The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-11-26

that year for thanks for the abundant
harvest OF the year.
Inc ordination. however. came when
there was only the evidence. AS a mat
ser OF fact the harvest turned out to
oe one Of the worst since the lands Of
he HlSalanders had been under cult
:aiion. Yet the church authorities re-
fused to abandon their Intentions,
which has listed most peculiar reason
'or the public Offering of thanks.
Until we'll into September OF that
year the fields promised rich
fields. but while the wheat was still
green and the barley, potatoes and
turnips wore in their last stages OF the
process of maturing, a succession of
"ind, snow and rain storms laid an
The fields waste. What the wind and
snow did not ruin the rnin rotted.
Such. an entire destruction made the
outlook for the coming winter a seri-
Gus one, and there were mony discus
slons during the interval preceding
me Highlanders' Thanksgiving Day.
IN some cases they penetrated the
elersy's ranks. They tell the story OF
Presbyterian divine who had given
over certain time at each service in
which to offer an exteinporaneous pray
or for fine weather. In the midst OF
one OF these he was interrupted by a
violent storm: Of wind and rain. to en-
phasize which heavy fall of hail
crashed against the windows.
The clergyman took In the situation
after a moments hesitation, then
changing mis- tone Of humble entreaty
TO one of indifference and sarcasm. he
continued his prayer thus: "Weel. weei,
then, rain ava, Lord, and Spite al the
puir folks corn, as We did the i.her
year. and see what yen max o. your
handi&ork!"
TWO centuries before that the High
landers cultivated parcels OF land from
one-quartcr TO an acre In sligo and the
crops were OF the poorest kind; in 1877
their plots were many times greater In
size and In an excellent state OF culti-
walton. 1t was this evolution that
made the Scots rise to the occasion.
severe as It would have been for their
ancestors, wherein lay the cause for
gratitude.
The Highlandcrs were originally
known as "Crofters.'' a group of men
whose state Of society was so far re-
moved from civilization that 1t re-
senlbled the Bedouin Arabs. They
families each headed By i heredl-
tary chief.
Land cultivation at that time
s.
sole desire OF the chiefs was to in
crease these retalners, who were re-
warded by shares for their raids on
the Lowlanders OF StirIingshire, the
Carse of Gowrie. and other rich corn
and potato lands of the south.
1t was this uncertain state of ex-
istence that caused the beginning of
the evolution after the battle Of Gull
loden in l7i5, and brought civilization
for the HIghianders The climate of
tile Highlands Of Scotland Is none the
best for agricultural purposes. but the
chiefs and their people realized that
herds OF we'll fed cattle and sheep
were much better than half-starved re-
tainers and raids. and the progress
which they r1ade under thiss new policy
was considered remarka BILE Before q
generation had passed. many times the
original number of acres had been
placed under cultivation. raids had be-
come unknown, and the people were
living in comfortable homes.
The object OF the thanksgiving SER
vice was the contrast and the improved
moral domestic. and perhaps the ply
Steal condition OF the Iighlanders. AL
though the crops were lacking II was
All expression of thanks for the transit
tlon of their race from the novels OF
two centuries before to the spacious
farms and homesteads of their day--a
tribute to the energy and pluck and
perseverance of their forefathera.
While Thanksgiving Day in the
Scottish Highlands Is not a national
event. the descendants of those Croft
ers gather once each year after the
harvest season and read the special
prayer of thanks no matter how large
or small the crop output.
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