The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-09-15
SAD SIGHTS I'D THE SCOTTISH
HIGHLANDS.

But the cottages which to the right of
our road struggled down to a rocky
stream below had no redeeming white
wash, no vines about their doors. The
turf around them was worn away. Some
were chimneyless; on others the thatch,
where weeds did not hold it together.
had broken through, leaving great holes
in the roof. On bench tilted up against
the wall of the lowest of these cottages
sat an old gray haired man in Tam o.
Shanter, his head bent low, his clasped
hands falling between his knee. 1t was
q picturesque place, and we camped out
a while under an old cart near the rosd-
eide. Perhaps it would have been wise
If, like Mr.. Hamerton, we could have seen
only the picturesqueness OF the Highland
clachap, only the color and sublimiiy Of
the huts, only the fine women who live
within them. But how could we sit there
and not sea that the pictures queness was
that of misery, that whatever color and
sublimity there might be-and to the
sublimity must confess we we're blind
were but outward signs of poverty and
squalor, and that the huts sheltered not
only strong young women, but feeble old
men like that pathetic figure with the
clasped hands and bent head? We have
seen the old age of the poor when we
thought it but peaceful rest after the
work of years. In English almshouses
we have found it in our hearts to envy
the old men and women their homes. But
here despair and sadness seemed the por-
ton of old age. 1 do not know why it
was, but as we watched that gray-haired
man, though there was a space OF blue
eky just above him, and the day was
warm and the air sweet, it was OF the win
ter he made us think, of the time soon to
come when the cold winds would roar
through Che pass, and snow would lie on
the hills, and he would shiver alone in
the chimneyless cottage with its one tiny
window. A few miles away, men in a
fortnight throw away on their fishing
more than these people can make in years.
Scotch landlords rent their wild uuculti-
waited acres for fabulous sums, while vii
lagos like this grow desolste. If when
you are in the Highlands you would still
see them as they are in the romance Of
Scott or in the sickly sentiment of Land
seer, or as a mere pleasure ground for
tourists and sportsmep, you must get the
people out of your mind, just as the laird
gets them off his estate. Go every where,
by stage and steamboat, and when you
come to clachan or to lonely cottage,
shut your eyes and pass on. Else you
must realize as we did-and more strongly
as we went further-that this land, which
holiday-makers have come to look upon
as their own, is the saddest on Gods
earth.
After Kilchrensn the road crossed the
moorland, Ben. Cruachan towering far to
our right. We came to another wretohed
village down by Loeb E i've. Here again
in the sunshine was an old man. He was
walking slowly and feebly up and down,
and there was in his face look as il hope
had long gone from him. In England
scarce town or village is without it's
charities. But in the Highlands. while
deer and grouse are protected by law,
men are chased from their homee, the
aged and infirm are left to shift for them
ealvan think the nniaarv of fhAsa viii
lagos is made to seem but the greater
because OF the large house which so often
stands close by.-Ars. PenneU, IN Hor-
per's Magvsifae for September.