The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1886-02-04
scotch Fishermen,s Houses.

The houses, as can testify from .
recent inspection, are substantial and
commodious, and for the most part have
been built at a very cheap rate. There
is nothing aimsy or diminished about
them. The smallest, with two good
apartments, and outdoor conveniences,
cost a little more than 8100. Some
that have been more recently construct
ed have cost more than ECO. But these
are fine houses, with q commanding
sea-view, and contain not only accom-
mediation for a native family, but like
wise apartments to be let to summer
visitors. Fishermen and fishermen's
families, from the nature of their occu-
patton, are not usually remarkable for
neat houses or tidy habits, and those of
Cockenzie have not yet got rid of all the
old ways. Outside some cottages there
is decidedly room for Improvements; in
side, the houses are usually well kept
and comfortable. In visiting 8 few,
came on one where an invalid girl Of
20 had been confined to bed for three
years and half The best room in the
house had been given up to her; it was
airy and well lighted, neatly papered,
and thoroughly clean. The fisherman's
daughter lay on the bed, bright and
happy in spite of her long trial; owing
much, no doubt, to a good mother and
an afectionate family, but much more
to the sunshine which divine grace
poured down on her, and that made
her. though sorrowing, yet rejoicing"
The construction Of comfortable
dwellings on land is not the only de-
partment of social reform in which
these honest fishermen have recently
embarked. Their dwellings on the sea
have been wonderfully improved. Dur
ing the last twenty or twenty-five wears
they have become possessed of feet of
upward of one hundred decked vessels,
worth, perhaps, with their furnishings,
&5O0 each, in which they are enabled to
60 to the deep-sea fshings; in point of
fact, they do their work on a system of
rotation, now fishing at home, by-and-
by off the coast of Ireland. then pro-
ceeding to the herring fishing at Ber-
wick or Peterhead, or perhaps the fish
ing of Lowestoft. 1t Is q pleasure to
think that they are, for the most part,
very exemplary in their behavior IN
these expeditions. Many of them are
not only devout, but try to be good to
others, they hold their prayer-meeting
together, and try to bring in the care
few Methodists, and a few Plymouth
brethren. Being so much from home,
the religious influences they come under
are somewhat varied, and some of them
get preference for a more demonstra-
tive style of service than that which is
natural in Scotland.
Another work in which thew have
made great exertions is the construction
of harbor. Port Seton was DESTROYED
by q storm early in the century; and
the harbor constructed more recently by
Col. Cadet was quite too small for the
enlarged and increasing business of the
place. So, again under the guidance of
Mr.. Ovens, and with the help of loans,
they have built capacious harbor, at q
cost of more than 100000. This can
not fail to react on the prosperity of the |
place in other respects, so that what |
seemed thirty years ago decayed and
struggling little village bids fair now to
become an increasing and prosperous
town.-Prof. BEaStie, in the Qxive7 for
February.