The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1902-07-25
MOVING IN SCOTLAND
ON MAY % OCCURS THE ANNUAL
CARNIVAL OF "FLiTTING."

preme-An Odd System. Built Up on
the Caution of the Landlords.
In Scotland May 2s is annually given
over TO perfect carnival OF "Gitting.'
In England houses of the higher
rents are taken by the year at any
quarter dJs and the lower rented ones
by the month or even by the week.
The fiitting Is thus spread over the
year, and no confusion arises. The
Scottish system is to let houses by the
year from May ~ 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 II is daylight the vans
previously "trysted'' begin their work:
the goods are loaded up with more
haste than care and To the accompani.
ment OF the good housewives lamenta-
tions as some cherished household god
is roughly fiu.g into the van.
Arrived Mt 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
-presept an appearance of wholesale
evictions.
So numerous are the demands that
vans cannot always be obtained. and
every kind OF vehicle. Including horse.
less carriages. popularity known as
"hurIeys." 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 grufi Move onT' Is
less In evidence. and his ready note
| book gets rest There are no cases"
or obstruction reported. although often
| loaded vans have TO remain In a street
all night.
II may be that the ''polisman" grasps
the humors OF the situation. or perhaps
fellow feeling Influences him. No
doubt his. own fitting is in progress.
| and he retires OF duty to some strange
abode, there TO assist In carrying in
his goods. to sup OF 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
| chaos. II ls TO be found In the eau
ton OF the Scottish landlord. II is diff
ficult to obtain house ut any other
| time than the lawful removal day. and
the canny house owner has prudently
secured his rent fortnight previously.
May -.
"Moonlight'' fiittings are thus prac-
tically unknown. and there Is little
loss of rent from that cause. The rents
being payable half yearly only. the
cost OF collection Is reduced. rs Is the
risk of loss. to n minimum. The sys-
tenn entails great hardship to working
men 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.
II fortunate enough 10 obtain Il house
the landlord steps In and requires his
full years rent 10 be paid or deposited
I'm bank before he allows the goods to
be removed. The unfortunate head OF
q household Is also responsible for the
full years rates OF his new house
although he may have paid in full al
his vacated house.
The only advantage to the tenant is
security OF tenure for twelve months
and the certainty OF being acconmo
dated at the eXpiry In the genera
scramble. OF course II happens some
times. through new houses being erect
ed. that some one Is able To start the
ball rolling n day or two before term
to the comfort of all involved in the
particular circuit: but. generally speak
lug. May term day In Scotland is moi
an Institution TO be admired and copied
Strange TO say. Sandy not only takes
this day philosophically. but is muct
mere addicted to "tiitting" than people
south OF the Tweed. some families NOV
ing regularly every year without an,
apparent necessity. One would scarce
ly expect the worry and discomfort oi
the day and succeeding temporar,
chaos TO be voluntarily undertaken. bu
the fact Is SO.
The continuance OF the system itsel
is standing monument TO the British
long suffering and law abiding nature
-Pearson's Weekly