FROM NORTH OF TWEED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21784, 25 October 1932, Page 11

FROM NORTH OF TWEED

A LETTER TO OVERSEAS SCOTS Written for the Otago Daily Times. By Robeet S. Angus. EDINBURGH, July 28. With its political aspects of the Irish dispute I have no concern, but its practical results, especially from the point of view of the West of Scotland are too serious to be ignored. For at least two generations Glasgow has done a lucrative entrepot trade in Irish produce, mainly through Irishmen, and that has come practically to a standstill. As alternative supplies are available in abundance, the stoppage of imports will chiefly affect those who deal in them, but the 20 per cent, duty on coal and on iron and steel products sent to the Irish Free State is a grave menace to two industries which are not in a position to stand another blow, and I am not surprised to see that a leading member of the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce has protested that economic warfare is as much to be deprecated as any other. Scottish coal owners are hopeful that after their experience of Continental coal during the stoppage of 1920,' the Irish Free State consumers will be ready to pay something to avoid it. In any case, there is a general confidence that the dispute is too silly and too mischievous to be long continued. Colonel Colville, of the Overseas Trade Department, is coining to Edinburgh tomorrow to consult the leaders of industry on the best means of improving the British position in foreign markets, and to urge that schemes like the trade ship to Canada, and the wool trade "drive" in America should be repeated in other spheres.

"HONEST" MUSSELBURGH. This week the people of Musselburgh have been celebrating the 600th anniversary of the adoption of "Honesty" as the burgh motto. It owes its origin to an incident in 1332, when Randolph, Earl of Moray, hard pressed to resist the English invaders, hurried home to deal with a threatened naval attack on Edinburgh. He was met by the citizens of Musselburgh, who, seeing that he was ill, carried him on a litter to the first house within the east port and there mounted a guard over him till he die 1. His nephew and successor in the regency, the Earl of Mar, in thanking them for their kindness, offered them burghal privileves, but they refused all recompense on the ground that they had done no more than their duty. " Sure, you are a set of honest fellows," exclaimed the earl, and the adjective was adopted as the municipal motto. Musselburgh has preserved its independence, in spite of repeated invitations from Edinburgh to come within its borders, and though 't owes some of its public services to the capital it is not at present disposed to change its condition for a closer alliance. , LEITH TOWN HALL.

Leith, on the other hand, was merged, more or less forcibly, with Edinburgh some years ago, and it has now come into possession of what may bo regarded as part of its marriage dowry in the form of a new public hall and library. To fulfil the contract has cost Edinburgh about £90,000, but those who have seen the building will admit that the money has been well spent and that the addition to public amenities is substantial. Leith, through its shipping and allied interests, will never be any danger of losing its individuality, and though at the moment it is having its full share of the general depression, its business men have built up world-wide connections which will have their value when better times return. WALTER SCOTT AS SCHOOLBOY. In the long line of famous pupils who have passed through the Royal High School of Edinburgh the name of Walter Scott occupies a foremost place, and it is appropriate that the centenary of his death should be celebrated by the placing of a memorial tablet in bronze on the west wall of the school hall. Indeed, the surprise is that something of the kind has not been done before. According to himself Scott was "an idle imp" as a schoolboy, but at the Royal "High School he formed many of the friendships which endured throughout his life, and there he began the exercise of that keen eye for character which enabled him to provide so large a gallery of life-like portraits. Edinburgh University, which claims Scott as a former student — though, like Carlyle, he never graduated —has also unveiled a memorial bronze plaque.

ART SCHOLARSHIPS. Edinburgh College of Art has just issued its first list of scholarships under the Andrew Grant bequest of £12,000 a year. The figures must be the envy of art students elsewhere. One of them is of the value of £450 for travel in America, four are worth £250, and two £IOO each for travel in Europe, and there are 14 post-graduate scholarships of £IOO, four in drawing and painting, four in design and decorative art, one in sculpture, and five in architecture —in addition to 10 vacation scholarships of £25 each. It is interesting to note that about half of the awards have been made to women. If " siller will do it" —to apply the test of the laird of Dumbiedykes—the.- college should have a bright future as an art centre. CLAN MACRAE STRONGHOLD.

