A DUKE'S DILEMMA.
[To THE EDITOR Or THE " SPEOTATOR."] `Sin,—May a septuagenarian (who is neither a Duke n.or—as _Lord Althorp so delightfully said—an agricultural labourer) venture to comment on your interesting article and offer a -solution in re "A Duke's Dilemma" in last week's Spectator ?
It takes an admirable line. I quote : "I don't want to, in fact I won't, cut down my charity subscriptions, and I can't bear the idea of dismissing men in my employ. What I want is to be shown some way of making the necessary saving," &c., &c. May I show the way by a suggestion leading to both the health and the welfare of those representing great responsi- bilities and duties faithfully fulfilled, and who could never be rsuspected of parsimony or inhospitality ? I suggest a Society of Mutual Co-operation and Help for curtailing by at least one-half the large and luxurious meals which we have our- -selves, and which are copied in our servants' halls and house- keepers' rooms, especially with regard to meat (now taken -three times a day, and other comfortable meals thrown in). --Oh ! butchers, I pray you forgive me. We must first correct -ourselves out of this too great luxury, which simply did not exist sixty years ago. Shooting luncheons have become -exaggerated, and should be simplified. The sportsmen would -shoot straighter with lighter food.
I am too ancient to assist in this reform, and I call for a leader. I merely aspire to putting this little acorn of economy - and common-sense in the ground, hoping that more influential readers will combine to carry out my scheme, from the big --castles down to the houses of the smaller squires. There must be no exceptions ; we must all combine, and so no complaints can be made of partiality and parsimony. I would say, in con- clusion, that I have no animus against our servants, whose -devoted and faithful service no one appreciates more grate- fully than I do. This scheme, if carried out, would save many -sad partings caused by the dismissal of servants, and produce a, more moderate plan of living which would benefit us all, and yet involve no curtailment of our charities.—I am,
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