West Virginia daily oil review. [volume] (Sistersville, W. Va.) 1894-1902, 1902-07-24
MOVING IN SCOTLAND
ON MAY % OCCURS THE ANNUAL
CARNIVAL OF "FliTTlNG."
One Day In Each Year When FurDi-
ture Vans and Chaos Reign Su-
preme-An Odd System, Built Up on
the Caution of the Landlords.

In England houses Of the higher
rents are taken by the year at any
quarter day and the lever 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 % Even the smallest,
consisting of only one room. are 30 let.
On the great day in any large town the
sights afforded range from the laugh
able to the pathetic.
AIS soon as it is" daylight the vans
previously "rysted" begin their work;
the goods are loaded up with more
haste than care and to the aecompani-
msnt of the good housewives 1am!enta-
tons 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 poar family is left
stranded for the time. Occasionally
some streets-tR Glasgow. for instance
present aH appearance Of wholesale
eyictons.
So numerous are the demands that
vans cannot. always be obtained, and
every kind of vehicle, Including horse
less carriages, peculiarly known as
"hurleys," are pressed into tie service.
supplemented by father, mother and
the children, each carrying pictures,
mirrors or other cherished articles too
precious to trust to the tender mereies
of some ramshackle conveyance.
These professions are 'moving along
all day. Tie representative Of law
ana order, upon this day at least, 10
very >lenfent. his gruf Move on" is
less in evidence, and his ready note
book gets rest. There are no cases
Sf obstruction reported, although often
loaded vans have to remain in a street
all night.
1t may be that the "polisman" grasps
the humers of the situation, or perhaps
a fellow feeling inf1ences him. No
doubt his own. fitting is n progress,
and he retires off duty te.some strange
abode, there to assist in carrying in
his goods. to sup off a crust Of bread
and cheese and sleep on tAe floor. as
others have. to dc.
A stranger naturally inquiries the
cause OF this one day. given over to
chaos. 1t is to be found in the eau
ton of the Scottish landlord. 1t Is diff
ficult to obtain a house at any other
time than the lawful removal day, and
the canny house owner has pudently
secured his rent fortnight previously.
May Is.
= "NIoonlight" fittings 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. as is the
risk of loss. to minimum. The sSs-
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.
If fortunate enough to obtain house,
the landlord steps in and requires bis
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 Ia full at
his vacated house.
Dhe only ADVANTAGE to the tenant ts
security Of tenure for twelve months
and the certainty Of being accommo-
dated at the e1piry In the general
scramble. or course it happens some
times. through new houses being erect
ed. that sone one is able to start the
ball rolling 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 not
an institution to be admired and copied.
Strange to say. Sandy not only takes
this day philosophieally, but is much
mere 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. but
the fact is SO
The continuance of the system itself
is a standing monument to the BRUSH
long suffering and law abiding nature.
-Pearsop's Weekly.
So Lowly, but 50 Great.
A humble tailor death had caught
Within his clutches grim,
Yet by his grave we stood ana thoagnt
How much we owed to him!
Ohio State Journal.