FROM NORTH OF TWEED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22831, 16 March 1936, Page 7

FROM NORTH OF TWEED

A LETTER TO OVERSEAS SCOTS Written for the Otago Daily Times. By Robert S. Angus. EDINBURGH, January 23. In common with the rest of the Empire, and perhaps with a greater sense of intimacy, Scotland mourns the death of King George. He once declared that lie was “much attached” to Scotland and that feeling was fervently reciprocated. Some of his happiest memories were associated with Deeside, where as a hoy he learned to fish and shoot and as a young man went in the spring for salmon fishing, and in the autumn for the grouse shooting in which lie was one of the greatest experts of his time. I well remember one of his first public appearances, certainly his first in Scotland, after he became heir to the throne on the death of his brother. It was in 1894 when he was president of the Highland and Agricultural Society and in that capacity attended its show and presided over its annual meeting. He made a little speech which lasted about two minutes, and sitting as I was within a couple of yards of him, I could sec the nervous strain it imposed on him. He was never fond of ceremonial, but he schooled himself into going through it with seeming composure. Many other public occasions I can recall, both in Glasgow and in Edinburgh before and after he came to the throne. The last of them was his visit to Clydebank for the launching of the Queen Mary. But King George was at his happiest when he was merely the laird of Balmoral, free to wander about the hills secluded from the public and, as far as possible, enjoying a respite from cares of State. His health, especially in later years, prevented his showing the Spartan practice of Queen Victoria, who used to stay on Deeside until late autumn, while her retinue shivered in the bracing but icy climate. Like her he showed a warm personal interest in the welfare of the tenantry and staff. THE NEW KING. King Edward the Eighth is perhaps even better known than his father was. Not only has he taken his full share in public events, but there is hardly an unemployment centre or a society of exservicemen which he has not visited. The question will naturally arise, what will be the effect of his accession on Balmoral ? Probably not good. He does not care for either shooting or fishing, and Deeside affords litle scope for his favourite recreation of golf. His recent visits while the court has beert in residence there have been brief. But perhaps, like bis father, be will welcome the annual opportunity to get away from the crowd for a few weeks every year, as be can do more effectively at Balmoral than at Windsor or Sandringham. I met a friend in a white beat of indignation about the King’s assumption of the title of Edward the Eighth. He protested that there have not been seven previous Edwards who have been Kings of Scotland and that the first three of (be name tried in vain to establish themselves as such. Well, if that is our worst grievance we can bear it with reasonable equanimity. We were fairly comportable under Edward the Seventh. WINTER AT ITS WORST. During the hist few days we have had one of the worst blizzards within recent memory. Over practically the whole country snow fell, accompanied by a high wind, with the result that many roads and railways were blocked by drifts, telephone and telegraph lines were blown down, mails could not bn de-

livered, and work out-of-doors was impossible. In the Ness district of Lewis a school in course of construction was wrecked, but neither there nor elsewhere was there any loss of life, though some fishing boats and other shipping had a narrow escape. SOCIAL SERVICE. While considerable progress was made by the Scottish Council for Community Service during 1034, its third year, its efforts etill fall far short of the need. The centres and clubs have a membership of 13,000, an increase of 3000, who are assisted and encouraged in their efforts to put unoccupied time to useful and healthy purposes. But the number of registered unemployed is 281,000, as compared with 319,000 a year ago. No pjaise can be too high for the voluntary workers who are giving their services, but they are still far too few. SCOTTISH SECRETARY’S TOUR. Sir Godfrey Collins started on Monday what was meant to be a two weeks’ tour of the four large cities, but the King’s death has recalled him to London, where his presence was essential to witness the new King’s statutory declaration safeguarding the position of the Church of Scotland. Sir Godfrey had meant to discuss housing and education with the local authorities and to see the efforts-which arc being made in both these spheres. The remainder of his tour has been postponed until Easter. That some stimulus to local effort is needed is indicated by the fact that while Dundee, in the opinion of its medical officer of health, has a shortage of 10,000 houses, the council propose to add only 3000 to their present programme. JAMES WATT CENTENARY. Celebrations of the 200th anniversary of James Watt’s birth have taken place in many parts of the country, and especially in his native 'own of Greenock. Controversy lias raged fiercely whether Watt was the -inventor of the steam engine, but there can be no doubt that lie first brought it to practical shape. Greenock organised a pageant illustrating various episodes in liis life. Mr George Blake, who also is a native of Greenock, claimed it to bo the most interesting town in Scotland, because so much achievement, hope and disappointment lias been crowded into its 300 years. The town lived by the sea, by 'shipping and shipbuilding, and by the importation -of sugar, but it was not generally known that not so very long ago it might have become what Glasgow now is—the commercial capital of Scotland. It was an ironical thought that dames Watt, a Greenock man, was largely responsible for the development which sealed Greenock’s fate. Ho was one of the engineers called in by the Glasgow magistrates to advise them on the deepening of the Clyde, and his discoveries in steam led to the introducli< .i of the steamship which enabled Glasgow to capture Hie trade that would otherwise have gone to Greenock. The “might have boons ” of history are singularly inconclusive, but Mr Blake's idea is suggestive. Greenock has suffered heavily with Hie decay of shipbuilding anti sugarj and, through no fault of its own, it lias missed one or two chances of great industrial developments, but I should be slow to think that it lias little future. NATIONAL LIBRARY. Ten years ago, through the self-sacri-fice of the Faculty of Advocates and the munificence of Sir Alexander Grant, Scotland entered into possession of a National Library containing nearly three-quarters of a million books and ninny priceless manuscripts. Since then the annual accretion, including those which are received under the Copyright Act, has been over 50,000 volumes, so

that the total has now reached seven figures. There has been a steady stream of donations, including during last year the manuscript of the “ Heart of Midlothian ” and another interesting recent addition has been the cupboard, with the ledgers still on the shelves, which formerly stood in the offices of the Darien Company at the back of Milne’s Close; Edinburgh. It is not to the credit of those concerned that after 10 years the plans for a new building should not bo more than “almost completed,” but Lord Clyde gives the assurance that delay is now approaching an end. I have not got rid of my doubts whether a satisfactory building can be provided on the present site, but the arguments against removal are too strong to be disregarded. The most satisfactory result of the transfer to public ownership is that the number of readers has more than doubled. WATSONIANS’ GATHERING. Sir Robert Horne, ns one of their most distinguished members, presided over the animal dinner of the Watsonian Club. I doubt if any school has its former pupils more widely scattered than those of George Watson’s College, and greetings were received from all parts of the world. The oldest member present was Mr Charles R. Somerville, of Glasgow, now in his eighty-second year, who hfft the school in 187(1, when it was still a residential “ hospital." Sir Robert paid a high tribute to Hie Merchant Company of Edinburgh as pioneers in secondary education who had helped to .tustify the proud boast of the late Sir George Harrison that education is the city’s chief industry. It was mentioned that Sir lan Macpherson (now Lord Strathcnrron) is the first former pupil to be .raised to the peerage. PROFESSOR DOVER WILSON. The installation of Professor Dover Wilson in the chair of English literature at Edinburgh University in succession to Professor Grierson took place this week. The subject of bis inaugural address was Shakespeare, on whom be is a recognised authority, but I hope be will appreciate that the production of Shakespeare excerpts is not his primary duty. CASTLEHILL BARRACKS. * Aberdeen Town Council has decided to buy Castlehill barracks, which for over a century were the headquarters of the Gordon Highlanders. The purpose is not stated, but it. is obviously wise that so central and commanding a site should not bo allowed to pass into private hands.