The Express.
London, England, 1859-10-21 00:00:00

LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, OCTOBER 21, 1869.

LITBRATURA

Reminiscences of Scottish Life and Ciaracter. By
E. B. Rane•v, M.A., F.R.S.E., Dean of Edin-
burgh. Edinburgh : Edmonton and Does's&
1859.
There is no wonder that this little work by Dean
Ramsey should have already reached throe editions.
It would be a pleasant thing, we have no doubt, to
mist this good-humoured old gentleman over a glees
of whisky toddy or Glasgow punch. Not that the
Dean betrays anything in his agreeable pages in the
slightest degree inconsistent with the office which
he bean. But there is a vein of real humour, a
social especity,a fond patriotism, auda large-hearted
charity, which inspire a personal respect whilst
they awaken hearty laughter. Good as the stories
are, even in the letter-pros, they must, we fancy,
be infinitely better told by a real Sootchman with
the real brogue. Although Sydney Smith and the
other great authorities have doubted the capacity of
Ilicotchmen to enjoy a good story, no man who has
sat at the same board with any Scotch humanist, or
any one thought so in the North—no one who under-
stands the language of Sir Walter Scott, or the
spirit of Thomas Carlyle, but must confess that,
whether it be wit or humour, the Scotch have a vein
of as excellent pleasantry in them as their southern
=aboin. It is indeed as idle to attempt to
Me gssd tinge ia a geed stagy as to analyse
the elements of a well-cooked entree.

Thu domestic servants tarnish some good stories :
A celebrated elseracter of this description bore the eobri-
t" Beety." He had acted ea Cluiron of the Dee at
sad paned the bAt over the Aver bdore there
les7raSgii. Bossy had My carious sayings recorded of
Wm. Wino epee/dog of the gentry around, he characterised
ages sstordbg to their °empathise aad siberity of habits—
thus, " As to Kr. Muesli of Mukha', be just works hicneed
10a a paid labourer; Mr. Duacan's a' the day fish, fish;
bat Kr Robstre • perfect gentleman ; he dots asething,
amthiPll:"

thoroughly Scotch :
lamesonetbar mama, amid Mial by amesoalamsd
sal Mary, a waearodelelosa boom womedaL
Itla sdaossa, a wears et tap mak, who had bass Hob( la
mask geld sad rairsamat at mast time, was WWI a
to mama& a lugs Forty at dimes. She cassaba. Witt
libbek bit ihlthial sormak sad eY ths somagsmeate awe
made kr dm mast mat. As thr umproy inn salvia&
dos lady saw Nichol ma*, ahem Is pleat saltatka, sad in
We gat remsastratal. mad meld that as the
pmela we am odma Is be wt pat sa las oak ladmsd,
my body," ma malted reply, " Wad. time's mos
mackhe Oasis lime mad rtommg eV" *Si I'm just &or
Owl. I W aura way seat and vaktaciat, owl faith I
dam boa bros Lag I asa ark my broke
Awl thin:

Tbssessonkial sodas of bar inistrom's lib wros well
toesiboll by the loss lobs tins Ismilisd Ur wsys and
iionsstio habits wfili bar lionssiteld. " flies vicious upo'
tlis vs& ; bat sly shies vary isystarioss o' tbs victualling."
And this:

We MT =dr tasawassat of the dicers of a reeistest
la the West oaths laaerest remark of a you.; led,
was bed jastjoised kat fletelsad. On meeting at droner.
his sehtiados to Ms colossi trek " Andhrr hat day, corard,"
if " het days" morels Barbados@ how and far bawsn, ea
they worst' lds data' stormy cloudy Scotland.
Now for Om Scotch women :

