2110-3-4-14

Elmslea Dorward Place Montrose

June 16th.

Dear Mr. Buchan

I'm sending you a poem of mine, which for various reasons I did not include in my last book. Its history is this; A few years ago the Provost of Aberdeen - one Sir John Fleming - fell into a rage with the town of Montrose, because it had been proposed (not by Montrose) to send the Gordons to Montrose to do their musketry. So he made, at a public banquet, a speech in which he called Montrose every name under the sun. When I saw it in the paper I nearly suffocated with rage. So I wrote the enclosed & gave it to the Editor of the local paper. The inhabitants of this town were so delighted

that whenever they had nothing else to do they bought papers & posted them to Sir John Fleming. I hope it may amuse you. I've had a lovely day here to-day running the town like a dog at a fair & hob-nobing with Bailies & other local spirits.

I did so enjoy my evening with you & Mrs Buchan last week. My love to you both.

Yrs. very sincerely

Violet Jacob

To Sir J-hn Fl-m-ing

Whisht, Johnnie, whisht! Upon my life To ken ye raisin' sic a strife An' skirlin' like a daft auld wife It isna' cannie; What need to rage an' gnash yer teeth? - Ye'll burst yersel', as sure as deith - Sit doon a while an' get yer breith, Ma bonnie mannie!

Gin wisdom's ancient buik ye scan Ye'll read that 'manners makyth man' An' sic a decent, wiselike plan There's nae condemning; But saut wi' proverbs we maun tak' For surely here there's some mistak' - We ken ae man they didna' mak', (That's J-hn-ie Fl-m-ing!)

But puir auld Manners' contrac''s through, His shutters up: the times are new,

T.O

Wi cheaper stuff the mauket's fu', A change we've seen; Oh what a change! It gars ye sob, Manners, nae mair ye'll mak' a bob, - Ane o' thae firms has got the job In Aberdeen!