ROMAN “HIGHLANDERS”

Greymouth Evening Star, 9 April 1927, Page 12

ROMAN “HIGHLANDERS”

DID CAESAR WEAR KILTS?

Suggestions are sometimes put forward regarding the origin of the kilt (says a writex* in the ‘Weekly Scotsman’). I observed recently that the credit of the introduction of oux’ ancient garb was attributed to an Englishman! This was ingenious if nothing else. The dress was in use in Scotland before there was an English nation. It may be that we owe the dress to the Romans! This may seem far-fetched; but see a Roman soldier’s dress, and we have a strong resemblance to the kilt of to-day. Although Rome did not conquer Scotland, the people may have imitated the dress of their neighbours. The Romans occupied Britain for nearly 400 years. We know that there was intercourse between the unconquered Caledonians and the conquerors of Britain. They traded with each other. Roman goods were bought or bartered by the people ovex 1 the frontier. In all probability the Roman garb became popular in Caledonia —just as, for instance, French fashions are popular here to-day. (

z Following the first invasion by Julius Caesai" things British—articles of clothing and ornaments —became popular in Rome, particularly with the Roman women. There is an incessant humaxx desire for novelty. With the advent of the Anglo-Saxons into England, Roman civilisation was swept away. The early settlers of this race were barbarians. They did not believe ixx half measures. Thus the Roman garb would disappear. Scotland was not influenced by either of the two conquests of England—the Anglo-Saxon and the Norman. And thisa pplies particularly to Scotland north of the Firths. The picture of a Roman legionary strongly resembles a Highlander in the kilt, even to the arms bare to above the elbows. Can it be shown that the similarity had not its origin in the coming of the Romans—the difference of detail being accounted fox 1 by time and circumstances?