The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1902-10-10
MOVING In SCOTLAND
ON MAY % OCCURS THE ANNUAL
CARNIVAL OF "FLITTING."

dine Day I'm each Year When Furpi-
lure Vans and Chaos Reign su-
preme-An Odd System. BuiIt Up on
ahe Caution OF the Landlords.
In Scotland May % is annually given
over to perfect carnival of 'tlitting."
In England houses of the higher
rents are taken by the year at any
quarter day and the lower rented ones
by the month or even by the week.
The fittinG is thus spread over the
year, and 20 confusion arises. The
Scottish system Is to let houses by the
year from May 2S. Even the smallest,
consisting OF only one room. are so let.
On the great day in any large town the
sights afforded range from the laugh
able to the pathetic.
AS soon as it is daylight the vans
previously ''trysted" begin their work;
the goods are loaded up with more
haste than care and to the accompani-
ElSent Of the good housewives lamenta-
lions as some cherished household god
as roughly flung into the van.
Arrived at the destination. further
troubles are in store. Perhaps the new
house is not yet vacated, and, as the
van is required for other removals. the
goods are dumped down in the street,
and there the poor family is left
stranded for the time. Occasionally
some streets-in Glasgow, for instance
present an appearance of wholesale
seVictions
So numerous are the demands that
cans cannot always be obtained, and
every kind of vehicle, including horse
Tess carriages. popularity known as
shurieys," are pressed into the service,
supplemented by father, mother and
>the children. each carrying pictures,
mirrors or other cherished articles too
precious to trust to the tender mercies
of some ramshackle conveyance.
These professions are moving along
ali day. The representative of law
and order, upon this day at least, is
very lenient. his gruff Move onv' is
less in evidence. and his ready note
book gets rest. There are no leases"
of obstruction reported. although often
&oaded vans have to remain in a street |
.zIi night
tmay be that the "polisman" grasps
the humors of the situation. or perhaps
a fellow feeling influences him. No .
sfoubt his own fitting is in progress, i
and he retires off duty to some strange
abode. there to assist in carrying in
bis goods. to sup off a crust Of bread
and cheese and sleep on the floor. as
Others have to do.
a stranger naturally inquiries the
cause Of this one day given over to
'cbaos. TT is to be found in the eau
ton of, the Scottish landlord. 1t is diff
1cult TO .<btain a house at any other
time than the lawful removal day, and
the canny house owner has prudently
securedlhis rent a fortnight previously,
-1Iay 10.
Moonlight fittings are thus prac-
Ideally sunknown, and there is little
loss ofsrent from that cause The rents
being Inayable half yearly only. the
cost OF collection is reduced, as is the
risk'f0f loss, to a minimum. The sys-
bem entails great hardship to working
menN compelled to change the scene of
their labors. They frequently cannot
obtain house until term day and have
consequently to take lodgings and sup
port their family in another town.
If fortunate enough to obtain a house,
the landlord steps in and requires his
full years rent to be paid or deposited
IN bank before he allows the goods to
be removed. The unfortunate head of
a household is also responsible for the
full years rates of his new house,
although he may have paid in full at
his vacated house.
The only advantage to the tenant is
security of tenure for twelve months
and the certainty Of being accommo-
dated at the eXpiry in the general
OF course it happens some
times. through new houses being erect
ed, that some one is able to start the
ball rolling a day or two before term,
TO the comfort of all involved in the
particular circuit; but, generally speak
ing. May term day in Scotland is not
an institution to be admired and copied.
Strange to say. Sandy not only takes
This day philosophically. but is much
mere addicted to "fiitting" than people
south Of the Tweed. some families NOV
ing regularly every year without any
necessity One would scarce
y expect the worry and discomfort Of '
The day and succeeding temporary '
.haoS to be voluntarily undertaken, but J
1he fact is SO. :
The continuance Of the system itself L
S standing monument to the British l.
ong suffering and law abiding nature. Q
Weekly.
A Great Bargain.