Volume 93 — SO SEASONABLE, YOU KNOW.
Reading edition
Sir,—I read a letter in the St. James's Gazette, signed "Page Hopps." The gentleman stood for somewhere, and may be standing still, were such a contradiction in terms between "standing still" and "Hopps" reconcileable. Is he an Irreconcileable? I am no politician, and don't want to be, specially just now. But such a name as "Page Hopps" must stand for something, and what struck me as a sort of Christmassy idea was, what a cheery, suggestive name "Page Hopps" really is! What a picture it conjures up of a true old-fashioned Christmas jollification, where all distinctions are obliterated, the Masses join with the Classes, and the Misses go with the Kisses, under the sprig of mistletoe. "Page Hopps!" What a delightful household! Page hops, Butler skips, Footman jumps, Cook capers, Housemaid dances, Scullerymaid slides, while
Master plays the violin, And Missus the guitar. We are a merry family, We are! We are! We are!!
I drink his health, the health of P. Hopps, Hop! Hop! Hooray! in beer, of course. This comes hopping you're well.
Yours ever,
Spring Bank, Out of Bounds. A. Hoppidan.