Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-12-07

meal. These are reserved for the cattle,
and there are few instances where they are
not compelled to purchase city manufactured
oatmeal for food and seed oats for each years
seeding. The dress of the women and men
is almost exclusively of bome-spun material,
the Harris (island) tweeds being famous for
warmth and durability. The odor of their
garments, from impregnation with peat
smoke, is at first very disagreeable to
strangers.
Both men and women are fond of colored
materials, especially in handkerchieis, neck
ties and scarfs, and, on occasion, some won
derful combinations result. 1 have seen
blue gown. red tartan shawl and huge
white bonnet displayed by most modest
and retiring young woman. But intercom-
muuication with Glasgow, which is the
London OF these folk, is gradually modify
ing these peculiarities of dress. Their out
door amusements are meager. This is most
noticeable at the schools where the children
indulge in few games, displaying in these
far less enthusiasm and skill than with the
isher-children Of the east coast.
WHERE CUPID LuRKs.
It is difficult to understand where and
how "courting" is accomplished. Nv
friend lived nearly five years in Skye, and
be asserts that in that time he never saw a
couple walking together for pleasure who
were known to be lovers. Two instances
OF their matter-of-fact ways, where affairs
of the heart are concerned, came under his
personal notice. A young man proposed
for the hand of a neighbor's younger daugh
ter. The crofter father decided that the
elder should be first married, and the Young
courtier obediently took her away, appar-
emily perfectly contented. Another young
Gro ter proposed three times during one
winter before securing bride.
In asking the fathers consent the lover Is
accompanied by a "best man," who sees
that sufficient dowry is given with the
| bride-a COW, n "sheltic" or one or more
sheep, as the standing OF the brides father
warrants. The lovers "best man" had been
too timid to ask for this, and until one was
procured, at the third proposal, with the
bravery to ask the bridegroom's s traditional
dues. the sage crofter father did not feel like
trusting his daughters fortunes where
prospective son-in-law showed such im-
providence regarding his ownl There is one
prevailing custom among Them where labor
ana pleasure are very winsomely blended,
and this may provide all necessary pre-
llminaries to crofter matiag.
WINTER NIGHTS PLEASURE.
1t is called ''waulking the CLOTH" that is,
RULING the cloth. The expression doubt
less has Its derivation, as do many other
Scottish provincial words and idioms, from
the old German. Waukmuller is old Ger
man for fuller; and "wauker' or "waulk-
miller" has the same Specification in Scotch.
ullng or shrinking the fine home-spun
woolens IS a common occupation of the
women during the winter evenings. In this
operation OF "waulking the CLOTH" half
dozen women, usually grown lassies, sit on
1 a do &oL1
dampened cloth is held firmly between
them, and each side in turn strike the
cloth sharply upon the table. They do
TINS with very pretty swaying motion,
while the leader sings and the remainder
give very hearty chorus.
While this is in progress tn. Young men
begin to arrive singlv and in groups. Some
one has brought Dagpipe, perhaps another
q violin, although the latter is of quite
recent introduction. Shrill accompani-
ments then often inspire the lassies at their
labor and singing; but in no other manner
will the lads interfere until, the 'stlnt" of
"waulking" for the evening being accom-
plished, dancing generally follows.
VERY LIVELY WEDDINGS.
/ At marriages in Skye the whole neighbor-
hood follows 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 harbaric colors, and the wearing oi
these wells is repeated at church on the Sab
bath morning following the marriage. On
returning to their home after the ceremony
is performed, the bridal party is greeted
| along the entire way with Iusilade from
all manner of rusty firearms and by extraor-
dinary hallooing and cheering. "Sweet-
| les" are freely distributed and thrown 10 the
children at intervals. ~
After a substantial wedding supper"
| when health and toasts are enthusiastically
drunk, the night is passed in dancing. eat
| ing and drinking; and a large number of
! relatives and particular friends return the
following evening to prolong the festivities.
As the Gipsy IS often absolutely ruined BY
his generosity during marriage festivities,
SO the tisher-crofter 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 a dozen to fifty,
The entire neighborhood bids them farewell.
| The leave-takers will start, one at a time,
down long line comprising their friends
who remain, and shake hands with and kiss
or embrace every one present with as much
intensity of emotion as though they were
parting from them forever, instead Of for
but, at longest few weeks. The lives of
the East coast fisher folk are far less hard
and sunless. EDGAR L. WAKEMAN.