Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-04-19
IN THE LAND OF THE BLue6ELL
AND HEATHER.

fFrum the Democrats Foreign Corroeponoeut.)
STRANRAER, SCOTLAND.
Hear. land o. cakes and brisher Scots.
Frne Maidenkirk 70 Johnny Groats.
II there's hole In a. your coats,
redc ye. tent h:
There's ane among ye tskin' notes.
An faith. he'll prent h'
The crossing of the Irish sea, even to
an old sailor, has lts terrors, for 1t has
been said that even the English Channel
Is millpoud compared to L.; so 1t was
with good many tremors and trepida-
tions that the foot stepped on the little
gang plank which meant goodnight
and good-bye-to Erin's Green Isle, and
good morning to the 'Lsnd OF the
Mountain and the Flood" And when
the vision Of another landing 10 foreign
country Is contemplated, the same old
feeling OF dread of the unknown and un-
tried arises In the breast and pours the
cold lead OF uncertainty and fOreboding
through the veins; for unlike every
other country heretofore visited, there IL
no friend in all the land-except such
friends AS ghostly and tragic past con-
jures up 10 the Imagination.
But all the tremors and trepidsttons
were thrown away, and the preparations
for losing several pounds Of avoirdupois
were all unnecessary, for truly was
never mill-pond more gentle, and the
savage surgiug gulf seemed like the
motherly lulling Of an infant TO sleep.
All " no love the dear old land OF pur-
pie heather and trailing mist will under
stand with what emotion the romantic
soil Of Scotia is first pressed, and with
what sens ,tions the air Ia first breathed.
Although IL Is night, and the blsckness
OF darkness is all around, and no vel
coming hand 10 stretched out to greet,
vet the ghosts Of q storied snd vibrating
past stalk by, and we almost hear the
rustic and swish Of their garments, aud
feel the clutch Of their clsmmy hands
that stretch out In ghostly greeting, In
stead OF the warm tender hand-grasps
and welcoming words that gave so much
cherishiug 10 the land that Il diyi led
from US now hy 4 weary waste OF water,
over whose ripples we can almost hear
the voices calling TO "Come back to Erin.
Msvourpeen, Msvoureen!
Not long, however, u the time monop-
olized with communion with spirit
visitors, for the silence IL broken hv q
voice OF earth-the first voice Of = High
lander on his native heath, and what =
thrill goes through the veins at the
sound. for Il is music to the im'gina-
ton even TO breathe the air OF this land.
so hsloed with song and story.
The simple words, aye are frae far
kintry. hesr," are addressed to us nv
our only comp,nion In the stage coach.
very pleasant gentleman. But how he
could know we were from a far country,
or how he could know what country IL
was, was puzzlipg, till II occurred to us
that he had heard the interrogatory to
the stage driver, regarding n habitation
for the rest OF the night-who had an
swered by nod "a he pointed 10 his
rickety lone hoss shsy"-for the Yankee
accent Ia recognized the world over. and
In every country vet visited, the Dozen
East dialect proclsims the individuality
10 all foreigners. II you come from the
State OF Maine, no use to try TO palm
Yourself of for anything but Yankee
and indeed we have seen no reason yet
to be ashamed Of the glorious old Mother,
from whose bosom the Pine Trees bslmv
pTeStu Has uVuiteueu ueny "Vo~ ""
spring.
Our fellow traveller again betrays his
nationality on stepping from the coach,
by asking the driver to ''hsnd me me
plaid" pronounciug 1t played instead of
piad, as we pronounce It. The plaid is
still the national garment, and used now
by all Scottish travellers. IL is a plaid
shawl, and 10 the native costume OF the
Hishlanders, was originally worn fasten-
ed on one shoulder and thrown over the
back; bat when the Highland costume
was discarded for the modern one worn
by all English speaking tribes, the plaid
was such an object OF affection and ven-
Grafton that they could not give It up, 40
Il still figures in the wardrobe OF every
Highlander. How pathetic and cruel
seemed the decree that robbed them OF
their cherished hsbiliments, for no
costume was ever so loved By Its wear
era, and surely none WAS ever so pictur-
esaue 10 all the nations Of the world-the
killed skirt reaching scarce to the knees,
the space between that and the top OF
the stocking below the knee, covered
only with Natures covering-the plaid
thrown over the shoulder and the blue
bonnet with It's gracefully dropping
| feather.
During that trying and warlike time
when the crown Of England trembled
upon the head OF Its sovereign by the ap-
pearance near It's capital Of q paltry
army Of 1000 Highlanders intent on re-
covering the throne for their last
remnant of nobility, affectionstely called
"Prince Charlie, the Highlanders were
deprived by the government OF their an
cient and picturesque gsrb. Though IL
may have been for the good OF the coun.
try to dispossess them Of their weapons
of warfare-for the sword, the dirk, the
pistol and the knife, were all as CON-
plete parts Of the Highland dress as the
plaid and the bonnet-it seemed un-
necessary to take from them their cher
ished and ancient garments. After q
while, when peace reigned among High
lander and Lowlander, they restored
complete liberty Of wearing their former
dress; but so broken had been the spirit
Of the once proud clan, that the antique
garb Is now seldom seen, being worn
only BY the soldiers, except on festive
occasions; and there Is no sight more in
spring, more touching and more grand,
than military company Of Highlanders
marching to the music Of the bagpipes.
We have seen the imposing professions
Of cavalry marching to the majestic
tremor of the bugle and the drum-the
flower of the military Of many nations oi
the earth; but none Of them can stir the
blood with such thrill as can the High
land Laddie, wearing his plsidie. There
Is not much now to distinguish the High
lander from the rest Of the inhabitants
Of Scotland, except the use Of the Gaelic
language and some OF the old habits,
manners, and customs he still retains.
Whatever has been said derogstory to
the Highlander, there is much In bis
character that is splendid to the imagin'
alton; nor Is II possible TO regard with
out admiration and awe that little band
Of determined men, unaccustoned to the
use Of arms or any military tactics
marching against and defeating two dis.
ciplined armies commanded by officers
of experience and reputation, and only
suppressed by circumstances and dissd.
vantsges impossible for human nature to
surmount. What wonder that the strife
of l745 should have been long the theme
| of poet, musician and novelist!
| 80, wae's mo for Prince Charlie"
And he will not let you call him High
lander but you must pronounce It as II
spelled He-lander.
"The bonniest lad that eer saw,
Bonnie lafdie, Highland laddie,
| Wore plaid and was fu' Draw,
Bonnie Highland laddie.
On his head q bonnet blue,
Bonnie Laddie, Highland Laddie;
His royal heart Was nrm and true,
4 4 Ia