New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1902-07-02
MO NG IN SCOTLAND

- ~ - N5s ~
ON MAY g OCCURS THE ANNUAL
CARNIVAL OF .FLlTTiNG.s
One Day IN Each Year When Furni-
ture Vans and Chaos Reign SUI
preme-An Odd system. Built up on
Ssh the Caution OF the LANDLORDS.
In Scotland May % is annually given
over to a perfect carnival of hitting
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 no confusion arises. The
Scottish system 1s 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 it is daylight the vans
previously { t-ysted' begin their work;
the goods are loaded up with more
haste than care and to the accompanii
ment Of the good housewives lamenta.
lions as some cherished household god
is 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
evfct1ons. $.#
So numerous are the demands that
| vans cannot always be obtained, and
every kind Of vehicle, including horse.
less carriages, popularity known as
| sshurleys," are pressed into the service,
! supplemented by father, mother and
the children, each carrying pictures
mirrors or other cherished articles toe
precious to trust to the tender mercies
Of some ramshackle conveyance.
! These professions are moving along
| all day. The representative of law
and order, upon this day at least, is
| very lenient, his gruff ''Move ony' is
less in evidence, and his ready note
book gets a rest. There are no "cases'
Of obstruction reported, although otter
loaded vans have to remain in street
all night. a~r +, t.s .,5s.
1t may be that the ..polisman" grasps
the humors Of the situation, or perhaps
q fellow feeling influences him. NJ
doubt his own fitting is in progress
and he retires off duty to some strange
abode, there to assist in carrying il
his goods, to sup off crust of bread
and cheese and sleep on the floor, a,
! others have to do. ~ ILL.,. Z.
A stranger naturally inquiries thu
cause Of this one day given over tx
chaos. 1t is to be found in the eau
! ton Of the Scottish landlord. It is diff
| ficult to obtain a house at any othe1
| time than the lawful removal day, ani
the canny house owner has prudently
secured his rent q fortnight previously
May Is. 49,.
moonlight fittings are thus prac
| t1cally unknown, and there is little
loss Of rent from that cause. The rent!
being payable half yearly only, thu
cost Of collection is reduced, as is TIT
risk Of loss, to minimum. The sys
tenn entails great hardship to working
men compelled to change the scene o.
their labors. They frequently canno
obtain house until term day and hav'
consequently to take lodgings and sup
port their family in another town.
! If fortunate enough to obtain house
the landlord steps in and requires hi
! full years rent to be paid or deposited
in bank before he allows the goods tt
be removed. The unfortunate head O:
a household is also responsible for thu
full years rates Of his stnew'' house
although he may have paid in full a.
his vacated house. T.. ~ r.
| The only advantage to the tenant i.
security Of tenure for twelve months
and the certainty Of being accommo
dated at the expiry in the genera
scramble. OF. course it happens some
times, through new houses being erect
ed, that some one is able to start TIT
ball rolling day or two before term
to the comfort Of all involved in tn,
particular circuit; but, generally speak
ing, May term day in Scotland is no
an institution to be admired and copied
Strange to say, Sandy not only take!
this day philosophically but is muc1
more addicted to fitting than people
south of the Tweed, some families NOV
ing regularly every year without any
apparent necessity. One would scarce
| ~ expect the worry and discomfort Of
the day and succeeding temporary
chaos to be voluntarily undertaken, bu1
the fact is SO. > :.s*% =ss. {.
The continuance Of the system itself
is a standing monument to the British
| long suffering and law abiding nature
-Pearson's Weekly. e
| "a Great Bargain.