A well-known coarse and abusive Scottish law functionary, when driving out of his grounds, was shaken by his carriage coming in contact with a large stone at the gate.

He was very angry, and ordered the gatekeeper to have it removed before his return.

On driving home, however, he encountered another severe shock by the wheels coming in contact with the very same stone, which remained in the very same place.
Still more irritated than before, in his usual coarse language he called the gatekeeper, and roared out: "You rascal, if you don't send that beastly stone to h---, I'll break your head." "Well," said the man quietly, and as if he had received an order which he had to execute, and without meaning anything irreverent, "aiblins gin it were sent to heevan _it wad be mair out o' your Lordship's way_." I think about as cool a Scottish "aside" as I know, was that of the old dealer who, when exhorting his son to practise honesty in his dealings, on the ground of its being the "best policy," quietly added, "I _hae tried baith_" In this work frequent mention is made of a class of old _ladies_, generally residing in small towns, who retained till within the memory of many now living the special characteristics I have referred to.

Owing to local connection, I have brought forward those chiefly who lived in Montrose and the neighbourhood.

But the race is extinct; you might as well look for hoops and farthingales in society as for such characters now.