inly IS, 1871. ] JOURNAL OF HOETICtJLTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 



TO OUfl READERS. 



What we should have said to you for this — the forty-fifth — time must ever remain among the things 

 unknown, if the International Exhibition had not brought to London, and so inevitably to our office, 

 that spade 's-a-spade-calling woman, Miss Penelope Pomeroy. There's her chair, just as she has left 

 it, appropriately all a-twist, and the hum of this really Cornish Bee is still upon our ears. She is a 

 bee, because though she stings with a will, she also affords honey — she subscribes regularly, pays 

 promptly, praises us when absent, and sends us Pine Apples. " So you have turned reformers, I see. 

 If people choose to pay a guinea a-pound for Strawberries, why not let 'em ? You will not be the 

 better for having them supplied for half that money. Eemember, Lord Melbourne was a reformer, and 

 his reforming taught him a lesson. Whenever a change was proposed he always said, ' Can't we leave 

 that alone ?' So I say. Can't you leave the Coveut Garden monopolists alone ?" 



With becoming dignity, and in a tone and words well expressing, we replied that we felt it our 

 editorial duty to be guardians of the public interests. 



"Guardians of public fiddlesticks! Pooh! If you are bent upon needful reforms, reform your 

 own pages. You begin to need new type ; you ought to report more country shows — I mean horti- 

 cultural, not cock-a-doodle shows, we have enough of them." 



We looked at each other — that is, we two Editors did, and the least young, with apparent humility, 

 and certainly with great command of temper, said that both those reforms were contemplated, adding, 

 with his usual ingenuity, "We shall not inquire, like Lord Melbourne, Can't we leave that alone ?" 



" That's right," said Miss Penelope, rising, " and if I were a man I'd give each of you a Cornish 

 hug,'' which, as she is fifty and not well-favoured, we looked as if contented to have been spared. 



We thought she was gone when the least old of us had closed the door, but it re-opened, and the 

 comment reached us — "You've some rational new contributors. I am well pleased with them." No 

 response could be given, and was not wished for, for the door was reclosed promptly and sharply. We 

 looked at each other as men look when they feel inclined to be indignant, and yet think it best to seem 

 indifferent. " Never mind," said the least young, " we will tell our readers." 



