Part 4 (1/2)

WAR AND MISERY

”There was war and misery going on all through Victoria's reign. It was the Boer war killed her, she being aged, and seeing all her men going out, and able to do nothing. Ten to one they were against the Boers.

That is what killed her. It is a great tribute to the war it did that.”

THE PRESENT KING

”The present King is very good. He is a gentleman very fond of visiting, and well pleased with every cla.s.s of people he will meet.”

THE OLD AGE PENSIONS

”The old age pension is very good, and as to taxes, them can't pay it that hasn't it. It is since the Boer War there is coin sent back from Africa every week that is dug from the goldpits out there. That is what the English wanted the time they went to war; they want to close up the minerals for themselves. If it wasn't for the war, that pension would never be given to Ireland. They'd have been driven home by the Boers if it wasn't for the Irish that were in the front of every battle. And the Irish held out better too, they can starve better than the rest, there is more bearing in them. It wasn't till all the Irish were killed that the English took to bribing. Bribed Botha they did with a bag of gold.

For all the generals in England that are any good are Irish. Buller was the last they had, and he died. They can find no good generals at all in England, unless they might get them very young.”

ANOTHER THOUGHT

”It was old money was in the Treasury idle, and the King and Queen getting old wanted to distribute it in the country it was taken from.

But some say it was money belonging to captains and big men that died in the war and left no will after them. Anyway it is likely it will not hold; and it is known that a great many of those that get it die very soon.”

A PROPHECY