LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.
IRISH STORIES.
go THE EDITOR OP THE " SPECTLTOR."1 Sra,—May I take the liberty of correcting the writer of the article on Irish humour in the Spectator of October 24th, as to the source of the story about the non-necessity of a certain female peregrination to the devil ? I have the story from a passenger on one of Mr. Macbrayne's steamers on the Cale-
donian Canal. My friend heard and saw the whole thing, and told it to me as follows. A lady-passenger much annoyed the luggage-steward by having her luggage got ready for being put ashore at various places of call. At each place the passenger seemed to alter her mind, and to form the desire of going on further. At last she said she would go on to Inverness. Then the luggage-steward said : " Oh, go to the devil!" The lady, in a high state of indignation, reported the man to the Captain. That gentleman told the steward he must find out the lady and apologise to her. The steward consented to do so. At luncheon he appeared, and accosted the first lady at the table thus : Were you the lady I told to go to the devil?" "No," said this lady and several others, all equally surprised and amused. At last, by a series of separate inter- rogations, he discovered the right lady. She responded, with an indignantly virtuous air : "Yes, I ant the lady." " Ah, then!" said the steward, " the Captain told me to tell you that you needn't go."
Being an Irishman, I wish I could claim Irish parentage for the story; but " honour to whom honour !"—I am, Sir, &c., N.
[Is there any proof that the steward was not an Irishman ? The story does not sound Scotch.—ED. Spectator.]
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