PARSONS AND GUIDE-POSTS.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."] SIR,—In your review of October 11th of Mr. Page's " Exmoor," you quote an anecdote given by him concerning " parsons " and " guide-posts " which is a curious instance of how a story may be transplanted and mutilated in course of repetition. As I was personally present when this story originated, it may be of some interest for me to give the true version.
In the winter of 1866 or 1867, I am not sure which, my friend the Rev. John Russell and myself were returning, after a long day's hunting, across Dartmoor (not Exmoor), and found our- selves in the neighbourhood of the little village of Widdecombe- in-the-Moor. Mr. Russell proposed that we should call on his old friend Mr. Mason, the Rector of Widdecombe, and a well- known eccentric. Being somewhat uncertain of the road, we inquired of a rustic the way to Mr. Mason's. " Be ye goin' to measter's P" was the reply ; " go to yore, and t'e'll see measter stan'ing at t' corner of t' road." " He might have been there when you left," replied Russell, " but not now." " Oh, yes he be. Stop, measter, I be goin' that way ; wait till I shut this yate, and I'll show 'ee." With this, he trudged along by our side till we came to a cross-road, and, pointing to the guide-post, said, " There be be ;" and upon Russell inquiring his meaning, he replied : " Lor', measter ! don't 'ee know,—allers pointing t' way ye should go, and never goin' hissel'." When we arrived at Mr. Mason's, Jack Russell repeated the story. " Dang him!" quoth the parson ; " that's my man Jan ; I'll give it him."
I have often told this story since, and no doubt Mr. Russell did so also at his home at Swimbridge, and hence it has been repeated as an Exmoor tale. I think, however, that Mr. Page may be interested to know its true origin, and that it belongs rightly to his charming volume on Dartmoor.—I am, Sir, &c., THOMAS FISHER.
Upcott Avenel, Highampton, North Devon, October 20th.
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