OH, FIE! MRS. FRY!
IT has given us serious concern to observe the insidious progress by which the vanities of the world have been gaining upon this ve- nerable and pious lady.
That the conspicuous place assigned to her at the City dinner to Prince ALBERT and the City luncheon to the King of Prussia should have bad the effect of showing that even she was not en- tirely above the pretty vanities of her sex, might have been tole- rated; but to sanction by her presence, as she did on the latter occasion, Sunday junketing, was too bad. What will Sir Fovram.
BUXTON Stty to it ? OT Sir ANDREW AGNEW ?
Perhaps Mrs. Fax may say—" Friend, thou forgettest that I am a member of the Society of Friends, and that we pay little regard to days set apart for religious observances : our creed is, that what may not be done on the first day ought not to be done on any day. It was proper in the King of Prussia to go to church, and it was ne- cessary that he should take refreshment somewhere. It was im- possible that a king should pass through a street of London on any day without attracting a crowd of the idle and curious. But every care was taken to avoid giving occasion to bustle or confusion ; and really I see no harm in taking my wonted refreshment in com- pany with a Sovereign, who, as his visit to Newgate testified, takes so warm an interest in those duties to the discharge of which I have more especially devoted myself."
Bravo, Mrs. Fay! We quite agree with you, and wish you would preach the same sound doctrine to some who need it more than we do. Above all, impress upon them that the working-people require what may be your wonted but what is their unwonted refreshment on Sunday. Set before them the example of yourself and the Lady Mayoress, as narrated in the chronicles of the times—" At a quarter past twelve, the Lady Mayoress was informed that his Ma- jesty was on his way from St. Paul's. * * * In the saloon, the Lady Mayoress and Mrs. Fry were in waiting to receive the King." Tell them, that inasmuch as the Lady Mayorees and yourself, by staying at home to superintend the warming of the soup, (" The dejeuner was all cold, with the exception of the soup "—Times) enabled the King and the rest of the thirty-four who sat down to table with him to attend church, so one baker and his assistant may enable as many poor families to enjoy the same privilege by cooking their Sunday-dinners for them. Besides, you know, a bit of roast with potatoes beneath it, passing from the oven to the tradesman's house, is too familiar a sight to attract such a crowd as gathered last Sunday to see the King of Prussia. We thank you, Mrs. FRY: in your sanction of the Sunday dejeuner at the Man- sionbouse we recognize the charter of the poor man's Sunday- dinner.
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