FROM NORTH OF TWEED.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18765, 19 January 1923, Page 8

FROM NORTH OF TWEED.

A LETTER TO SCOTTISH EXILES. Written for the Otago Daily Times. By Robert S. Angcs. , EDINBURGH, November 30. To-day is Saint : Andrew’s Day. Scotsmen abroad are in no danger of forgetting it, for next to St. Bum’s Day it is _ the favourite occasion for national reunions. But, hero at homo, I am afraid wo pay little attention to the anniversary of our patron saint. The Saint Andrew Society of Glasgow, which exists for the purpose (among others) of mending our ways in that respect issues an annual appeal to take advantage of “the one day when we have the opportunity of manifesting the lovo and the pride of our country which we all hold in our hearts.” That is putting the matter rather high. There are at least 364 other days, which may be lawfully used for the same purpose. The secretary of the society, starting from the assumption that “by tne rest of mankind the -Scot is frankly accepted ns an enigma,” declares that “abroad ho is the perfervid patriot fluanting m the face of the world his nationality and his pride therein. At home it seems often to ho his ambition to scoff at all patriotism, or at least at its display.” The writer’s closing limitation of his more sweeping indictment is -worth nothing, for it suggests the explanation of the whole matter. The Soot- is much like other races. At homo ho sees no point in making a. fuss about a qualification which is shared by 95 per cent, of those round about him, hut when he goes abroad and is one of a small minority ho naturally welcomes any occasion to consort with his fellow-country-men and to join with them in singing the glories of his native land. In recent years Englishmen have been trying to galvanise an observance of St. George’s Day. but I doubt if mast people could even tell tho day without referring to the calendar. ROYAL SCOTS CORPORATION.

Tho oldest and most worthy celebration of St. Andrew’s Day is that by the Royal Scottish Corporation, which held its 26t5th annual festival in London last night, on behalf of relives who have fallen into distress in tho south. The late Lord Balfour of Burleigh’s place us Treasurer has been taken by that worthy Scot, Viscount Finlay, who presided over the dinner. The Fund does its work quietly and efficiently, a friend indeed to the Scot genuinely and undeservedly down in his luck, hut a terror to the more mendicant. Indeed, my London friends tell rne that v. hen in doubt as to an application for assistance from some plausible story, they can always settle the matter by referring the applicant to the Corporation. If he is a fraud, he will not face Mr Moncrioff’s kindly but searching interview. Another regular celebration of St. Andrew’s Day is at St. Columba’s Church, Pont street, where Dr Archibald Fleming always has a special afternoon service, attended by the Scottish associations in London. This year the lessons are to bo read by Lord Novar, the new Scottish Secretary. OUR SCOTTISH M.P.’s.

Mr Long Sturrock, who secured re-elec-tion for Montrose Burghs while ho was lying dangerously ill, is now well enough to resume his duties. He has written an article in which he suggests that Scottish members should, as during last Parliament, co-operate in matters affecting the country, regardless of party. To this Mr Patrick J. Ford (whose name is the only Irish part of him) proposes that the moderate Labour-members should bo included. This will bo more difficult for Labour discipline is stringent. But one or two of the new members from tho West of Scotland are so evidently bent on playing the fool that their more rational colleagues may be glad of an opportunity of dissociating themselves from the wild men.

When tlie Church leaders next address themselves, as they do with great frequency to the lack of candidates for the ministry, they would do well to consider the' conditions offered them. The occupant of a country parish the other day mentioned that, inducted to his parish in the early days of March, he received not a penny of stipend till 13 months, later, and even then for only half a. year. Under the law of Anne the proceeds of the tiends up to May 15 went to the widow of his predecessor. To a young man fresh from college, with a house to furnish and all the other incidental expenses, the first two years are a tryingtime. A friend of mine who went through it was forced in desperation to have resort to money-lenders, and then to even more doubtful ways of finding money, and in tho end lost his good name and his parish. For the ruin of that career the unbusiness-like methods of the Church of Scotland were largely to blame. It is to be hoped that when union takes place matters will be placed on a bettor basis. RESTORATION OF CHURCH PROPERTY.

