Evening star., 1937-12-05
Debs Find
New Value
In Travel
Faced With Three
Alternatives
In Life.
Continued From First Page

hold more exhillaratlng nature lore
than Scotland.
This is not AN argument; merely a
debate and a few suggestions on the
various merits Of these havens for
tired Lovelies. But make no mistake
about it if you are inclined to
shrug and feel that Scotland is no
solution to your vicious circle of prob
lens then you simply do not know.
and if one we're speaking in terms of
the race track, it would be Is to on
Change OF Mind if you will take the
trouble to gamble on it,
Let us imagine that you are taking
the train from London to Inverness
You have travelled abroad with an
other girl who feels as bored with
life AS you do; you are going to stay
with some friends of the family who
are of an old highland clan. but as
they belong in the category of younger
marrieds it may not be such "Stuffy"
situation as you had feared. They
live in huge. old house you have
heard, miles away from everything
And you and your companion are
going to be the only Americans within
miles as we'll . O.. so this is a per-
feet form of escape as far as ma
tionality is concerned.
Both of you decide as you lean out
OF the train window at the border.
that the crisp April air is definitely
a tonic after an atmosphere that
sparkled with champagne, scintillated
with swing music and smothered ones
expression with cigarette smoke. The
snow sparkleS on these mountains: the
star-strewn sky is scintillating in a
new world the air holds a tinge of
smoke from the train and from the
chimney of the shepherds croft at
the edge of the wood. it seems quiet
and settled. yet teeming with life. 1t
Is rather puzzle this novel sensa-
ton but. you reason. it is only
that you are tired from the journey.
It will be different tomorrow
But the next day brings more sur
prises. Your host and hostess meet
you at Inverness with a natural
warmth of welcome that you did not
expect. They are young. attractive
and amusing, she is in a tweed skirt
and three-quarter coat. cut by Lon
don tailor; he is in tweed coat and
. kilt Of daytime tartan" the plaid
that is less ornate than that worn in
the evening. Both have vivid person.
alities and an infectious enthusiasm
for everything.
Their house, which is of stone. large
and rambling. is on hill. 1t is an
informal sort of place. with a garden
that is just as informal. Spring flow
ers are blooming riotiously. as though
some gay person had thrown a hand
full of the most beautiful seeds on
earth into the soil and said Now,
grow as you will!' All about are
glorious trees, hundreds of years old.
Under them several small, pink
checked children, also clad in kits.
are playing with a tiny pony and a
huge sheep dog; they seem 10 be
riding the sheep dog and patting the
pony. but the animals seem to be
enjoying it. A feeling of freedom and
evll-may-care pervades the place.
and you realize that this is going to
be a different proposition from the
one you had imagined.
The house is filled with guests; some
are cousins of the family, and the
clan spirit runs strongly. Every one
is gay and genial to the last degree,
without the air of reservation preva-
lent in England. Wit is dry, but very
much in evidence. No one seems to
worry about themselves or any one else.
Each person has his own interest; it
may be fishing, walking the hills or
exploring old caves If you are inter-
ested he is delighted and you will join
each other in following up new angles
II you do not share his enthusiasm
that is quite all right also. He does
not care.
And this is the note which sets the
harmony for your visit. The Scots
have ever been an independent people,
since the days of the arrogant battles
OF the clans. In civilized times the
independence takes the form Of every
man for himself. During your stay
you find that, unlike an American
house party, no curriculum of enter
tainment is set. You are too far away
from hotels. parties and night clubs to
bother about night life, and there is
no country club to go to for your
amusement. IF you wish to go fishing
you join those who are walking down
to the river; if it is adventure of an
other sort that you crave, then it's off
with group who are going to explore
the ruins of the haunted castle across
the hills. and if you wish to be alone.
you may walk off with your rough
hewn stick and take the dogs, and no