' GREYFRIARS' BOBBY.'
[To THE EDITOR OP THE "SPECTATOR."] SIR; It must be a quarter of a century since Greyfriars' Bobby' blazed the comet of a season. The authorised version of the story is practically that which appeared in the Spectator of June 15th. If the question is not raised now, it will be too late to do so in the future. Was ` Bobby' an impostor ? I have heard his achievements questioned in Edinburgh. I have been informed that ' Bobby' was so trained in hypocrisy that he lost all self-respect. The dog, it was averred, went home with the sexton regularly at night, and returned with him to the graveyard in the morning, and then, like any other
trained mendicant, took up his pitch on the grave of his quondam master. Trained or not, ` Bobby ' was an interest- ing little fellow, and until his death, he was to be seen by day on his master's grave, which he would leave about 1 o'clock, Then he regularly paid a visit to Trail's dining-rooms con- tiguous to the churchyard, where he was sure of a hearty welcome, and having appeased his hunger, he would again hie away to the grave, receive visitors while the sexton received tips, and at nightfall leave the graveyard with the grave-digger. If ' Bobby' was an impostor, his career ought to be laid bare.—I am, Sir, &c., X.
[We do not believe in this view of Greyfriars' Bobby,' having received a totally different account of him in Edin- burgh eight or nine years ago.—ED. Spectator.]
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