Lord Rosebery has done a characteristic act in restoring to tho parish of Monifieth one of a pair of communion cups, which were presented to the parish church in 1638 by John Durham and his wife, Jean Auchterlonie of the ’ Grange. The latter was tho Lady Grange who made the unsuccessful attempt to rescue the Marquis of Montrose from tho Covenanters in 1650. The cups had to bo hidden for 30 years during the troublous times of tho seventeenth century, but indifference to their interest and value w r as responsible for their alienation from their proper purpose. The minister of about a hundred years ago “swopped” the pair for four mow oups presented by Lord Panmuro (the local laird), who wanted the cups for the Duke of Sussex, a collector of old silver. Tho cups were then lost sight of until Lord Rosebery obtained possession of one of them ; tho fate of the other is still doubtful. Such a transaction as I have described would be impossible nowadays, for it is not only illegal, but repugnant to modern ideas. Besides, the Church of Scotland has a committee, with my old friend the Rev. Dr Thomas Burns, of Edinburgh, as convener, whose business it is to see that Church property is safeguarded, and that old documents communion plate, Church tokens, and other interesting relics which have been alienated are recovered. In many cases it. has been sufficient to point out to tho holders of such things that they were receivers of stolen property. LORD BALFOUR AS GIFFORD LECTURER.

Nearly ten years after tho due date, Lord Balfour is giving his second series of Gifford lectures ar, Glasgow University. The first was finished fust before the war, and the preparation and delivery of the second were inevitably postponed. If all tho lecturers were of tho eminence and interest of Lord Balfour there would be fewer doubts as to the wisdom of Lord Gifford’s foundation. Lord Balfour attracts huge gatherings, and though it would be too much to say that all his hearers understand all ho says, they are fascinated by his charm of stylo, and by tho ease with which ho threads his way through a philosophical tangle with no more assistance to

his memory than a few jottings on the back of a foolscap envelope. STOWAWAY TRAFFIC. It is a sad sign of the times that the police and tho shipowners of Glasgow have set on foot a campaign for the suppression of a traffic in stowaways. Tho other day they found no fewer than 16 men hidden on hoard a ship bound for the United States They wore in the foropeak, with, it is suspected, the connivance of the crew, some of whom are alleged to have been paid ns much as £5 for their assistance. Most of Iho men seemed decent artisans, who had been reduced by poverty to this means of seeking a fresh start on the other side of tho Atlantic. They had provided themselves with food for the voyage, but they had little money —one of thorn, in fact, only a penny. It shows how hard the times are that not only have men given up hope in their own country, but that they have not enough money left to emigrate through tho ordinary channels. There is a steady growth in the fooling that the tide of trade has turned —Sir William Raeburn spoke quite hopefully at the Clyde Trust meeting the other day—but it would bo rash to expect that the recovery will he other than slow.

THREE JUDGES FROM LEITH. Mr C. D. Murray took his sent on the Court of Session bench ns Lord Murray the other day A night or two Inter ho was entertained at dinner hy the staff of Messrs Boyd, Jameson, and Kelly, W.S., Leith, in whoso office the now judge served his apprenticeship ns a law cleric lie had with him ns 'ellow guests Lord Snlvesen and Lord Hunter, who also started their legal career in the same office. It is a >etnarkable fact that one comparatively small establishment should have produced no fewer than three of the Senators of the College of Justice ROMAN LAW FOR BANFF. Familiar though we are with the fact (hat Scottish )aw r is founded on the Roman, it was rather a surprise to find a modern litigation decided on the strength of a Roman Praetor’s edict dated 367 A.D. A Banffshire farmer under an annual contract with the owner of a livery stables left his horse on market day with the ostler. It was put into a stall, was injured, and died, and the owner sued for value £69 Os 6d (note the sixpence). The Court of Session has hold

Hint the liveryman was a “stabularius” in tho sense of the edict. I have mentioned, and that the word is not limited to innkeepers, .and accordingly that tho fanner i,5 entitled to recover. ' A GIRL GRADUATE. As president, of their union the students of Aberdeen University have elected Miss Mary E. Esslemont, M.A., B.Sc., now a student of medicine. That is, I toliove, the first time that a woman lias boon appointed to such a post. Miss Esslemont has been one of tho leaders of academic life in the Granite City for some years. I have nor had the pleasure of meeting her personally, but I know well her father, the late G, 15. Esslemont, M.P.,and was slightly acquainted with her grandfather, Mr Peter Esslemont. also an M.P Her mother is a woman of great activity in public affairs, so that the daughter should do well if heredity goes for anything. AN OLD TYPE OF MINISTER. I was sorry to read the other day of tho sudden death of the Rev. Dr Hugh George Watt, for over 40 years minister of ot. Enoch's Parish, Dundee. He "'as appointed to that church when ho was only 24, an early success which was perhaps not m his ultimate interest, for he did little to acid to the brilliant promise of his college career. Dr Walt was a man of great candour and courage, and missed no opportunity of opposing tho puritan or teetotal school. He liked and conducted a dignified! service, preached a good sermon, enjoyed a glass and was not ashamed of it. and was beloved by a large congregation. “Huge’ Watt was his nickname, partly as a play on his name, seeing that its bearer was a dapper, wcltgroemod little man, with a pleasant word tor everybody.