The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-07-20
SCOTTISH BALLADS.

Scotsmen all over the world will be
surprised to learn that all the old Scot
fish ballads, familiar and dear to them
since their cradle days, are not Scottish
after all, but were surreptitiously "lifted"
from far-south Devonshire. So, at least,
says Mr.. Barring Gould. That distin-
guished novelist, in the course of tour
through the English county, discovered
several songs which were all, some with
deficiencies, some with additions, more
or less similar ''to ballads in Scottish
collections" His claim that they were
indigenous to Devonshire he rests on the
grounds that one was taken down from
the lips Of IAN absolutely illiterate
man, now dead, who had lived at Dart
moor" another from IAN utterly litter
ate hedger, who got it from his father,
for he belonged to family that had
been musical for generations" The in
ference to be drawn is, of course, that
they had been handed down from Dew
onshire sire to son by immemorial tradi-
ton.
The claim is one that Scotsmen will
not lightly yield. In their beauty and
in their suggestiveness of world of
beauty lying all around them, the
old ballads form rich part of the
literary wealth of Scotland. Whether
they are rated above the songs of Burns
and romances of Scott, or next to them
in literary worth, there can be no doubt
that without them either a Scott or a
Burns would have been an impossibility.
Their volume and variety, too, are
scarcely less remarkable than their quail
ity, and Mr.. Barring Gould's is only one
of series of attemps to rob Scotland of
her literary fame in this branch of
poetry.
The claim carries with it it's own con-
demnation. A few ballads gathered IN
the west of England are somewhat SINH
Star to Scottish ballads; must it follow
that all the so-called Scottish ballads
belong to the west of England? Even il
it be granted that these Devonshire dis.
coveries are the originals and superiors
of ballads now generally received as
Scottish liberal allowance enough
was ever more daring conclusion drawn
from premises SO wretchedly meagre?
Scotsmen can even afford to present
Mr.. Gould with his handful and still re-
tain the gems Of their collection. They
have left scores that he cannot lay his
Devonshire hands on, scores that are the
genuine offspring of the lowlands and
the border. Sir Patrick Spens still
haunts "the gray toon" and the northern
firth. jamie Teller refuses to cross the
Border except in battle array against the
6outhron. Only in bonny Te7iotdale
could q battle have been fought for "ten
milk kye" by the light of "a gryming OF
/, new fan snaw."
W ''Then he's taen off his guide steel cap,
? And thrice he's waved 1t in the air;
'ets The Dinlay shaw was meier mair white
i Than the lyart locks O. Harden's hair
Ia, It is far cry from Dinlay snawt
oAo the tors of Devonshire, Mr.. Gould
aHhe number of these ballads is legion
isTbere is not even method in the appro
lpriator's madness. They are stepped il
The Scottish atmosphere. Scottish
geography and story are woven in ever,
stanza. The local coloring of idiom ane
imagery is part and parcel of their YER.
fabric. Their beauty and their bouque
'aare as undeniably native to Scotland Al
aithe gowans to her burnsides and tn,
heather to her hills.