One of the Old School.

Feilding Star, Volume 31, Issue 278, 31 May 1897, Page 3

One of the Old School.

Fletcher of Saltoun, a Scottish gentlemau who flourished during the reign of Queen Anne, disliked tobacco, On one occasiou when voyaging iv a Dutch ship the skipper who had foeon reproached by Fletcher for smokiug so much, made it his business to get near Fletcher and •' blow a cloud " in the face of the latter. Fletcher, every time this happened, went below and filled his pocket* with ■tone's from the ship's ballast. These he quietly transferred to the Dutch man's capacious pockets, and when he had enough in bis clothes to sink him the Boorish skipper was gently tippled over the side. Enquiries were o>ade in the morning for the said Bkipper, but Fletcher observed a discreet silence on the subject, which, by this time, had lost its interest to him.; Fletcher of Saltouu, was a particularly mild man which enconraged people to make mistakes to their own discomfiture | An Englishman named Daro had a horse. Monmonth, who waß in business as a rebel at the time— so was Fletchertold Fletcher to ride and deliver some despatches. Of course he took the nearest animal, which happened to be Dare's. Dare very foolishly came along flourishing a cane which be allowed to come too near to Fletcher's face. As the latter had a pistol in his hand at the time it suddenly became necessary to bury tho unlucky Englishman. Fletcher had to " take ship " to Spain Bonie•what hurriedly. He continued in the rebel business for many happy years, and died in his bed at a ripe old age, honored and respected.