Newark post., 1914-01-14

vite many of their friends also, and
all join in the dance which takes
place in the barn. Refreshments
are served during the evening. AT
these the Scotch dances fill many
numbers. And | don't suppose
that even yet the latest fad dances
are included. The Scotch Reel,
the Schottisch, the old fashioned
country dances are gone thru to the
strains Of fiddle. 1t takes a good
deal of strength to dance these,
and there is no thought of break
ing up until well on in the morning
anywhere from 4 to 5, so that there
have been quite a few dances gone
thru by that time. | never had any
ambition just to go to another
dance next night.
| was once fortunate enough to
be invited TO real country we'd
ding. | was staying with farm
er and his sister. The farmer HIM
self went from home for a couple
! of days to get out of making
speech. so his sister and | We're left
to represent the family. To begin
with. the house was an ordinary
cottar's home on the farm. of which
there We're several adjoining each
other. The number of guests in
vited was probably close on a hun
dred. So as many as could, crowd
ed into the room where the ordi-
nary marriage ceremony took place
! the others had to be content to re-
main outside in readiness for the
doings afterward. Once the knot
was tied and the bride and bride
groom had received handshakes, all
got outside. Then took place
ceremony of which | had often
heard and only that once saw. This
is called Running the Braes. y AS
many of the young men as wish to
take part form in line on the road
or field. They run race, and the
winner has the privilege of kissing
the bride. who presents him with a
scarf. The company than adjourn
/ ed to the barn, where repetition
of the kion took place.
In the farm house itself the en-
tertainment is just what is in other
homes to a great extent. Cards,
music, games of various kinds. and
often an impromptu dance if sew
eral friends have gathered in. Here
the card games were Whist and
"Catch the Ten" chiefly, but never
did | know of prizes being offered.
| The dances included the more mod
ern waltz, lanciers, and quadrilles.
In the refreshment part of the pro-
gram at these times ice cream Is
unknown in Scotland 1t was only
at the very large dances that we
had the luxury of ices. That
struck me on coming to this coun-
/ try-the immense quantity of ice
cream that is consumed. We never
/ thought of making it in our homes,
/ but always went to a confectlOners
to eat it at ordinary times. 1t was
very seldom that an evening pass
ed when friends were together
without music, both vocal and in
/ strumental. We did not ask the
performers to take part to criticise
them. but just for the pleasure of
having music. We all did our best
! But with all the enjoyment |
must say the women in Scotland
are industrious. When we spent
the evening at each others homes
we took with us some kind of Gro
chet or fancy work.
In the country at home the
schools are generally used for meet
ings of all kinds, where there is no
hall. And it is really surprising
what talent you do find when you
begin to look for it even there. The
school is often used as a place for
the Literary or Debating Society
for both sexes; but failing that
place, as my husband well knows,
the blacksmith s shop or ''Smid-
dy" was often used for these meet
ings. One of our foremost minis
ters in Toronto in giving a lecture
at which my husband was FORUM
ate enough to be present, claimed
that his initiation into a debating
society was one held in a black
smith S shop. And it was not in