The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-12-07

durability. The odor of the gar
ments, from imprecnation with peat
smoke, Is at first very disapreeable I
strangers. Both men and women are fon
OF coiored materials, especially in handker
cnlefs, neckties and scarfs, and. en- occs
s = some wonderful combinations resul,
nave seen blue gown, a red tartan shav
and q huge white bonnet displayed bv
most modest young woman. But intercom
munication with Glasgow, which IL "a
London OF these folk, is gradually modify
! ing these peculiarities of dress. Their ont
ooor amusements are meager. This
moss noticeable at the schools where til
onldren indulge in few games. displayin
N these far less enthusiasm and skill thn1
WITH the fisher children of the east coas.
on,nty." or as they call it in Skye, clubs.
ID the prevailing Youths game, and til
stone." W
1t is difficult to understand where and ho,
lived nearly five years in SKYE. and he as
serts that in that time he never saw
couple walking together for pleasure VIII,
were known to be lovers. Two instances o
tnelr matter-of-fact ways, where affairs Of
cne neart are concerned, came under hi
personal notice. A young man proposed
5or me hand of neighbours younger
daughter. The crofter father decided tina,
the elder should be first married, and
me young courtier obediently tool
tented. Another young crofter nro.
posed three times during one winter be-
lore securing bride, In asking the fathers
consent the lover isaccompanied by s.best
l man. VINO sees that sufficient dowry is
gwen with the bride-a COW, a s.sheltie.'' OF
one or more sheep, MS the standing Of tile
brides father warrants. The lovers hest
man" had been too timid to ask for this.
and until one was procured. at the third
proposal. with the bravery to ask the bride
groom's traditional dues, the sage crofter
rather did not feel like trusting his daugh-
Jaw showed such improvidence regarding
his own!
There is one prevailing custom among
them where labor and pleasure are very
wlnsomely blended, and this NAV provide
All necessary preliminaries to crofter mat
ings. 1t is called ''waulking the cloth, -
that Is, "fullinG" the cloth. The ex-
many other Scottish provincial words and
idioms. from the old German. Waukmul-
Ter is old German for fuller; and swan
ker" or ''waulk-miller'' has the same sipni-
fication in Scotch. "Fulling'' or shrinking
the fine home-spun woolens is a common
occupation of the women during the winter
evenings. In this operation of ''waulkino
the cloth" a half dozen women, unusually
grown lassies. sit down on each side Of
q long, wide deal table. The damp
ened cloth is held firmly between them.
and each side in turn strike the cloth
sharply upon the table. They do
This with q very pretty swaying motion,
give hearty chorus. While this is in
progress the young men begin to arrive
'lngly and in groups. Some one has
brought q bagpipe, perhaps another q vio-
IN, although the latter is of quite recent
Introduction. Shrill accomplishments then
,ften inspire the lassies at their labor and
singing; but in no other manner will the
ng" for the evening being accomplished,
dancing generally follows. At marriages
n Skye the whole neighborhood follows
he bridal couple in body to the church
The bride and at least one brides
maid wear tremendous white wells,
the remainder of their costumes
the most barbaric col
'eated at church on the Sabbath morning
ollowing the marriage. On returning to
heir home after the ceremony is performed
ne bridal party is greeted along the entire
ray with fusilade from all manner of
usty firearms and by extraordinary hal
oo1ng and cheering. .Sweeties'' are free
t intervals. After substantial wedding
upper when health and toasts are enthus-
drunk, the night is passed in |
ancing, eating and drinking; and large
lumber Of relatives and particular friends |
eturn the following evening to pro-
'ns oft sns ruined Al the b sPsy
enerosities during marriage festivities,
, the fisher-crofter pair, from the same
cause. find themselves entering
pom the realities Of life sadly distressed.
The departure of these people for the east
past in June and July is marked by many
toups of from dozen to fifty. The entire
bids them farewell. The
ave-takars will start one at time down a
ing line comprising friends who remain,
1d shake hands with and kiss or embrace
'ery one present with as much intensity
emotion as though they we've parting :
ON them forever, instead of for but, at
'ornoWay were anything but elevating.
would be literally packed for the
ne hours passage to Strome Ferry, ,
here cattle trucks had to be pressed into 3
rvlce. Departing at different dates has
ssened the crowds; but only this year at
ban IN crowd of 200 men and women :
ere was q tremendous uproar. men leap I
= SNo uAu Al tu4OukA CdIl1eako WuuAOWS,
I'd women weeping and wailing under es.
excitement; drink. as usual, be- ]
g the great impelling power with these :
HiRhlanders. Arriving at the
st-coast fishing ports, the men and women /
9 housed IN separate quarters, usually /.
the herring-curers' grounds or ''sta-
ms" Three to nine women are huddled =
to single apartments. Their tin or wooden
ests form their only seats and tables. l
'rhaps few designs in cut paper and !
me cheap nick nacks may relieve the bare q
Ills. The churches, and especially the I
srt and active Free church, of Scotland, ]
Q now sending women evangelists among :
EN-; and the latter, who remain at the
hing ports during the entire season, are :
ing noble work among the women both
temporal and spiritual matters.
The lives of the east-cOast fisher folk are =
r less hard and sunless. The families al \
0st invariably follow the vocation of
cir parents; the sons. to the fishing, and p
Q daughters doing their part ashore in !
ending the nets. batting the lines and
ling the fish, while many work in the I
ring season with the west-coast women l.
aong the curers' crews. Their houses are :
irly good. They contain two and some
mes three and four rooms. While their :
tchens of necessity, in batting the lines, 7
. often untidy, at least one room OF every
uss is neatly furnished, and is always q t
ight If humble picture of tidy-handed
usewifery. Men, women and children
universally Intelligent. On the Banff- !
ire and Aberdeenshire coast q deep re-
ious feeling and character prevail. They 6
, all keen politicians, Liberal in party A
lliation. and are extraordinary disputants :
Ah-s> IL =.