The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-06-16
Entered at the Post-O Office at Richmond, Va, as
second-cass matter.
CoRREsPoNDENC
Letter from Rev. DR.. r. L. Dabney.
Impressions of Scotland-The Labor
Question, Slavery, etc.-Climate and
Agriculture-The Furnace Room.
LIVERPOOL, May 29th, lSSl


Mes%S. EditorS,-I reached here last
night from Edinburgh, somewhat the
worse for wear" by reason of the bleak
gales of the North Atlantic and the scarce
1y less bleak breezes of this hyperborean
region / am reminded that | am, indeed,
on the latitude of Labrador. In Edin-
burgh the other evening 1 read very we'll
at my window at o'clock, the twilight
was by no means gone at 10, and it be-
gan again before 2 A. M. They say that
at midsummer night is still shorter. l
think Don Phobus must then conclude
that the time for going to bed is scarcely
long enough to make it worth while to
take off his clothes; so he just lies down
for a short nap, with all his toggery on ;
and as this is described as very shiny"
we have here truly philosophical solu-
ton of the fact that it never gets dark.
The people here say: 1t is very fine
meaning of course the weather; and the
sun does shine, right cheerfully, most of
the day, with from one to three showers
between times, to lay the dust.) But the
wind-and it is their good wind, from the
Vests precisely such a one as would
make the old Virginia farmers say, in the
d1G0InOOu. w Gil, oil Ju6 pGdCu0S muSC
60 tonight and would send him to COW
ering up his tobacco-plant beds from the
frost But somehow, the frost does not
quite come. The temperature of the
ocean around protects them from that
and while we mortals from more genial
climes button up our heaviest greatcoats
to the chin, the grass, oats, and potatoes
grow little still The country is gene
rally very green; but not bit more so,
to my eye, than our own limestone lands
are in June An Edinburgh paper, two
days ago. congratulated the country upon
the fine weather He said it gave prom
Use of an early and good harvest, though
rather too dry and warm for a good hay
crop. The thermometer for week had
ranged between the extremes of $50 and
Go ! / see that when the attempt is
made to till any summer crop, every ex-
pedient is made to get the utmost of what
little warmth the earth has. The soil is
ridged very high, as high as two-horse
plough can bank it up, in very narrow
ridges, and the seed potato is put in the
very top.
They say: First impressions are not to
be trusted. My first Impressions are, that
British agriculture is a harder master
than our old Virginian was and that
commerce and manufactures are unspeak-
ably harder One can only note what
his eyes see. The potatoes are now, in a
multitude of places, receiving the first
hoeing Women have been in the ma
Jority in every hoe-gang I have seen, but
always with man to lead and boss them
and | assure you they work Like fight
ing fire. The farm-laborers to whom I
have been close are not as clean as our
negro laborers on well regulated places.
not whit better clad, nor one whit less
stolid looking and subservient. In walk
ing few squares on the High Street
OF Glasgow, (the street leading to the
cathedral, the Barony church, and the
fashionable cemetery, met six women
bare-footed, and at least hundred bare
headed. Ny friend and l, mind you, had
our winter overcoats buttoned up care
fully. The next morning I found myself
IN the compartment of the car with an
American also going to Edinburgh. He
asked me If had seen much of the suualor
OF the Glasgow poor? I replied. that
nad not looked for it. All / said he. at
IS disgusting He then added: "Its the
Wlnllskey does it. " / was not qualified to
affirm or deny But I. thouqht IF SO.
then we see one Of the advantages of our
old system: that the main results Of the
labor OF the poor could not be wasted on
Whlskey, because they were authoritative.
~ directed into the more useful channels
oI shoes clothing bread and meat. shelter
baUJ u JLelg1ous instruction for the poor: bv
hands effectually influenced for a.