Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-22
The auld mans mares deid,
The poor mans mares deid.
The auld mans mares deid,
4 mile abOon Dundee.
The True Scotch Character Here.


The True Scotch Character Here.
Dundee, however, has its attractions.
1t is one of the best places to study
Scotch character, which. as you all know,
is very strongly accentuated under the in
f1uence of environment and the eventful
history of the race. The climate, the oc-
equations and the religious tendencies OF
the mind also have much to do with 1t.
My friend the philosopher says the self
confidence and the aggressiveness which
strikes stranger so forcibly Is a ma
tional asset of priceless value, for 1t has
enabled the Scotchman to face peri!s and
overcome obstacles in the prosecution Of
energetic enterprises which could not
otherwise have been faced. He declares
the mental and physical stamina of the
race, their capacity for endurance, reso-
luton and perseverance are due to the
climate and to the hereditary influences
of ancestors. who have successfully main
tanned their independence during the long
conflicts with England. He points to the
triumph of the race as illustrated by the
Scottish coronation stone at Westminster
Abbey, the two archbiShops of the Church
of England and the three recent prime
ministers of the kingdom. Scotland, he
says, has never attempted to conquer
England. although England has been
trying to conquer Scotland for 800 years,
but the Scotch tenacity of purpose and
shrewdness of intellect have been stronger
than any military force that could be
organized and has not only resisted, but
| have conquered the English race.
Slow to Inform, Quick to "Opine."
Every one who comes over here is
struck with the habitual reluctance of the
| Scotch people. even the children. to give
| information, and this caution is often
eXasperating. If you ask the simplest
| question the reply will invariably be: II
Gamma say or II dinna ken" 1t is alb
| solutely impossible to get a Scotchman
to commit himself to the most innocent
proposition, even though you are an en-
| tire stranger and he will never see you
| again. I asked a waiting maid in hotel
| the hour Of luncheon
Il Gamma say" was her reply.
But aren't you employed here?"
| Il Wilma say nay"
An amusing writer on Scotland says
| that this extraordinary caution is the re-
suit of the religious prosecutions when
| the Scotchman was between the devil and
| the deep sea. If he were a Catholic the
| Protestants would roas: him alive, and II
| he professed Professionalism, as the gov
eminent alternated between the two de-
nominations, the Catholics would be sure
| to send him to the stake. But the re-
| luctance of a Scotchman to answer a
question does not prevent him from as
sorting his opinions voluntarily on every
subject with boldness and ability, and
anybody can have political or a theo-
logical discussion at any time he chooses.
One is surprised at the radical political
views that are boldly proclaimed. 1t
would naturally be expected that the
Scotchman, who is famous for his reserve
and caution, would lean toward the con-
sentative side in politics, but 1 am told
that most of the Scottish towns are hot
beds of radicalism.
Shy on Style.
A stranger is always impressed with
the plainness of the people he sees in
Scotland and the lack of taste in dress.
We haven't seen pretty woman or a
stylish costume since We arrived. AL
though many Of the lasses have delicious
compilations and some of them fine eyes,
as a rule the women folks, young and
old, are painfully plain. and everything
| they wear seems to have been homemade.
| Other people have noticed this many
| times before, and the witty author of
"Peneiope's Progress has given us an
whole she says. that. taking town
| and country congregations together, mil
| linery has not flourished under Presby-
| terianism. 1t seems to thrive better in
the Romsh atmosphere of France
Dundee Busy Place.
| Dundee may not be beautiful, but 1t
| does a big business in jute, in jam, In
shpbuilding and in general manufacture
| ing 1t has more foreign commerce than
Edinburgh. 1t ranks next to Classy"
| (as they pronounce iD for commerce and
| manufacturing and formerly a great
| whaling fleet went out from here. The
| Dundee whalers were a fleet Of them
| selves. but the determination Of the
| great fish has reduced the fleet to five
ships. and nearly all the old warehouses,
| which were annually filled with whale
| bone and casks of whale oil. are now
empty or used for other purposes.
| Dundee is the third town in Scotland for
| population the second in business. and
| its docks rival those of London and
| Liverpool. There are miles of harbor
i crowded with shipping, innumerable fac
| tories which seem to be engaged In a
| competition to see which can pour out the
most black smoke. 1t is worse than
! Pittsburg and the people seem to be
proud of 1t. There are jute warehouses
| and mills on every street, and the at
mosphere is charged with ''poab." fine
| oily dust from the jute mills, which mixes
with the SCOT and forms an abominable
| compound.
More than a thousand people. mostly
| young women and girls. are engaged In
| making jam from fruits that arrive by
/ tho fraipload every morning And when