The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-03-03

from respectable old lady. brought down
what he assured her was the largest and widest
in the trade No. that would not do. She re-
pcatcd her wish for II dam-brod pattern, and
left the shop disguscd at the stupidity Of Lon
don shopmen.
Certain words which have n'distinct meaning
in Scottish and English use deserve particular
attention. Thus silly" in veritable Scotch
rcfcrs to weakness OF body only. and not Of
mind. DR.. Ramsay remembers being much
astonished ut a farmer telling him that the
strongest minded man in the county WAS
growing uncommon silly." nothing but a tie
cline Of physical strength being intended by
the phrase. The word "ndH" in like manner.
expresses inirmity OF body, and never carries
any Implication of laxity in moral principle
Accordingly we are not surprised to hear Of
English persons cvincing considerable constcr-
nation when an old-fashioncd Scottish lady.
speaking of u young and graceful female la
mentcd her "rdWy.' Honcsi." too. has in
Scotch n peculiar application. irrespective Of
any integrity OF moral character. For example.
Lord Hermand. when about to sentence n
woman for stealing. is said to have begun re-
monstrativcly. Honest woman. what gnrt ye
steal your neighbours tub?"
Mere differences of pronunciation, also, some
years ago n cloak used to be called clock" in
Edinburgh. TO the surprise Of an English Indy
to whom the maid said on leaving the house:
Mem. Wilma we TAX the clock wi ye ?" On the
other hand Dean Ramsay points out case Of
pronunciation which singularly adds To the
force and copiOusncss u the Scottish tongue by
discriminating four words that in English
speech are undistinguishable. The words are:
Wright Ia carpcntcr to write with penl,
right uhc reverse of wrongl. rite IA ceremony.
In the ancient Scotch pronunciation the four
are completely separated. thus 1. he's a,eUicht:
2, to 'cirrete; 3. rich: 4. rite.
A peculiar phrase is cited in this book which.
according to the author. Is now obsolete in
scotland. but which is still heard in parts OF
the United States. We mean the expression.
To let on" signifyng the notice obscrva-
tion OF some thing or person. as saw Mr. -
at the meeting. but never let on that knew
him." Another form OF expression which was
not long ngo Il great favorite in Scotland. but
has now much gone out of practice. was the
frequent use Of dininutivcs. either rs terms
Of endenrment or Of contempt. Thus lerc was
a graduatcd series OF not less than four Iimnu-
tives applied TO the canine race. namely: dog
gle. n BIT doggle. a wee hit doggic. and even "a
wee bit dOggc kic. So too, II was common to
speak Of a person whom you meant to
undervalue us u mamie. bodie. JR
Jod,c u ,ree OH ndpnie The Baiie In Rob
Roy. when he intends to represent his party
rs persons 81 no importance. uses the express
sion. =" We are bits o Glasgow bodies" Dean
Ramsay supplies nm Instance Of most cXtrav-
aEant degree Of attenuation in the phrase. \
pccro wee bit o. a mnnaknic.V From tho Cald-
well papers is quoted an interesting Application
" a Scotch dimnutive. We are told that Mrs.
ox.iI IN
his death bed. the copy Of his history. which is
still in the librPry OF Caldwell. marked From
the Rithor." thanked him warmly. and added
in her native dacct. which She and the hsto-
rian spoke with great purity. oh. David. that )
n book ye may wrcl be- proud o. but before We
dee. W. should burn ~ your wee bukies.' To
which. raising himself. he replied with some
yehcmoncc. half offended. half in Joke: What
for should burn n my Wee bukies 2" But no
was too weak for discussion : he shook her hand
and babe her farewell.
Changes OF the character outlined by Dean
Ramsay in the habits and language Of q nation
are extremely significant. and II is desirable
TINT we should have them recorded as we'll ns
those gravcr revolutions which are the capital
subject Of history. II scotland has gained
in refinement since the epoch here de-
scrbed. she has also lost much OF her
originality. mu"h OF tho dry Wit anu
ncrid humor native to her Doric dialect.
and it II well therefore. that tho pungrnt pccu-
liartics Of former days should be embalmed
IN anccdntc. The materials turned TO account
In these "reminiscences sometimes partake Of
the coarse flbrc which finds place in the min
S.cl yarn Of human lie. But they arr nj least.
a. the author insists, Scottish materials. and as
sus IA they are the common wealth. and appeal
q the common feelings Of ScOtchmen.
1l ". II.