_Messrs. Fairley and Willing_ to _Murdoch McWhannel_.
Your letter of 24th curt. will receive immediate attention at the hands of our solicitors. Messrs. Samson and Samuel, 114, North Regent Street, to whom perhaps you will kindly address any further communications you may think necessary _re_ cowl.
_Gilbert Macdonald, 5, Poynings Avenue, Glasgow, N.W._, to _George Willing, house factor_.
DEAR WILLING,--For Heaven's sake, as an old friend, spike or remove the chimney cowl that McWhannel at No. 3 has written you about. He has called on me twice and written three long letters, "to enlist my sympathy and support." He is the most poisonous kind of bore, and I'll gladly pay for the removal of the cowl, if that's the only way of muzzling him.
_Reply by telephone, summarised._ _Willing_ to _Macdonald_.
I would do so, for friendship's sake, but I've just sold the property. I preferred that to having any more letters from him.
_Messrs. Fairley and Willing_ to _Murdoch McWhannel_.
_Re_ your letters to Messrs. Samson and Samuel of January 29th and 31st, and February 2nd, 5th, 8th, 11th, and your telegrams of 12th and 13th, we have now pleasure in advising you that we have sold the property at 15, Poynings Road, including the cowl, to the Corporation. We understand that the Corporation propose to use the premises as a reception house in connection with their Home for Lost Dogs, and we trust that this arrangement will be satisfactory to you.
[Illustration: HINTS TO ARTISTS AND WRITERS WHO NEED TO ADVERTISE THEMSELVES BY SOME ECCENTRICITY OF COSTUME.
WHILE THE MOST ELABORATE ATTEMPTS TO DRAW ATTENTION OFTEN FALL FLAT, SOMETIMES THE SMALLEST DEVIATION FROM THE USUAL MAY PROVE IRRESISTIBLE.]
From an Oxford Street wine merchant's advt.:--
"Equal to the so-called First Quality brands."
"He was defended by Mr. Macbottle of whisky."--_Scotch paper._
The Macbottles (of whisky) are a very well-known Highland clan.
"At Sapphire Lodge in Vincent Square, W. A. Randall Wells has lately painted two rooms in a manner which combines novelty very successfully with a sound tradition." Speaking of the bedroom, _The Times_ goes on to say that "there are passages from the 'Sensitive Blast' finely written on vellum in every panel." Certainly this variation on the title of SHELLEY'S poem seems to "combine novelty very successfully with a sound tradition."