The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-06-24
a SCOTCH BIBLE RENDITION.
The Scriptures to Ee Published in a
Queer Dialect.
(From the London Morning Leader.)

(From the London Morning Leader)
The Scriptures in Scotch! There is an
uncanny ring about the suggestion. when
| We remember what the Scotch tongue is
| Gegenerating into these days. For it is no
| longer the rich dialect of Burns and Scott.
to say nothing of the old Makkirs like
Dunbar and REPRESENTATIVE reading to
the NJ A. of Scotch university. nova
days than Bacehyiides-that prevails
| north of the Tweed: even Mr. Barrie's
| Scotch is but indiferently understood in
| the West and South countries: and Steven
| sons Alan Brock speaks not Scotch at ell
| but the quaint English of the Highlander
| stevenson is true to the character here,
too. for the real Gael never speaks Scotch
but the English as she will have learned
| it, Neither do the gentry know the ma
| tive tongue-Argyll was perhaps an excep-
ton, In that he knew it we'll though he
spoke 1t seldom-and the manufacturing
and well-tG-Go classes affect to desDise 1t,
counting it among the things that are vul-
gar. Much that is best in the literature
of the country is thus slipping from the
Ken of the people-fron ignorance of their
own tongue! Even the best words and
idio1ns OF Burns are fast ceasing TO be cur
rent coin CT even to be understood
AL this may rot appear strictly to the
poiut. perhaps, but IL has much to do with
t. Fer the Scriptures in Scotch-to speak
accurately. the New Testament, for the
experiment Is to extend only to that mean
time-must be one of two things: They
must be printed either in dialect that is
impure and unliterary. or in a dialect that
is no longer familiar to the multitude. AS
we learn from the publisher. Mr.. Alex
Gardner, Paisley. the experiment is to be
in the latter-in the Scotch OF the early
century. that is to say.
interviewed on the point on behalf OF
The Leader" Mr. Gardner said his Tes-
lament in braid Scotch-Or braid Scots as
the pedant has (which is still only in
MS. would not be in the Glasgow or Pals
ley Scotch OF the present day. but would
more resemble Burns. 1t would not be ar
chaic but neither would it be corrupt.
Here for instance, is the Lords Prayer,
said Mr.. Gardner:
Father o us a, bidin' Aboon! Thy
name be holie Lat Thy reign begin! Lat
Thy wull be dune. bath in Yrth and Hee-
ven, Gle Us ilha day cor needfu' foudin.
And forgie US a cor ill deeds. as we cen
forgGe thae wha did us ILL., And lat us no
be siftit; but save us frae the III Ane!
Fer the Groom is Thine ain, and the MIGHT
and the glorie, for evir and evir. Amen"
Presumably the author is Scotsman"
Mr. Gardner was asked.
He is a Scotsman, but Scotsman resi-
dent in Canada. who has acquired his
knowledge of Scotch from books only. He
is a retired minister. Mr.. Smith his name
is, and he is over eighty years Of age
And what do you take to be his purpose
in thus translating the Scriptures
We'll. | suppose he is wanting to put on |
permanent record the results of his study |
Of the old tongue, and has chosen the |
Scriptures as his medium. There is |
keen love of everything Scotch by the ex- |
patriated native. and this is ono example. |
1t is quite possible. too. that the book may |
be more priced abroad than at home. |
Here it will be looked upon by many peo- |
pie as a curiosity.
DO you really think the Scotch people
will understand it. Mr. Gardner"
Those who know their Burns perfectly
will; others may be puzzled Ey it."
And English reoplc?''
i showed it to an English minister the
other day and he was greatly tickisd His
knowledge Of the Scriptures aided him
little. but even at that he was beaten to
read it intelligently"
You dent count, then. CT any great de-
mand for a book of this lind?"
net in the sense that there is any de-
sire for it, said Mr.. Gardner There is
no need for a Scotch Testament as for
Gaelic one: and you can guess whether H.
VIII ever be used or reccFu!zcd by the
churches. But it will be an interesting
I; nd curious book. and On that account may
nave some vogue. In answer to q further
question air. Gardner mentioned that tie
publication would probably come GU: in
the autumn.