THOSE HIGHLANDERS. TO THE EDITOR.

Evening Post, Volume LX, Issue 102, 27 October 1900, Page 7

THOSE HIGHLANDERS. TO THE EDITOR.

Sir, — The climax of our dress-and-par-ade-and-never-mind - first - essentials system of making soldiers has surely boen reached in this perfervid appeal (see advertisement) to the public by the Unkilted Jocks for monetary assistance, to enable them to get into "Tartans and Bonnets." Under the guise of offering themselves a^ home defenders these seU'-slyled "stouthearted representatives of the I3onhy Hills of Scotland" seize the opportunity to make this attempt to deck themselves with, and masqueiade in, the clothes of those splendid soldier heroes, who, for century after century, have thrilled tlie world .with their heroisms. And we are promised this living monument of Scotland's greatness for the paltry gum of £800. The "national spirit" is to. be imported direct from "among the heather and blue bells," and "fostered" for £800. If this spirit is the real thing, its a bar- , gain at the money ; but even so, it must amount to a great number of bawbees, and these Highlanders display much shrewdness in asking others to- find them. But, Sir, we have to view this matter from other aspects. If the great Bruce and Wallace, whom they invoke, had I chosen their warriors for the magnificence of their apparel, then, even if the Wellington Highlanders themselves had been the selected ones, the names of these two great heroes would certainly not have survived to adorn an Empire. And, 100, the immortal Burns, whom also they summon, well knew a man apart from his clothing and tinsel, "the rank is but the guinea's stamp." Though not a Scot myclf, I have that in me, as' much as any Highlander, that would thrill nn_ boil | over, at the sight of a band, of kilted heroes, but let them be the real gay Gordons c.r gallant Seaforths, and not merely decorated civilians, complacently content to be soldiers in .appearance only. I say it does no honour to the Nation of the North to have their national dress trailed through our streets as these men would trail it, a living pretence ;«rtoliny mind it teuds to degrade this most honourable and beloved costume to put it, to such false uses. Is this indeed the extent of these Highlanders' martial ambition, .that they would evoke and armropriate to themselves the glory .we wou.d wildly bestow or the real Gordons and Seaforths? It is time, and more than time, that we,distinguished between heroes and their clothes, between the substance and the shadow. If thes* Highlanders of Wellington wish to foster the' National spirit, and they think that the display of the "Tartan and Bonnet" will help to that end, by all means let them, as Highlanders, form themselves into an association and deck themselves out as they will, but on the other hand, if they huve that genuine desire to be the reaj protectors of their country, that their enrolment implied, then let them modest!" learn the essentials, as they would in any other business of life, and they may rely on it the National spirit will in nowise be diminished by it. Do not let ua confound the one thing with the other; not mistake the flaunting pretence for the quiet, earnest practice of essentials. The Defence Department itself clings so tenaciously to the sham system of mimic soldiery, instead of devoting itself broadly to the education of the whole nation in first principles of defence, that it is scarcely to be wondered at that the Highlanders should make this attempt to outdress the dressers. ' The attitude of the Commandant in refusing to countenance this distortion of the real purpose of enrolment is to be commended j ma- he sit tight. — I am, etc., TOMMY ATKINS, JUNIOR.