For the last 20 years Colonel John Macrae-Gilstrap has amused himself and spent his money in reconstructing Eileen Donan Castle situated on a rocky peninsula on the western shores of Ross. When he bought the place—of which he is hereditary keeper—it was little more than a few crumbling walls, all that survived of . the former stronghold which was finally battered to pieces after the Jacobite rising of 1715. The colonel's friends thought his enterprise foolish, but they have been confuted by the result. He has provided a model of what a Highland chief's house would have been like if it had had electric light, central heating, running water in every bedroom, and a billiard room. The architect has simulated the mediaeval style with marked success, and combined it with the provision of all the modern amenities. Over the entrance door is the motto in Gaelic which says that " As long as a Macrae is. in a Fraser will not be out" —a testimony to the long friendship between the two clans, and it was therefore fitting that the opening ceremony should .be performed by Lord Lpvat in the presence of a large gathering of Macraes and Frasers. On the wall of the castle is a memorial tablet bearing the names of the Macraes who fell in the war. To celebrate the housewarming Colonel Macrae-Gilstrap and his lady have presented £IOOO to the Royal Northern Infirmary, Inverness, for the endowment of a bed. A CAITHNESS WORTHY.

Caithness natives all over the world will be pleased to hear that the work of Pastor John Home as historian of their county has been suitably honoured. Through the county associations in Edinburgh, Glasgow, and London a sum has been raised to endow a bed in the Bignold Hospital at Wick, and though the

fund is not yet closed enough has been received to warrant the placing of a tablet on the hospital wall explaining the origin of the gift. Mr Home has written some 30 books and pamphlets—history, legend, poems, and sketches. In spite —or, perhaps, because of having had to spend most of his working life away from his native district—he was a Baptist minister in Glasgow, and :is now settled in Ayr—his local patriotism has never flagged. AN ACADEMIC LOSS. Edinburgh University lias sustained a severe and unexpected loss by the death of Professor James M. Moore, who only a year ago was appointed to the chair of French in succession to Professor Sarolea. The atmosphere of controversy iu which his predecessor resigned made a difficult situation for Professor Moore, but, with the loyal support of his students, who knew his work as lecturer, he overcame it and had the prospect of many years of useful service. His student days were marked by distinction as a classical scholar, and he had already attained the headmastership of Dornoch Secondary School when he gave it up to teach French in an Edinburgh secondary school, and again when he had become rector of Madras College, St. Andrews, he made a sacrifice to work as a university lecturer in French. In collaboration with his friend, Professor Ritchie, of Birmingtam, he wrote a series of handbooks which have done much to revolutionise the teaching of that language. Professor Moore took suddenly ill while on, holiday at Grenoble, and he was buried there. THE REV. JOHN LAMOND. For a quarter of a century the Rev. John Lamond worked with quiet enthusiasm as the parish minister of Greenside, which, in spite of its name, is one of the most depressing of the working class districts of Edinburgh—under the shelter of the Calton Hill. As a young man he was a temperance lecturer, and when he decided to qualify for the ministry one of the friends of his university days was Sir James Barrie, whose lodgings he shared. In later days Mr Lamond's friends shook their heads over his incursions into the realm of. Spiritualism, but though they might think him misguided they never doubted his sincerity. DR GORDON BEVERIDGE. A'generation ago the Socialists ,of Aberdeen rejoiced in the leadership of Dr Gordon Beveridge, a young medical man, who had been elected to the Town Council, and gave the movement an air of respectability of which it then stood in some need. He had been a prominent and popular figure at the university, and one of the founders of the magazine, Alma Mater, in which not a few men who are now well known writers first saw themselves in print. Dr Beveridge's theories became less prominent as his practice became greater, and for many years he had been more interested in his profession than in politics. His death, at the age of 68, is widely regretted- by his fellow-citizens of all creeds and classes.