consider this to be. You will please to submit to me, in writing,
the form of oath you wish to use, when, if it meets my approval, I shall
at once sanction it; but if not, I shall refer the same to the directors;
and, in the course of a few weeks, their decision will be known.
Perhaps, to save time, it might be as well for you to submit a list of
the expletives generally in use by you, and I can then at once refer
those to which I object to the directors for their decision. But,
pending that, you will please to understand that all cursing and swearing
at drivers and others engaged on the traffic arrangements in which you
may wish to indulge must be done in writing, and through me. By adopting
this course you will perceive how much responsibility you will save
yourself, and how very much the business of the company will be
expedited, and its interests promoted."

THE BULLY RIGHTLY SERVED.

In the _Railway Traveller's Handy Book_, there is an account of an
occurrence which took place on the Eastern Counties line:--"A big hulking
fellow, with bully written on his face, took his seat in a second-class
carriage, and forthwith commenced insulting everybody by his words and
gestures. He was asked to desist, but only responded with language more
abusive. The guard was then appealed to, who told him to mind what he
was about, shut the door, and cried 'all right.' Thus encouraged the
miscreant continued his disgraceful conduct, and became every moment more
outrageous. In one part of the carriage were four farmers sitting who
all came from the same neighbourhood, and to whom every part along the
line was well known. One of these wrote on a slip of paper these words,
'Let us souse him in Chuckley Slough.' This paper was handed from one to
the other, and each nodded assent. Now, Chuckley Slough was a pond near
one of the railway stations, not very deep, but the waters of which were
black, muddy, and somewhat repellent to the olfactory nerves. The
station was neared and arrived at; in the meantime the bully's conduct
became worse and worse. As they emerged from the station, one of the
farmers, aforesaid, said to the fellow, 'Now, will you he quiet?' 'No, I
won't,' was the answer. 'You won't, won't you?' asked a second farmer.
'You're determined you won't?' inquired a third. 'You're certain you
won't?' asked the fourth. To all of which queries the response was in
negatives, with certain inelegant expletives add