“The following letter is accepted by the Spectator, and will be printed next week.” To this slip was pinned a rather dirty half-sheet of notepaper, and on this was the following letter:
Balcarry Castle,
County Mayo.
Jan. 19th, 1903.
To the Editor of the Spectator.
Dear Sir,
Among your humorous Irish stories perhaps the following will be worthy to find a place. A dear uncle of mine, my father’s half brother, and the husband of the talented E. J. S., was bishop of Killibardine, a prelate of great distinction and considerable humour.
I well remember that somewhere in the summer of 1869, his valet having occasion to call unexpectedly upon a relative (butler to the Duke of Kerry), the latter observed “Indade, an’ shure now an’ is that yourself, Pat, Pat asthor, at all, at all,” to which the witty fellow answered, with the true Irish twinkle in his eye, “Was your grandfather a monkey?”
I am very faithfully yours,
The MacFfin.
Dr. Caliban was heartily amused by the tale, and told me that he had met the MacFfin some years ago at Lady Marroway’s.
“Nevertheless,” he added, I don’t think it would be fair to comment on the little story ... I had imagined that something graver was toward ...”
He never spoke again of the small outlay he had made, and I afterwards found that it had been included in the general expenses of the paper. I have never forgotten the lesson, nor since that date have I ever accepted MSS. and paid for it without making myself acquainted to some extent with the subject. A little such foresight upon that occasion would have convinced us that a letter of this kind would never have found a place in a review of the calibre of the Spectator.