Evening journal., 1902-07-07
MOVING IN SCOTLAND
ON MAY 2s OCCURS THE ANNUAL
CARNIVAL OF "FLlTTlNG."

One Day In Each Year When FurDf-
ture Vnns and Chaos Reign su-
preme--An ODD System, Built UD on
the Caution of the Landlords.
In Scotland May 2S is annually given
over to a perfect carnival of ''fitting."
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 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-
ment Of the good housewives lamenta-
tions 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
evictions.
SO numerous are the demands that
vans cannot always be obtained. and
every kind Of vehicle, including horse
less carriages, popularity known as
"hurleys," 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
ali day. The representative Of law
and order, upon this day at least is
very lenient. his grufr "Move on" 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 a street
all night.
1t may be that the "pollsman" grasp'
the humors of the situation. or perhap:
q fellow feeling influences him. Ne
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 a crust of bread
and cheese and sleep on the floor, al
others have to do.
A stranger naturally inquiries th'
cause Of this one day given over t.
chaos. 1t is to be found in the eau
ton OF the Scottish landlord. 1t is diff
ficult to obtain a house at any othei
time than the lawful removal day, anC
the canny house. owner has prudentll
secured his rent 4 fortnight previously
May 10.
Moonlight fittings are thus prac
tically unknown, and there is LITTLE
loss Of rent from that cause. The rent
being payable half yearly only, tn
cost Of collection is reduced, as is tn
risk Of loss, to a minimum. The sys
tenn entails great hardship to working
men compelled to change the scene o
their labors. They frequently canno
obtain a house until term day and hav
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 hi
full years rent to be paid or depositel
in bank before he allows the goods {
be removed. The unfortunate head o
a household is also responsible for tn
full years rates OF his ''new" house
although he may have paid in full q
his vacated house.
The only advantage to the tenant j
security of tenure for twelve month
and the certainty Of being accommC
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 tn
ball rolling a day or two before tern
to the comfort OF all involved in tn
particular circuit; but, generally speak
ing, May term day in Scotland is nc
an institution to be admired and COPIED
Strange to say, Sandy not only take
this day philosophieally. but is muc
more addicted to "1itting" than peopl
south Of the Tweed, some families moN
ing regularly every year without an
apparent necessity. One would scarce
ly expect the worry and discomfort O
the day and succeeding temporar
chaos to be voluntarily undertaken, bu
the fact is so.
The continuance Of the system itsel
IS a standing monument to the Britis
long suffering and law abiding nature
-Pearson's Weekly.