A tags bag bees reported of a country girl, however, who
thought it possible then might be an amass is inch scrape.
loss regard to appearances. Oa her marriage-day the youth
to whets elle we about to he united said to her in a
trianipbent tone, 'Mee], I easy, haven't I been naco
alluding to ths fast that daring their whole courtship he bed
o even given her • kiss. Her quiet reply was, " Ou,
aye, man ; senselemly
One of thee. Montrose Iselin and a sister lived together
and in • very quiet way they were in the habit .1 giving
little denser parties, to which occasionally they lavited their
gentlemen fre. However, gentlemen were not always to
M had ; and on one °combo, when snob • Miceli, had oo-
cuffed, they were talking over the matter with a friend. The
one laiymemed to consider each an acquiaition almost essential
to the having a dames' at all. The other, who did sot are
the same necessity, quietly added, " But, indeed, our Jean
thinks, men perfect salvation." There was occasiosally a
pawky sembrucusde humour In the replies of mom of the
we spoked that wesqoato irresistible. of which I have
from a b teed arced diastrialon In an anecdote well bows'
it the time. • late well-known meteber of the Scottish bar,
when a youth, wee somewhat of a dandy. and, I suppose,
somewhat sheet and sharp in his temper. He wee going to
pay • visit lathe country, and was making *gnat tom about
his preparing end the putting up his habiliments. His old
aunt warn much annoyed at all this bugle, and .tapped him
by the somewhat contemptuous question, " Wham's this
you're gays, hobby, that ye mak is s pawl wark abont
sour class?" The young man lost tarapra, and pettishly
replied, " I'm going to the devil." "'Deed, Robby, then,"
was the quiet answer, •• ye need na be rs Woe, he'll just
tab ye as y. are." Ladies of this class had a plain mode of
ramming tbeineelves on very serious subject., which Mi-
asma their quaint
_power of description, rather than their
want of feeling. Thu., of two sisters, when one bad died,
it was supposed that she had injured herself by an imprudent
indulgence in strawberries and cream, of which ohs had
pertaken In the country. A friend was cotdoline with the
surviving sister, and, expressing her sorrow, had added, " I
had hoped your sister was to live many years." To which
her relative rejoined—" Leave? how could she leave alas
just felled lumen at Crairtu we ormberries and cream'."
This is an excellent picture of Scotch pride and
dignity :
At the beginning of this century, when the fear of Inva-
sion was rife In all in. sea-ports, it was proposed to meant •
small battery et the water mourn by subscription, end she
wee waited on by • deputation from the town council. Os.
of them having addreessd her on the subject, see hard him
with room Impatience, end when ha had nabbed, she said,
Are ye one o' the town council?" He replied. I have
that honour. ma'am." To which she rejoiord, "Ye may has
that profit, bat honour ye has nape," and then to the point,
she Wed, " But I've bees ten that as day's weak o' twa
or three men wed meant tie cannon, and that it may be a'
dam for twenty sblllisge, now there's two ponds to ye,"
The councillor pocketed the mossy sod withdrew. On one
megaton, as she eat in an easy chair, havieg areumed the
habits and privileges of age, Mr. Mollison, the minister of
the astabli.bed Kick, called on her to solicit for some
charity. She did not like being asked for mousy, sad, from
her Jacobite principle., she certainly did not respect the
Presbyteries Kirk. When ha come in, she made sa Inclina-
tion of the head, and ha soil, " Don't get up, modem." She
replied, " Get up, I wadna rise out of my chair for King
Georg biotech let aloe a whig minister.".

T►a following anecdotes of Scotch lawyer. are
admirably humorous : . .

I am assured that the following some took piece at the
table of Lewd Polkemamt, at a dieser party la lie house.
When the covers wen removed, the dinner imam to con-
sin of veal broth, a meat filet of veal, veal (Vista, a 11.wea-
time (mtexcelent old dvatish dish composed of vial), a calf's
head, call's foot jelly. The worthy judge could no, help
observing a surprim on the countenances of his guests. sirl
re, haps a simper on some; so he broke out is explanation.
Ou ay, its a coat; when we kW a beast we just rat up ae
side and down the tither." The expression. he umil to de-
' .trite his own judtetal preparations for the bench were very
characteristic :—" V. am I firm nods the pleadines, sad
then. afros lertlag them coast. In my come we' the toddy
two or them day■, I see my am interlmutur."
Again :

