ABSENT-MINDEDNESS.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."] SIR,—Most of the specimens sent you by your correspondents' are rather malapropisms than genuine instances of absent- mindedness. The best instance I know of the latter is that of an amiable Irish Judge, now no longer on the Bench. Among other amusing tales told of him, it is said that on the occa- sion of a "bar dinner," he went upstairs to dress, but did not reappear. The company sat patiently for some time, till at length, just as their hunger was getting the better of their manners, and an emissary was being despatched to hunt up- the missing Judge, his lordship appeared, and explained with many apologies that, imagining he was retiring for the night, he had undressed and got into bed. After an hour's snooze it suddenly struck him that he had not yet dined, on which he hurried down to his gnests.—I am, Sir, &c., St. Edmund's, Northampton. J. S. SHEPARD.
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