The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1888-08-08
ScoTLAND'S OFF SIDE.
Some Unpleasant characteristics of People
and Manners.
[Letter 70 PhIladelphla TeIegraph.l


Letter to Philadelphia Telegraph
1t is not pleasing to note the very large
proportion Of not merely children, but OF
women, some even old women, who go
about the streets with bare feet In Lon
don man or woman with bare feet would
cause quite a sensation, and in Paris can
not remember having seen such thing.
Beggars in London occasionally go about
without shoes or socks; though, as
a rule, this is but a portion of the
makeup of the professional mendI-
cant. The fact that it pays to GO about
barefooted when begging proves that such
thing is considered quite abnormal. In
Scotland it is not the beggars, but large
portion Of the population that economies
the wear and tear OF boot leather by
padding barefooted in the slimp mud of
the crowded streets. Worse than this, the
money which cannot be spared for boots
andshoesis is only too freely spentin whisky.
In this respect the English are certainly
superior tothe Scotch. Disgraceful as is the
condition OF the streets in the large English
towns through the presence OF so many
drunkards, Glasgow and Edinbulg are
even worse. The fighting, the quarrelling,
the alcohol fits and convulsions, that may
be witnessed any day, are most repulsive,
and produce sense of despair it is diff
cult to dispel. Little or nothing can be
done for drunken man, and still less for
drunken woman. The latter are lost TO
all sense OF shame; they scream, shrek,
foam at the mouth, and sometimes in
dulge in sanguinary fights. In the High
ST. OF Edinburgh L saw young women
about twenty years old hitting each
other in the face with clenched
fists till the blood poured down. No one
seemed surprised norinclined to interfere
When the police at last leisurely strolled up,
the women were removed by their respec-
tive friends TO some other and more con-
venient locality. Such scenes occur in
England, but certainly they are not so fire.
quent. Hector France might have written
some wonderful sketches of life in the low
depths OF Scottish town; and the title OF
his celebrated work, 'Les va nue. pieds de
Londres, would have applied more accu-
rately TO. the bootless poor Of Scotland. IL
is not the poor alone that must be blamed
fortheir drinking propensities. The exam
pie is given to them in the highest spheres
OF society. Men OF intellect, men OF rank,
OF high birth and men of money will be
found equally with the poor saturating
themselves with whisky and water, squan-
dering hour after hour in useless talk and
injurious drinking bouts. How often in
the hotels have / joined in general con-
versation, and, when the hours advanced
into the night, found the discussion be-
come impossible, as the brains OF several
present became more and more befogged I
The poor, indeed, are the least TO blame.
They have the excuse Of their poverty,
and of the total absence of other and
rational means of amusement. The
wealthy and the better educated are the
most guilty. To them appertains the duty
not only OF setting better example, but
OF facilitating the creation OF such amuse-
ments and entertainments as shall enable
the poorer classes to lead happy and en-
joyable lives instead of having, as at
present, to relieve the dull monotony of
their existence by the artificial excitement
that drink provides.