A inetiosui and mute friend of mine, who rather lesne to
the 8. Smith view of Scottish wit, deniers. that all our hu-
morous stories are about lairds who are drunk. Of eel
ionise there are certai•ly eat • few. One of the beer
belheed to my part of the country, and to many person I
shou,d perhaps ap4rgiee for intrudaciag it at all. The ',any
has been told of various parties and localities, but no doubt
the ectether laird was a laird of Bobtainooo, sod that the
pselity was • wild tract of land not for from hie piece called
Munsinin.on Moor. Balusmoon had been dining out in the
neighbourhood, where, by mistake, they had put down to
bins after dinner cherry brandy, inhead of port wise, his
a-nil b•verege. The rich flavour and strength so phased '
him, that, having tests d it he would beep nothing else. Oa
tieing fees table, therefore, the Lard would be more affected
by his drink than it he had taken hie ordinary allowance
of port. His 'greets Harry, or Hairy, was so drive him
hone in • gig or w►sky, es it wee called, the usual open car-
Hag, of the time. On enmity' the moor, however, whether
true] greater exposure to the blast, or from the un-
steadier+se of head, hi. hat and wig came oil end fell upon the
ground. Harry got out to pick them up and restore them to
h. muter. The laird was welshed with the has, but de-
demurred at the wig. " It's no my wig, Hairy, lad; it's no
ray wig." and refused to thee anything to do with it.
Her), lost his Waseca, end anxious to get home, remon-
strated with hie master, " Ye'd better Mk it, sir, for there'.
wuile o swigs oet Mtudinimon Moor." The humour of
the argnuoat is exquisite. twin., to the lard in his unna-
meable objective, the sly ineirumion that is such a locality,
if be did net take this wig, he was sot likely to tied another.
Then what .fish wails o wigs." In Entrbett
what is it ? A choice of perukes " There I. nothing in
the Eaglide comparable to the wale o' wigs."
The Scotch are a singular people. They are
found everywhere, and engaged in every occupation,
and, more strange, they almost always succeed. It
was said once, with reference to the highest law
officer in the kingdom, by a facetious friend;—"
believe J— would have succeeded an an opera
dancer. I don't mean to say that he would have been

I the best denser, but he would have got the
"lazy." There is more truth in this than liner:
sits=sad the beadles, or betherals, supply
• thud at anecdote ; thus :
I bre blend sera orarloa where the Whoa rads bis
who es here ma apt hr hie west of sobriety. Ma bed
bra wet peed tio tha minister to deliver soder
at all tin hews ad which wee to rear do
prewar kr reervimg vamomoiro. Oa ids sitars le
wr emir ardor that kr hod parr= t
er
Imply of reher-
srt sirs b• bad bra ma his expridas.' TM shirr re-
prowled his burs bylaw asollaml. Mawr
period Or porn harioidg el ihe_paddlitasee.Tba
clargyorm re rale tie piss, or abdr. "Mow, Jobs,
Ido ilivouts.t parish, andyea deal me so wawa ha r
yea have Ay, mirror," Waled the Imearr,
with mock
ante
tat that riles yen as re
repro tin ma ra." My Wane red le tall al ems
of these rib mar coussm • brother
boner km • who Ind Nur rah
Um arra sheet le gelatines. Riedel sersica.
After woke. lie Wheel Ed ltereriwr eheiyorm Mit
per ph
perecomma se Ow dor, sad add hi
• triumpher Yrs lo Ms frier; ' thlak oar =lair* did
wed ; ay, be gal Ora steer ties oat o' the eadiro." To
whoa fts aim wow& with a odes frame of ampoliwilllN
" 84r/z ad el Me cushion I hoot, oar atter, eta he cum
wt' as, bra demi the gaol out at' tea Miss." darer de-
arise= I Irva bard of ad arra* pmetat limy *WOW
•11•• dares.—Nib, per rubes had • pest power a'
wetter, Ss las gee ad Imad sent Me reared'
_ _

