Canonbury and North London Generally
Music Hall and Theatre Review, Friday 30 July 1897
Sir,—You will be glad to hear that Tom Andrews is still alive and well. He turned up at the Cock last night, after some weeks’ absence. When he went away he was supposed to go to Norway, but he was heard of at Hamburg, Herne Bay, and various other places; so I shouldn’t wonder if he went to see Professor Andrée off to the North Pole. You never know where (and when) he’s going; I fully expect him to start for Klondike this week. Josh may accompany him, as he intends taking a holiday; but I fancy they’ll fall out as to who is to carry the carpet bag containing the necessary “polish.”
Have you anyone on the staff who can play billiards? If so send him on. Facetious Fritz is putting on a fearful amount of side and challenging the whole of North London, just because he rooked poor old Fred at “Snooker.”
If you want a treat you ought to hear the two F’s talk “Snooker.” It’s about as big a feed as to listen to the stern moralist descant on cookery.
Re the two poem fragments in your last number, I fancy I can trace the hand of the Enthusiast. Let me know if I’m right and I’ll invent a torture for him. I have posted Barney as a jibber. Sunday after Sunday have I waited for him to go for 30 mile strolls in vain,—Ta ta,
Yours muchly,
Sir John