New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-04-30
IN OLD SCOTLAND.
Liuely Recouections Of the Land
and the People.

Scotland as few men can know her. n the
course CT his geological researches he has be
come acquainted with every county. with almost
every parish; he has studied all classes ana
every phase OF life; and he has gathered to-
ryether not only a wealth Of anecdote illustrative
OF Scottish character and humOr. but also many
Invaluable records OF customs and Of manners
that are now rapidly passing. These supplement
IN a delightful fashion those other "reminiscences
from the pen OF Dean Ramsay, and we must
admit thar II either volume were 10 be sacTi-
feed to the other Il would not be Ranlsays that
would be certain Of retention
Sir Archibald actually remembers the time
when railways We're not IN Scotland. when stage
coaches stin ran between Edinburgh and Lon
don and when posting in his own carriage was
the highly agreeable method Of traTersing thal
distance adopted by every well-to-do gentleman
The railroads which he has watched making
their way across the country have BEEN as ne
says. the most powerful agents OF social change
though they were not always built with Wis
dom The two rival lines. running through a
tparsely peopled region and terminating in q
hamlet OF less than three hundred inhabitants
furnish an excellent example Of the lack OF fore
sight often observed in those early days. The
author tells US that once, after day IN the
Portland Hills, he made his way to this lonely
little village. and found a train on the rails
with its engine attached. The station was as
solitary as a churchyard. After had taken my
seat IN one OF the carriages the guard appeared
from come doorway IN the station. and heard
the engine driver shout out to him. 'Weel, Jock
hae ye got your passenger fn?'" The tourist
came with the railroads, and pervaded the land
with questions concerning the things he expect
cd in vain TO see. One OF the gentry from the
South who could not understand why every
Highlander he saw did not wear a kilt received
a plain answer from an officer on a coasting
steamer: "Oh. no; nobody wears the kilt here but
fools and Englishmen'-which is q story good
Il ancient.
The lairds OF the olden time have in the last
fifty years followed the stagecoach into ohliv-
ion. and their estates are now largely held by
industrial ma6nates Many OF these are men Of
taste. culture and public spirit; but once in a
while the new landowner happens TO have more
money than education. A worthy. II unframed,
specimen went to see Egypt. Sir Archibald re-
lates. and took with him as kind OF guide
and companion an artist OF some note. When
they came to the Great Pyramid. the magnate
stood looking at Il for a time and in turning
away remarked to his friend. Man. whatna
rowth O. masonwark not TO be fetchin' in ony
rentr" The old farmer and laborer are depart
ing with the feudal chieftains. The small farms
have been swallowed up IN big ones One Of the
authors most vivid recollections is Of the evic-
ton or clearance Of the crofts Of Swishnish Re
turning from a ramble one afternoon. the geolo-
gist heard strange wailing sound coming on
the breeze from the west
On gaining the top Of one OF the hills the
south side OF the valley I could see a long and
morley procession winding along the road that led
road opposite Killbride and there the lamentation
see that the minister. with his wife and daughter.
had come out 10 meet the people and bid them
at least three generations Of crofters There were
Old men and women, too feeble 10 walk, who We're
clothes and household eferts while the Children
with looks OF alarm, walked alongside. There
pause i'm the notes Of the last words were
exchanged with the family Of KilIbride Every me
was In tears; each wished TO clasp the hands that
had SO often hetrended them. and it seemed as II
they could not tear themselves away. When they
set forth once more a cry Of grief went up 10
coronach, was resumed. and after the last OF the
emlgrants had disappeared behind the hill the
valley Of Strath in one prolonged note OF desolaton
There is little doubt that the crofters found
prosperity IN Canada, to whose shores they
were bound; but tragic all the same remains
that episode or their forced removal from the
homes they loved with true Scotch tenacity and
in which men and women OF their blood had
lived for many generations
Among the Highland customs which are dying
out is that, once universal. Of singing Gaelic
Der OF men or women working together to keep
time IN their movements" The author adds
that in some Of the Hehrides milking songs are
stin in use, and the cows viii not give down.
their milk unless their favorite airs are sung to
them As for music in the churches especially
the Highland churches It has not undergone
much change. The precentor, standing below
the pulpit stu strikes up the tune.
Occasionally be begins a tune that viii not suit
sether. presenter in The north FIieilis 1as 70
whom this happened suddenly stopped and ex-
Another more sedate worthy struck up the tune
snree times but always lost II at the second line
ae:s- FoieIfniy saving: 'Hoots toots toots 80 went
centor at PEBBLES had failed twice IN his EFFORTS he
olo minister looked over the pulpit and said aloud
manage 81 TAX anither tune"
Apropos OF the acknowledged Scottish devo-
ton 70 whiskey. Sir Archibald tells many anus
ing and some old stories. He introduces us to
the disseminated laborer who coming to q new
situation. complained: This is no q godlv Mace
at all at all They dinna preach the Gospel
here-and they wahtter the whuskev." He
quotes. too. the story OF the two Highlanders
who were discussing the merits OF a gentleman
OF their acquaintance. "weel, Sandy. We may
say what ye Ike but think he Gamma be a
nice man whatefer.'' But what ails We at him
Donald7" "Weel, then. III just tel ye wass
In his hORse last week. and he uad be po1rin,
me out a glass O. Whuszey: and OF course I
cried out, stop stopr and wad ye believe it,
be stoppitr'
To prevent any such unwelcome arrest OF the
liquor, and az the time TO save The face, ~
the would-be pa-ticii-s E.t. he has been known TO
arrange beforehand with the host or hostess that
while he Is 10 protest as usual against the glass
being poured out Tor him. his scruples are 10 he
peremptorlly oNercome-'Ne maun gar ne ral.s 4,
We commend this volume to the reader in
search Of information well as Of amusernen,