Tb. fella-win Wd to be told by the femme
Mathew&

The late thillthled rthithrthrieth • lased and postherd
etheler eurotererethor, wee sevarthetha, ea a preacher,
to • pea heavy, uurdlevedty thaw or tessera:a;
ex. able writer, • ediltypitherr. ratheesse Dr. Warm
well knows m re mpg els hirtorry. of pseud, was, as ths
other laud, a era id 'humour, sad weld Sot raid a
joke when the ram hth. Os the sereka
when - l• amok Dr. had bath ens& Is
a shower el raikead veered the miry =gad with wee.
Every meth went mod le yellow hie kir kb theosdat
but as the Mae kw eth Ilar ,Is. IMAM he berme week
thetharsd, sad ejaculated over and over. " Oh, I with tkat I
wee dry ;de re Mat Tea dry; do yea ithek I's dry,
wand seer Hie jtheth reetheipe a• loath
bet, Pia' bin cthderted Mot with to
• arrerthates. e Dem • eau tear, and ye're ee drY essuch
liken/a was the Ps'lliL"

Asiciatie :
geed•huwougsd ad candid gamer of a horsed and
rather Wag-wide' prweekeret as old ached dings ap-
mired to me Oki earesskig._ TY good man wee far from
beige • peps* weadier, gal yet he egad set Mara his
diadems !skew the bataried • ball, Oa beim asked, es a
eentle hint, of Moir pad* aendlem hag* if la did not
feel dad after to law be replied, "Ms, ma, I'd
no tired," diadwer, with meet neiseta " but,
Lord, bee dad the ibak wake ara"
The folletwfajatucellent :
A still better a quiet pulpit rebuke is traditionary
in the " met web " sad told of a wading miniam,
Mr. Shirrs, agaisirewildrsasabered by some of the older
gesermioa elealllnt, and some esientrie qualities.
An officer of • geed act duty la the plea. and vary
proud af hie fresi bad some to Me. libirra's church,.
and walked 001 as if for • seed, bat is fact to show
off his dras, which be saw wee attracttag attention from
some of the lea grave nimatare of the magregation. He
came tobb pieekilgewever, Tatar quietly, ea MT. Shine
quiedy recemierlift, " 0 man, will ye sit down, sad will
see year now break when the dud." This same Mr.
Skins wu Illeou from hie quaint, sad, ma tt wee',
pamatbeliesi comments which be introduced is his reading
of Seriplare, as, for example, ca reading from the 116th
Pasha, " I mid ht my bases all am are liars," be quietly
obtained, " laded, David, an' ye bad been I' this parish,
pe sighs Masada at seer lessee."
This is ear*,
There in • sales treilitienery story current In 110056
&llliiie•arlilMate:lsiwideil Scottish nobleman, whkh, I
as. emu Is and father, that it has Sever yet
pawed is grist. e story is therefore • Scottish
ONION and a. each dererwee • piece here. The Sari of
Laiderdela was es 111 as loosen, ewes alarm to kis frisade,
and perplexity to Me physicians. One distressing symptom
weea total slams of sleep sad the medical men dallied
their opiatesilkat Witham 'sleep Ming indeed he add net
recover. Hi ma, • cider sematric-lookhig boy, who was
eansidered eidled of deft, sad had little atteation paid to his
education, dna sitting wider the tibia end cried oat, "Bea
tv that pineeltiag uwaiellarbrzs, for he aye deep fa
the kirk." Oas of the dieters ht this hint worth at-
*sadistic to. Tha experiment of " getting • minister till him"
eueseedd, sad sleep wad( ea be recovered. The earl, oat
of gratitude for this benefit, took more noticed his son, paid
attentioa to We educetka, sad that boy became the Duke of
Lauderdale, aSawarde so broom or iambi= in his coon-
try's history.
We conclude with a picture of the dress of
the people who uttered the quaint things which
Dean Ramsay has recorded . After remarking on
the singular costume that " at a ball, the partners
were never changed the whole evening—to a young
lady, teerefore, the request for her hand in the dance
was • very serious matter"—he says :
An octogeuerian friend of mine, In good health and spirits
(long may be espy them !) hes told um of his dregs at the
dimmer whoa balls, and which mark • considerable change
of coetume in a lifetime. A pearl grey coat, nearly white •
white weiwooes; yellow or ornery shorts, with 'ergs concha;
of ribbon at tee kneed the some colour; bias silk strckinge ;
pumps, with large bow. of ribbon. Cocked bats than pre-
vailed oda amongst juvenile attendants.