New-York tribune., 1873-05-16

"REMINISCENCES oP SCOTTISH LPB AND CHARACTER BY
B Il. RAMSAY, III. ID. i2IRo. pp So" L. d. kobeItSoh
The reissue of this work in new American
edition has been uggestedby the extraordinary success
of the original in Great Britain end the popular charac
ter of its contents especially among readers of Scottish
birth or extraction. Although ecclesiastical dignary
Of high position, the author was snguarly genial
lover of humor, with taste for personal
anecdoto TO which the triyiates Of public
aud family gossip not unwelcome, and
IL sometimes garruous to excess, Sften happy in his
selection Of incidents and his recital of adventures OF
which he never weary himself, and in which no
managed awaken tho interest of ms readers. He is
oyerscrupuous in using phrases not perhaps in
the best ecclesiastical usage and which might hesitate
TO give even In our secular columns, were they not
sanctioned by the authority of q metropolitan dean.
Here is instance 81 don't know better example
Of the sly than the following answer OF Scot
tish servant TO the violent command Of his enraged
master. wen-known coarse and abusive Scottish law
functonary when driving out Of his grOunds~as shaken
by his carriage coming in contact with large stone at
the gate. He very angry, and ordered the gate
keeper to have removed before his return On driving
hOme however he encountered another severe shock by
the wheels coming contact with the very same stone,
which remained in the very same place. stll more
irrtaed than before. his usual coarse language he
called the gsekeeper, and roared out: Hou rascal II
you don't send that Oeasy stone to h I'll break your
head. 'Wee said the quietly, and without mean
ing anything irreverent, ablins gin 1t were sent TO
heevan Il ,cad be Bair out Of your Lordship's 1ay
And here one OF two Of clerical savor An aseu
minister the old school, Mr. Patrick Stewart one sun
day took TO the pulpit without observing that
the first leaf or two and eaten away that
be couldn't decipher announce the text lie was not
man, however to be embarrassed or taken abacK by
matter of this Sort but at intimated the state OF
matters to the cOngregauon,-My brethren find that
the mice have made free with the beginning of my ser
mon so that cannot tell you whaur the text is but
wen lust begin whaur the mice left aft, and Wen ind
out the text as we go aong."-"An old clerical friend
| upon Speyside, a confirmed old bachelor, on gong
up to the pulpit Sunday to preach found
! after giving out the psalm, tnat he had forgotten
| his sermon. / do not know what his objections
were to his leaving the pulpit and going 10 the manse
for his Sermon but he preferred sending his old conf
dental hOusekeeper for it, He accordingly stood mp in
the pulpit stopped the singing which had commenced
and thus accosted his faithful dOmestc:' Annic say,
Annie, tye're committed mstak the day. Ye maun JSt
gang your waas hame, ana yen get sermon DOT O
my breekpOuch. an well sing TO the praise the LOrd
til ye come back again. Anne, OF course, at once exc
cuted her important mission and brought the sermon
ont OF the breckpOuch and the service, so far as we
| heard was completed without further Interruption"
Men we're terrible drinkers in early days Of Dean
| Ramsay In many hCuses when party dined, the
ladies going away the signal for excess OF con-
| VITALITY. II was frequently intoerable nuisance
|
pulsory every glass be drained could shrk
his duty without disgrace. The ladies expected TO
get out of the way at the proper tme or when hnt
was given them to do At Glasgow, they were dis
missed with the toast, "The trade OF Glasgow
| and nc oHiCaIG bound" The hint was taken,
and silks and satins moved off to the drawingroom.
There is story which illustrates, with terrible force.
the power which drinking had obtained in Scottish social
ufe have been deferred from bringing 1t forward,
TOO shocking for production. But the story is pretty
well known. and its truth vouched for on high authority,
venture TO give H. as afordng a proof that in those
days consideration, not even the most awful that
affects human nature, could be made TO outweigh the
claims OF determined conviviahty. IL may, think
be mentioned also in the way Of warning generally
against the hardening and demoralzing effects Of
habitua drunkenness. The story is this At prolonged
drinking bout, OF the party remarked, What gars
the laird Of Garskadden lux cash ghasty)P 'Ou'
says bis neghbor the laird Of Kilmardnny, GaTskad
den S been WI his Maker these hours; HIM
step ava, but ddna like 20 disturb guide companyP"
Several good stories related illustrating the
vivia prOpenstes of OF the jolly Scottish airds.
For example The story has been told Of various par
ties and localities, but no doubt the genuine laird was
lard Of Balnamoon pronounced IN the country Bonuy
moonl and that tue locality was wild tract Of land,
not far from his place. called Munrimmon Moor. Bal
namoon had been dining ont In the neighborhood,
where by mistake they had put down TO hun after din
ner cherry brandy, instead Of port wine his usual bev
erace The rich flavor and strength pleased him, that
having tasted II, he would have nothing else On rising
from table, therefore, the laird would be affected
hy his drink than If he had taken his ordinary allow
ance OF port. His servant Harry Hairy, to drive
HIM home a gig whisky, II was called, the usual
open carriage OF the time. On crossing the how
ever whether from greater exposure 10 the blast or
from the alrd's unsteadness OF head, his hat and wig
of aud fell upon the ground. Harry got out to
pick them up and restore them TO his master The laird
was satisfied with the hat bu; demurred the wig. IT'S
no my wiz Hairy, lad it's my wig and refused TO
have anything TO do with IT, Hairy lost his patience
and anxious home, demonstrated with his master
Ye'd better TAX Il, sir for there's Waie chOiCc) O
wigs MuIrmmOn Moor The humOr Of the argument
is exquisite putting TO the laird in his unreasonable OBJ
lection the sly inuuatiOn that in such locality, if he
did take HiS wig he not likely find another"
Another anecdoe this laird of Balnalnoon shows
odd mixture of devotion and drunkenness, "He
joined with his drinking propenstes great zeal for the
Episcopal Church. the service OF which he read TO his
family with much solemnty and earnestness Of manner |
Two gentlemen, Of them stranger to the country
having called pretty early Sunday morning, Balna-
moon invited them to dinner and they accepted the
invitation they remained and joined the forenoon
devotional exercises conducted by Balnamoon himself
The stranger much impressed with the ,lards per
Torrance Of the service. and during walk which they
toOk before dinner mentioned his friend how highly
he esteemed the religious department OF Their host The
gentleman sad AOthlnF' but smiled 10 himself az the
which ne anticipated to follow. After dinner
BalnamoOn set himself according the custom Of old
hOspahle Scottish hosts make his guests as drunk
possible The result was. that the party spent tho
evening IN rotOus debauch, and carried bed by
the servants at late hour Next day. when they had
taken leave and left the house, the gentleman who had
introduced his friend asked him what thought Of their
enerainer-'Why really he replied, with evident as
constituent sic speat o. praying, and sic n speat o.
drinking, never knew IN the whole course of my ie
The volume is filed with stories often OF similar char