ANOTHER SIDE TO THE TESTIMONIAL QUESTION.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."] SIE,—There are two sides to everything except—as a learned Judge (adding a saving clause) remarked—to Reading Station. You have dealt with the subject of testimonials in the Spectator- of December 29th, 1894. in a way which must call forth the gratitude of at least all unwilling givers. Will you now permit me to put the other side,—that is, of the unwilling receiver ? If the person who is asked to give needs moral courage to say "No," none the less is this quality, plus several others, required by the person who is asked to receive. It is by no means easy for the individual who, as in the case of the- village clock to which you refer, is being exploited pro boito publico, to extricate himself from the predicament in which popularity has placed him. The testimonial is being "got up." The matter is kept a profound secret,—that is, every- body knows all about it except the victim himself, who is pain- fully conscious that "something is going on," but shrinks in natural modesty from inquiring what. He wishes to be- spared the trial of receiving a gift which probably he neither requires nor deserves, but yet hesitates to publish his inten- tion to decline what has never been offered. This side of the- question is, I think, entitled to consideration.—I am, Sir, &c., "ONE WHO TRUSTS HE HAS THE COURAGE OP HIS CONVICTIONS."
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