THE BALD LIEUTENANT.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3002, 8 February 1881, Page 4

THE BALD LIEUTENANT.

On a certain occasion, while the Duke of Clarence —afterwards William IV., —was Lord High Admiral of tbe Royal Navy, there was a poor lieutenant named Payson, wheso nautical skill and dauntless courage gave have plenty of work, without advancing him in rank. In fact, being poor, and without influential friends, he had been held as a convenient officer to send out in charge of those sprigs of nobility who were made post-captains while ignorant of the simplest duties of office. A competent first-lieutenant is a handy man under such circumstances. The occasion to which we have referred •was a re-union of the officers of the Squadron which his royal highness of Clarence bad commanded in the Mediterranean ; and the Duke and Lieutenant Payson were both present—tho latter being the older man by several years. In the course of the evening some allusion was made to Payson s baldness, whereupon the Lord High Admiral pleasantly asked him why ho didn t do something to make his hair grow. "It's of no use, your Grace, while the cause of my baldness is still forced upon me," repliod Payson, wilh earnest solemnity. "The cause forced upon you !" repeated the Duke in surprise. " What do you mean by that ? What do you consider to be the cause of your baldness ?" "It is very plain, your highness : _ Look at my juniors in the service continuallg stepping over tny head ! It has been so ever since you and I were on board the Jason frigate together." The Duke laughed—not merrily, nor heartily—but thoughtfully ; and_ on the very next day Dick Payson received his oommission as Post-Captain in the Royal Navy.