210 ON THE TRACK OF THE MAIL-COACH 



the old lady, who loudly proclaimed her opinion that, 

 when Mr. Gladstone went * gallivanting about like 

 that, he should leave someone at home to do his 

 work.' 



In the other instance, a young woman applied to 

 be informed, at the registered letter counter at Man- 

 chester, if that was the register office. On being 

 answered in the affirmative, she requested to be told 

 the fee. Learning that it was only twopence, she 

 at once desired to register, at so moderate a price, 

 the banns of marriage between herself and her young 

 man. Necessarily, she was referred to the public 

 registrar of marriages. 



All sorts of questioners present themselves — 



' Please, sir, can you tell us when it's fireworks 

 night at Bellevue?' politely inquired, at the public 

 counter in Brown Street, two country cousins who 

 had come in to Manchester to see its wonders. 



I must record an extremely neat repartee. In a 

 cathedral city, but I will not say in Manchester, re- 

 sided two ladies of the same name. One was the wife 

 of an eminent person ; the other, of one not so well 

 known. A letter arrived bearing the name common 

 to both — Mrs. Blank — and in addition the name of 

 the post-town. It was delivered to the less con- 

 spicuous lady. Next day the rightful owner re- 

 proached the postmaster, remarking : ' You must 

 surely be aware that I am tJie Mrs. Blank.' * Madam,' 

 rejoined the Postmaster-General's deputy, 'I am aware 

 of it, and I own we are to blame ; but I am certain 



