The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1893-07-15
Especial Correspondence of the RECORD
UNION. Copyright 1891

Especial Correspondence Of the RECORD
UNION. Copyright 1881
LONDON, July 8, 1893.
1t is common and pathetic lament of
most writers, and particularly of those
writer's who shut themselves up in the
shadowy recesses of some moldy club,
with the opposite street facade for the
limit of their horizon of actual observa-
ZION, that the good old days and their
good old ways are dead and beautiful
things of the past. The change in condi-
tons of life and living in England, Scot
land and Ireland have certainly been
greater during this century than in all
the five centuries Immediately preceding;
and this has of necessity made obsolete
many ancient customs and observances
that are, perhaps, just as well to have
survival in literary reminiscence only,
but in most of those things holding fast
the gentler and dearer traditions OF a peo-
pie in home, sporting, social and even
religious life, there is a surprising record
OF sturdy retention.
Should only those which have come
under my personal notice since 1867 be
given the briefest reference, so great a
number could be grouped as to COM
pletely refute those dolorous plants that
the pleasant olden customs are no more
and / am quite sure that should some
friendly and enthusiastic pen be devoted
10 making an entire volume on the sub
ject OF Famous British Customs Still in
Vogue" treating the matter something
alter the garrulous, genial manner of that
wonderful ola podrida, Homes Every
Day Book" the English speaking and
reading world of to-day would find in the
result genuine revelation of pleasure
and surprise.
In Ireland the tender custom of "con-
Noylng' the departing emigrant is the
same to-day as during all the sad cycles
since its peasantry We're forced to seek
homes in foreign lands; it's wakes and
weddings, its fairs and frolics, it's chill
dren's hunting of the robin and the wren,
and countless other customs hundreds of
years old, are precisely as they were III the
heart of the better olden days.
over in the sturdy little Isle of Man
every essential feature of its patriarchal
and representative government, estab-
IlShed early In the tenth century, exists
in its original simplicity at the present
time. Its Tynwald Court is still, as
thousand years ago, held under the open
sky on its grassy Tynwald Hill. Its
shedding coroners, high bailitfs, House of
Keys and SWord-bearer, prOmulgate the
laws just as they did in glorious King
Orry's time. Some of its parish clerks
are still elected by the votes of only those
who put out smoke" that is, whose
habltatlons possess chimney. It's fisher
folk put to sea with goodly prayers and
psalms. Its peasant folk, in dress, Gus
toms, superstitlons and piOus faith live
lives of calm Indifference to the outer
world of change, and the bardic strain of
old, held true and firm down the shining
line OF thousand years, flashes forth
now as then in its weird, exalted Oiel
Nerre in each succeeding Christmas tide
that comes.
And who shall truly say that the land
o cakes has lost its fine old customs and
tender supersltions altogether? What
host OF genial customs still cling to these
stern and line folk through the influence
OF their "guId neebors'' the beneficent
little Brownies alone! Make merry of it
as you may, the household Scottish
brownie" still holds its helpful place in
the hearts OF the people beyond the Esk
and the Tweed.
He is never idle in all good Office to the
Iowiy home of the countryside, where
you never Iail of finding him, if you do
not enter his realm in the spirit of cavil
and soothing. There, in each simple home
and heart, he sits enthroned with every
attribute OF DenevOlence and affection.
lie not only works with giant might to
assist in blowing the land, harvesting the
crops, guarding the grain and minding
the herds. but in every little household
drudgery of guidwIle and BARN he lends
a helping hand. No i'll can come but
that he has Tended its cruelest touch. No
sorrow can fall upon the household
whose hurt would not be deadlier were
1t not for his kindly and palliative pow
ers. And in all the glorious old land o.
cakes his gentle influence adds zest to
every peasant joy. AS the burns, spring.
ing from the misty, crag-rimmed corries
OF the north, descend and water the well
coming plains of the lowlands, the end
less streams of Gaelic superstition descend
from the weird and misty ceiLtdhS OF the
crotters' ancient homes and the centuries
old cLGchGhS and render perennial the
lowland growth of Scottish folklore and
we'll beloved olden ways.
Let all doubters OF the existence in
Scotland OF most ancient customs ard
pastlmeS step into the great farm kitch-
ems OF the LOthlanS at HallowmaS Eve,
Let them, at Aud Reckless ancient Cross,
at midnight of any New Years Eve, learn
what Scottish Hogmanay truly is. Let
them in spring and summer and autumn
follow the keen-eyed, sure-armed golfer,
or know the thrill of winter curling Joys
Let them visit that most ancient and gIo-
rlOuS OF Scottish fairs, the ST. George Cat
tie Fair OF kelso, where the Tweed and
Teviot mingle their historic waters. Let
them wander to that decaying realm Of
gypsydom, quaint old letholm, hidden
from both English and Scottish eyes in
The mazes of the grewsome Teviot Hills,
and see the 'Fasten Zen" games of Bow
montside, In February, almost as ancient
As the Teviots themselves, and so brave,
rough and brawny that the spirit OF bat
tie and the strength OF giants are required
20 Withstand them. Or still, let them
wander to old Hawick town and view
something that Church and State could
never put down-the annual Common
Rulings, and, the corDet is mounted
as Hogg's soul-stirring lines
TIT