 1933. Sin—The other day I got a printed paper handed to me, calling upon all good citizens to lend their aid to suppress squibs, 8m. on the 5th of November, and on the Lord Mayor's Day. There need be no great fear of such disturb- ances on the latter day ; and I wish I could say as much for the former ; but whilst I write, I am annoyed by the jingling of bells and the cracking of squibs, set agoing, no doubt, by full-grown fools, who little think of the absur dity of such conduct. Why a very haughty proceeding of some eighty ruffians, 230 years ago, should cause such a disturbance now, appears very strange; it can only be accounted a slavish adherence to an old custom, which, methinks, it would show more cotnmon sense to allow to fall into disuse.
Do say a few words on this subject, and oblige A CONSTANT READER. [What coidd we say, that should make the thing appear more absurd than it is on the very surfaee? Argument on one side supposes reflection on the other; hut the moment s man reflects on the celebration of the Gunpowder Plot, in the year 18:35, the question is at.ain end.]—En.
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