THE SUBSTITUTE. 
161 
comes to him a perfect stranger, 
and requires him to impart his 
information to him for nothing, 
adding that it is his duty to do so, 
and that he, the applicant, is en- 
titled to exyect it from him. What 
would “Sufferer” do in this case? 
Would he take the juvenile aspi- 
rant to his arms? Would he, un- 
cheered hy the hope of reward or 
return, devote his few leisure 
hours to “ teaching the young idea 
how to shoot?” If of an un- 
usually benevolent disposition, he 
possibly might do so. But should 
he happen to say, “ My time is 
valuable, my leisure hours few, I 
am sorry I cannot employ them in 
the way you propose without some 
return,” what would “Sufferer” 
think did the applicant reply, 
“ You are a disgrace to your pro- 
fession, your only idea is jC.s. d.” 
I might say much more on this 
subject, but it seems to me useless. 
Every man has a just right to ex- 
pect a fair return for his labour. 
He may forego that right if he 
please, and in so doing may de- 
servedly claim the praise of his 
fellows. But to say that B may 
require C to forego that right, and 
in default may accuse him of being 
selfish and mercenary, seems to 
me alike harsh and unjust. Lastly, 
I would remind “ Sufferer” that if 
he writes severely and anofiy- 
mously, he must expect no quarter. 
His concluding sneer I can afford 
to pass by, simply observing, that I 
am neither afraid nor ashamed to 
sign my name and address in full 
as follows.— Rev. J. Greene, 
Playford, Ipsivich. 
Phlogophora empyrea . — It ap- 
pears there is a screw loose at 
Brighton, because some parties 
are charged with having attempted 
to sell foreign insects as British. 
But is Brighton the only place? 
have none been sold in London 
and other places ? But I know 
that parties often get a name for 
selling foreign insects as British 
when such is not the case. I will 
state a case in point. A few days 
hgo I paid a visit to a friend at 
Woolwich, and his words were, 
when he saw me, “ So Harding, I 
hear you have been buying foreign 
insects, relaxing them, and selling 
them as British.” “ Well,” I re- 
plied, “I did not know it; I have 
not bought any. Where did you 
get your information from?” 
“ Oh,” he said, “ from Mr. C. 
close by.” “Well,” said I, “let 
us go and ask him what he knows 
about it.” On asking Mr. C., 
“ Ah,” he said, “ Mr. S. told me a 
short time back.” “ W ell.” I 
said, “ I will write to him and tell 
him what you have told me.” 
“Oh,” said Mr. C., “I thought I 
would put you on your guard, but 
I should not like my name mixed 
up in the matter.” Now such a 
charge as this ought not to rest 
till the truth is out. Some writer 
has said that “ Truth is sometimes 
treason, and should not at all 
times be spoken but I hope the 
parties, if such can be found, will 
at once speak out, and publish in 
‘The Substitute’ when, where, 
and of what species they ever 
bought of me, insects that were 
foreign. If Mr. Cooke knows 
parties that have acted dishonestly, 
why does he not name them ? 
What is he afraid of? Nothing 
like the truth. I know that dis- 
honest persons will always give 
honest parties a bad name. What 
was said of me when I turned up 
Plusia orichalcea on the coast? 
p3 
