PARSON AND PREMIER.--I see that a person who is called "the Episcopal
Vicar of Blairgowrie" said that he would decline to shake hands with
the PRIME MINISTER, in the utterly improbable event of the PRIME
MINISTER wishing to shake hands with _him_. May I inquire how there
can be a "Vicar of Blairgowrie" at all? Is not the Established Church
in Scotland the Presbyterian one? I know that they have "Lord Rectors"
up north, and so perhaps there are Rectors as well, but I never heard
of a Lord Vicar. "The Lord Vicar of Blairgowrie" would sound rather
well. But what would his Lord Bishop say? Can any genuine Scotchman
kindly assist me in unravelling this puzzle?--SOUTHRON BODY.
OUR AUXILIARIES.--When are we likely to have a Minister of War who
will do _real justice_ to Officers of the Volunteers? I may say that
I am thinking of becoming an Officer myself, and I fancy that the
following inducements would be likely to bring in a fresh supply of
these deserving men:--(1) Exemption from Taxes. (2) Ditto from Rates,
and Serving on Juries. (3) More gold braid everywhere. (4) A Volunteer
Captain to rank equal to a Lieutenant-General, and a Major of
Volunteers equal to the Commander-in-Chief. (5) Retiring pension, and
not less than six medals or decorations, after half a year's service.
Do you think that there would be much good in my writing to Mr.
CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN and suggesting this?--MODEST MERIT.
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