MISCELLANEOUS ARTICLES.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIV, Issue 304, 22 December 1903, Page 3 (Supplement)

MISCELLANEOUS ARTICLES.

WHERE JACK IS AS GOOD AS HIS MASTEB. ~Slr Harry Furnisa thinks that the Scots are the most democratic people iv the world, not in the political, but in the social, the best sense of the wordIn ycotland, more than in any country that I know, he says, a man, whatever station of life he belong to, thinks, and rightly, 100, that lie is as good as another —not a good deal better, mind you, but as good. This feeling is best illustrated perhaps, by tlfe charming relations between master and servant in Scotland. Dean Ramsay lias told many anecdotes on the subject, but I have found none in his delightful book which better shows up the genial philosophy of the Scottish character than the following incident; Not long ago 1 was visiting a rich Scot in hi.s beautiful house, and hs propo:- mI to give mc a drive around the neighbourhood. We set out iv a dogcart drawn by a fine horse, and my enjoyment of the scenery, together with host's pride in showing it, led to our going much farther than was intended.

When we turned the horse's head homeward it was necessary to hasten speed, as the dinner hour was approaching and I was to give a lecture in the evening. The consequence was that when, we drove up to the house the horse was tired and heated.

Jamie, the groom, appeared. Xo sooner had he glanced at the horse than a look of evident displeasure clouded his face, and, addressing himself half to the master and half to the horse, he began to giVe vent to his feelings:—

"Puir beast! What a state ye are in! Yo ought to be ashamed of yoursel' to drive a horse in such a manner- Dinna ye see the sweat he is in? I wadna ha'e tlioucht a body could be sac unmarciful to a puir bonny beast like this I" and so on until we had alighted and were out of hearing.

Xot a word uttered my host all this while. He knew he was in the ■wrong. He meekly walked away and opened the door of the house. Wlten we were in the hall and ridding ourselves of oxir wraps he glanced sideways to see that Jamie could not hear him, and he quickly remarked: "I wouldn't have Jamie's temper for the warld." That is aIL