, 1890-12-11


flsher-crofter pair, from the same
generous cause, find themselves en-
tering upon the realities of life sadly
distressed.
The departure Of these people for
the east coast In Juno and July, IL
marked by many ludicrous and
PATHETIC SCENES.
They leave In groups of from
dozen to fifty. The entire neighbor
hood bids them farewell. The leave-
takers will start, one at time, down
n 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 part
Ing from them forever, instead of
for but, at longest, few weeks.
Formerly the scenes at Stornoway
were anything but elevating.
Steamers would be literally packed
for the nine hours passage to
Strome Ferry, where cattle trucks
had to be pressed into service.
Departing at different dates had
lessened the crowds; but only this
year at Oban In IA crowd of 200 men
and women there was a
tremendous uproar, men leaplng
out and In through carriage
windows, and women weeping aud
wailing under extraordinary excite
ment; drink, as usual, being the
great impelling power with these
highly strung Highlanders. Arriv.
nt hn OF Ho htnsr
the men and women are housed In
separate quarters, usually rough
sheds In the herring curers' grounds
or stations" Three to nine women
are huddled into single apartments.
Their tin or wooden chests form
their only seats and tables. Per-
haps few designs in cut paper and
some cheap nick-nacks may relieve
the bare walls. The churches, and
especially the alert and active Free
Church, of Scotland, are now send
ing women evangellsts among them;
and the latter, who remain at the
fishing ports during the eutire sea-
son, are doing noble work among
these women both In temporal and
spiritual matters.
THE EAsT-COAsT FISHERS.
The lives of the east-coast fisher
folk are far less hard and sunless
The families almost invariably fol-
low the vocation Of their parents;
the sons to the fishing, and the
daughters doing their part ashore In
mending 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
some times three and four rooms.
While their kitchens, of necessity
In batting the lines, are often un-
tidy, at least one room of every
house Is neatly furnished, and Is
always II bright, If humble, picture
of tidy-handed housewffery. Men,
women and children are universally
intelligent. On the Banffshire and
Aberdeenshire coasts deep religious
feeling and character prevail. They
are all keen politicians, "LibcraW
i'm party affiliation, and are extra
ordinary disputants In theological
questions, their choice of language,
logic and illustrations comparing
favorably with that of their min
listers.
Their amusements are not many.
Concerts are favorite; balls are
occasionally known; the bagpipe is
giving way to the violin; many
melodeons are found; ana strolling
acrobats and mountebanks are kind
ly received and we'll patronized.
Their old drinking customs are dy-
ing out; teetotalism Is fast increasing;
and think that sobrlety and the
newspaper and family journal, for
they are great readers, are working
a happily-directed evolution among
them. But all these crofter and
fisher folk of Scotland, east and
west, possess the rugged qualities of
integrity, honesty, loyalty, with an
undemonstia ative but sincere hospi-
tality, rendering them ever patient
and steadfast In their lowly lives,
and folk 1t does one good to come
among and know.
EDGAR L.. WAKEMAN.