The morning call., 1890-12-14

lived nearly five years in SKYE. and he nc.
serts that in that time he never saw connie
waking together for pleasure who were
known to be lovers. Two instances of their
matter-of-faet ways, where affairs of the
near. are concerned, came under his per-
soma! notice. A young man proposed for
the hand of a neighbor's Younger daughter.
Inc crofter father decided that the elder
should pc first married, and the Young
courtler obediently took her away, ap-
parenuy perfectly contented. Another
Young crofter proposed three times
bride In asking the fathers con-
sent the lover is accompanied by a
best man" who sees that sufficient dowry
IS given with the bride-a COW, ''sheitie,"
OF. one he;S or more sheep. as the standing Of
Ine brides father warrants. The lovers
pest man" had been too timid to ask for
TINS, and until one was procured, at tile
third proposal, with the bravery to ask the
brldegroom's traditional dues, the sage
crofter father did not feel like trusting his
daughters fortunes where prospective
son,in-law showed such improvidence re-
garding his own!
., There. is one prevailing custom among
them where labor and pleasure are very
winsomely blended, and this may provide
matines. 1t is called "wauking the CLOTH"
that Is "fuiling" the cloth. The expres
sion doubtless has its derivation. as do
many other Scottish provincial words and
idloms;; from the old German. "Wauk-
m al IS old German for a fuller; and
walker or .'waulk-miller' has the same
slgnlhcation in Scotch. Falling" or
shrinking the fine hOme-spun woolens is a
common occupation of the women during
,ie winter evenings. In this operation of
usually grown lassies, sit on each side of a
long, wide deal table. The dampened cloth
is held firmly between them. and each side
In turn strike the cloth sharply upon the
table. They do this with
A VERY PRETTY swAYING MOTION.
while the leader sings and the remainder
give hearty chorus. While this is in prog
ress the young men begin to arrive singly
and in groups Some one has brought a
basplpe, perhaps another violin. although
the latter Is OF quite recent introduction.
ShrIll accompaniment then often inspire
the lassies al their labor and singing; but
in no other manner will the lads interfere
until, the "Stint" of walking" for the
evening being accomplished, dancing
generally general follows. At marriages in
lows the bridal couple in body
to the church. The bride and at
least one bridesmaid wear tremendous white
wells, if the remainder of their costumes
| comprise the most barbaric colors, and the
wearing of these veiiS is repeated at church
rage. On returning to their home afler the
ceremony is performed, the bridal party is
greeted along the entire way with fusilade
from all manner of rusty firearms and by ex-
traordlnary halloolng and cheering. Sweet
les are freely distributed and thrown to
the children at Intervals. After subStan-
tial wedding supper" when health and
toasts are enthusiastically drunk, the night
is passed In dancing, eating and drinking,
and large number of relatives and particu-
friends I'm IN,
| proloDg the festivities. As the gypsy is
| often absolutely ruined by his generosity
during marriage festivities, so the fisher
erolter pair, from the same generous cause,
| find themselves entering upon the realities of
| life sadly distressed.
The departure of these people for the east
| coast IN June and July is marked by many
| ludicrous and pathetic scenes. They leave
| in groups OF from dozen to fifty. The en-
| tire neighbOrhood bids them farewell The
leave-takers Will start, one at time, down
long line comprising their friends who re-
main, and shake hands with and kiss or en-
brace every one present with as much in
tenSlty OF emotion as though they were part
ing from them forever, instead of for but, at
longest. a few weeks. Formerly the scenes
at Stornoway were anything but eleyating.
Steamers would be litearly packed for
the nine hours passage to Strome Ferry,
where cattie-trucks had to be pressed in
to service. Departing at different dates has
lessened the crowds; but only this year at
Oban in crowd of 200men and women there
was tremendous uproar, men eaping out
and In through carriage windows, and
| women weeping and waiting under extra
ordinary excitement; drink, as usual, being
| the great lmpelling power with these highly
strung HIghlanders. Arriving at the east
| coast fishing ports, the men and women are
housed IN separate quarters, usually rough
sheds on the herring grounds or
stations. Three to nine women are hud-
died into single apartments. Their tin or
wooden chests form
THEIR ONLY SEATS AND TABLES.
Perhaps a few designs in cut paper and
some cheap knick-knacks may relieve the
bare walls. The churches. and especially the
alert and active Free Church of Scotland.
are now sending women eyaugelists among
them; and the latter, who remain at the
fishing ports during the entire season, are
dong noble work among these women
both In temporal and spiritual matters.
The lives of the east-coast fisher folks are
far less hard and sunless. The families al
most invariably follow the vocation of their
parents. The sons to the fishing and the
daughters doing their part ashore in mend.
ing the nets, batting the lines and selling
the fish, while many work in the herring
season with the west-coast women among
the curers' crews. Their houses are fairly
good. They contain two and sometimes
three and four rooms. While their
kitchens, OF necessity. in batting the
iibces aiC Oitou uHliul, dt ltdSl QUO IUum Oh
every house is neatly furnished, and is al
ways bright il humble picture of tidy
handed housewifery. Men, women and
children are universally intelligent. On the
Banffsnire and Aberdeenshire coasts deep
religious feeling and character prevail
They are all keen politicians, Lib
eral" in party utilization. and are ex-
traordinary disputants in theolug ical qucs-
tons, their choice of language. logic and
illustrations comparing ayorably with that
of their ministers. Their amuspments are
not many. Concerts are favorite: balls
are occasionally known; the bagpipe is Civ
ing way to the violin; many melodeo
are fund; and strolling acrobats and
mountebanks are kindly received and
well patronized. Their old drinking
customs are dying out; teetotalism is
fast increasing; and l think that So
briefly and the newspaper and fam
lily journal, for they are great readers, are
working happily-direeted evolution among
them. But all these crOtter and fisher folk
of Scotland. east and west, possess the
rugged qualities of integrity, honesty, 10y
atty, with an uudemonstrative but sincere
hospitality, rendering them ever patient and
steadfast in their lowly lives. and folk it
does one good to come among and know.
Copyright EDGAR L. wAKEMAN.