New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-08-28
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
scp.ps FROM SCOTLAND.

l6mO. up. Z4f. wv ~
Funk wagnalls.
c.v.ll worn are many OF the anecdotes gwen in
xh volume that the reader is led to ask If all that
.. ouaint and odd and humorous in Scottish char
sc,sr has become matter Of the past The Scot
land of to-day ought at least to furnish 1.-THE OF
a.. chroaicle-it would be strange. indeed if the
madam sp,rit of commonplace had DESTROYED there
what have proved to be in this country most en-
during traits Those who know best the descend
ants of scotchmen in the United States will agree
that their mental characteristics more persist
cut. less susceptible to modification, than are those
Of other immigrants.
Mr. Hoods collection of odd stories and agreeable
"reminiscences much resembles that of Dean Ram
say, albsit without the genial manner and plquant
turns of that charming book. The pathetic ana
the amusing sides OF Scottish lfe the oddities ana
Uitticisms of Scotch lawyers, and tho philosophy
ana the piety of the Scotch ministers ana iaty are
portrayed AID illustrated with enthusiasm IL no.
with grace. The author is perhaps isas' suooos.u
i, the chapterr dealing with Scotch huInor. lhat
"a ,athar a grim article always with not mucn
merr,mspt in il aud with often moro than sug-
pestion of hardness and sourness. shre"u oiu
Scotch woman once said concerning IL tnat !"
usually has spice of savagery IN IT.; ano tha' 'ho
was right many OF Mr.. Hoods stories prove
.arov frll,w once ventured to ask that reverend
NJ the DEVILS wig ~Oh, man." said the minister.
-. mann Ia puir tyke of a servant to haze served
. mater sas lang ana no to ken the color o his
1uion Henry Erskine and Dr. McC.-a country mill
;ster met at the table of mutual friend, anu
Erskine obsery ing the Doctor eating cress with his
finosrs remarked that the proceeding reminded him
of Nsbuchadnezzar. "Ay." retorted the Doctor,
tbatll be because am eatin' among tue brutes,
which is good enough reparteo but exceedingly
han manners A notorious inidel who glored IN
his profanity was day denouncing the aosurdity
of the doctrine of original sin and was Sharply re-
buked by the beadIe of his parish. MI H. said
be, it seems to me that you medina fash ltrouoie
yourself about original sin. for to my certain
knowledge you have as much aSwal (actuap sin as
Will do your business"
The proverblal hard Medicines of the Scot some
times operates in keeping out ideas. When Mrs.
Siddons first appeared in Edinburgh she found her
audience singularly undemonstratlve. YET
during one the whole house was held entirely
spellbound and breathless " hen there was heard
distinctly from the pit voice from some canny,
cautious Scotch critic, Yon mo- that bad and
at that word the whole house burst forth into a
perfect tumult and uproar of applause. lady OF
rank. a very dear friend of the writer, herself a
Scotchwoman of q very old family. usually goes
into the housekeepers room every morning to give
her directions tor the day to her housekeepcr,
daughter of Aberdeen. Our friend has a consider
able play of humor and fun, and she has told us
how more than once. after some humorous remark,
on the day following her housekeeper will say
to her, 'Yon was a very humvrsome thing ye're
lsddyshp was saying yesterday 1t had taken
tventy-four hours for the saying fairly to work In
the mind. This sowness of appreciation Indicates
. certain obtuseness which not seldom in the
in annuaina hut mini
tended discourtesies A good doctor who was in the
habit of mechanically using the phi such as 1t
isr rather pazzled a new acquaintance who dined
with him by extending his hand to him at the door
for his company and conversation. such as 1t ls."
Scotch piety with its earnest and beautiful feat
ures and its hard and bitter ones, is fruitful OF
anecdotes. A very characteristic one is Professor
Blackies story of the grave old man walking To
the kirk with young companion. who when the
latter dared to remark on the loneliness of the Sab
bath morning 1t 10 beautiful day this' replied,
Yes indeed, young man. 1t is very beautiful dav
but is this a day to be talking about days1'"
Equally characteristic is the story told of an old
woman who when DR.. Thomas Blackjack, the poet,
was preaching trial discourse at Kirkcudbright
inquired of " neghbor on the pulpit steps whether
tho new minister were reading his sermon-an alb
horrsd practice. He Gamma be reader" said the
neighbor " for he's blin'" "Pm glad to hear it,"
SAID tho old woman, l wish they all blini !"
Hes grand preacher. whispered an old spnster
to her sister on hearing young minister for the
frs. time Whist Bell the reply: he's
readfa'!' 'Readin, is hef' said the eulogist.
changing her tone; 'paltry fellow! well gang
hame Jenny aud read our Book" A maid ser
want refusing to feed, but not TO milk, the cows on
Sunday, argued her with great neatness. " The
cows said she. Gamma milk themselves, 30 70
milk them is a clear work of necessity and mercy,
but lot them out the fields and they'll feed them
selves" The strict ideas on the sinfulnesS oil
music and dan cling made instrumental music incon-
sistent with grave religious profession The dis
tinguished Ralph Erskine however, INDUCED in one
amusement, that of playing the VIOLIN
He was so great proficient on this instrument,
and so often begned his leisure hours with IT, that
the people Dunfernline believed he composed
hia sermOns to its tones as poet writes song 10
q particular air. They tell the following tradition
airy anecdote connected with the subject: poor
man, in one of the neigh6oring parishes. having
child to baptize resolved not to employ his Own
clergyman with whom he was at issue on certain
points of doctrlne but to have the office performed
by some minister of whose teDets fame gaze n
better report With the child IN his arms therefore,
and attended by the null complement OF young and
old women who usually minister on such occasions,
ha proceeded TO the manse OF - some miles OF
mot that of Mr. Erskine, where be inquired If the
clergyman was at home. Nae he's no az hame
yepoon answered the servant lass he's down the
6urn. fishing; but / can soon cry hun H." aye
medina gle yoursel the trouble" replied the man,
aaite shocked ut this account OF the minister's hab-
It's; name o your fishn ministers shall bapteeze
INV BARN." OF he then trudged, followed by his
Uhole train to the residence of another parochial
clergyman, at the distance OF some miles. Here,
on his inquring If the minister as at home the
lass answered: Deed, he's DO at hamo tue day
he's been out since the morning at the shoot
ing Ye peedna wait. neither; for he'll be sac made
ON: fatigued when he comes back that he'll no be
able to say DO to calf, let-a-be kirsen wesn "
Wait, lassie !" said the man in tone of indignant
scorn; wad l wait dye think, TO haud ND my
BARN before munster that gangs ont at six L the
morning to shoot Gods creaturesf I'll ava down
to guide Mr.. ErsKine at Dunfermline, and he'll be
neither out at the fishing nor shooting think
The whole baptismai tram then set off for Dun
fermline sure that the father OF the secession, al
though not now placed minister, would at least