FROM NORTH OF TWEED

Otago Witness, Issue 3542, 31 January 1922, Page 41

FROM NORTH OF TWEED

A LETTER TO SCOTTISH EXILES. By Robeiit S. Angus. EDINBURGH, November 24. Even the most perfervid Soot, I suppose, would admit that the engagement of Princess Mary has exoited more interest than any event that has happened on this side of the Tweed this week. If the general pleasure here is mixed with a shade of disappointment it is that the lucky man is not a Scot. It will be remembered that a year or two ago an over-enterprising London paper announced that the Princess was to marry the Earl of Dalkeith. I hope I am not tactless in saying that such a development would have been agreeable to the parents on both sides and that it might have actually taken place had the premature statement not “put- the lid on” anything of the kind. So far as can be gathered the understanding between Viscount Lascelles and the Princess was reached while he was staying at Balmoral this autumn. The Princess is the honorary colonel of the Royal Scots, and when she inspected one of the battalions recently she won the hearts of all ranks by her charm. THE DUKE OF ATHOLL AS LORD CHAMBERLAIN. The Duke of Atholi, whose appointment as Lord Chamberlain caused some surprise, will have an important part to play in the wedding ceremony which is expected to take place soon, since the young couple are not hindered by lack of means or by lack of a house. The duke is admirably fitted for his new job. He is one of the King’s oldest personal friends, and used to stay with him at York Cottage. _ As a former Grand Master of the Scottish Freemasons he has some experience of “Oeremonial affairs, and he is personally popular with everyone. It is well known that he had an ambition to be Governor-General of Canada, but his energy will find a not uncongenial outlet in his new duties. Hie Duchess —one of that clever family, the Ramsays of Banff —will be an invaluable help to him in this as in all his concerns. THE CHUROII MODERATORS. Nominally appointed by the General Assemblies over which they preside the moderators are in tact chosen months in advance by the leaders of the Church — the Auld Kirk moderator by a committee consisting of all his surviving predecessors in the chair, and the U.F. moderator by the members of the chief committees of the Church. The Moderator of the Church of Scotland Assembly next year is to be Dr John Smith, of Particle, who for a generation has not only been minister of one of a huge working-class congregation, but has been a leader in educational administration—for many years chairman of Govan School Board —and in the affairs of Glasgow' University. He is one of those busy men who seem to have time for everything, and yet are hardly ever seen working. The U.F. Moderator is to be tile Rev. Donald Fraser, of Livingstonia, who has spent the whole of his working life in the mission field, and at present is heading a joint movement for a missionary revival in Scotland. He is one of the outstanding figures of Central Africa, a missionary of Empire as. well as of the gospel. His father w'as minister of Lochkilphead. and Mr Fraser, the third missionary-moderator since 1900, will reach the chair at. the comparatively early age of 52. The Free Church has chosen the Rev. Norman Campbell, of Dingwall, who W'as nominated last year but felt unable to accept the office then. His Assembly will meet at Inverness, and it is an interesting coincidence that when the last meeting was held there, in 1885, its moderator was Dr Aird, who preceded Mr Campbell as minister of Creich. POISON BERRIES IN PUBLIC PARKS. Glasgow Corporation has just had an expensive lesson as to the unexpected dangers which may lurk in public parks. A small child, wandering in the Botanic Gardens, W'as attracted by the bright appearance of the berries of the belladonna plant, ate some of them, and died as the result. The parents sued the corporation for damages, and the House of Lords has confirmed the decision of the Court, of Session that they are entitled to succeed. The judges held that if such plants are left exposed to the general public the parks are not in a “reasonably safe” condition. The incident will no doubt be noted by the custodians of public gardens in other parts of the world. EDINBURGH’S TRAMWAYS. If the Town Council of Edinburgh accepts the recommendation of its tramway manager, it will take the plunge at once and

equip the whole of its system, including Princes street,. with overhead electric wires. Ihe proposal is certain to cause a renewal of the former protest, with which it is difficult to avoid sympathy. The idea of having the finest street in Europe so disfigured is abhorrent, and when the whole system of street traction is in u state of transition, our City Fathers might hold their hand for a little. Their own successful experience with motor ’buses on the most difficult routes suggests that they might be a better solution, and London has found that a combination of underground and overhead electrical equipment is quite practicable. It is foolish to contend, as some of our zealots do, that overhead wires in Princes street will be the end of all things; but if the disfigurement can be avoided by any reasonable means it should be. ADVOCATES’ CLOSE. Those who know their Stevenson and Scott’s “Guy Mannering” will be sorry to hear that the destruction of Advocates’ Clos e is contemplated by the Corporation of Edinburgh. It is one of the most characteristic. of our sixteenth century buildings, which are now rare enough to make the disappearance of one of them regretI can only refer my readers to Scott’s description of it, when Colonel Mannering goes to visit Mr Pleydell. It has become even more unsavoury during the hundred years since that w'as penned, and sanitation must, prevail over sentiment. All the same, this landmark of the Lawnmarket will be missed. A GIFT TO GLASGOW. The four Reid brothers, head of the wellknown locomotive building firm of Springburn, have made a notable addition to the many gifts with which their family has enriched Glasgow. They have presented the estate of Littlehill. 61 £ acres, just outside the eastern boundary of the city, and have added a sum of £SOOO for the purpose of adapting the ground for a golf course—--18 holes, with two putting courses—and the erection of a pavilion. They want the work to be taken in hand at once, so as to help the unemployed. Though men of great wealth, the Reids are men of the . most simple tastes, and I doubt if they spend £1 a week on their own pleasures! When I knew them first, many years ago, they were the sort of men who would take a penny tram rather than a taxi, but when money is wanted for any public purpose they can always be trusted to come down handsomely as this latest incident shows. They run their own works, keep in close touch with their workmen, and are, in fact, specimens of the best type of employers and citizens. JACOBITE LITERATURE FOR ABERDEEN. Aberdeen University has just obtained delivery of a valuable gift of Jacobite literature, presented bv Mr William M. M'Bean, of New York. The gift was made three years ago, but, owing to transport difficulties, it has only now arrived —in 14 large cases. Mr M'Bean, who is a native of Nairn, has spent most of his working life in the United States, and the collection of old books on Highland topography has been his hobby. Time was when Aberdeen had no great affection for the Jacobites, for during the “Forty-five” they invaded the city, did a good deal of damage, and caused great perturbation to the citizens. But Mr M'Bean’s gift is welcome to the historical side of the library. OBITUARY. In the course of the week several noteworthy Scotsmen have been gathered to their fathers. Mr James Templeton, head of the well-known Glasgow carpet-making firm which bears his name, has died at Dunblane at the age of 81 after a long illness. Mr Hugh Cameron, the secretary and treasurer of the “Educational Institute of Scotland, formerly head master of two schools in Glasgow, has been for many years a leader of the teaching profession, and by its members his loss is greatly deplored. Dr Allan Rannie Andrew, who was one of H.M. inspectors of schools, will be remembered by many who happened to be educated in the Aberdeen, Glasgow, or Dumbarton districts. In my days the annual visit of the inspector was an occasion of terror, for this Olympic figure seemed to descend from awful heights to deal out stern retribution to small boys who, like myself, had neglected their lessons. As a matter of fact Dr Andrew was a genial and kindly soul, and nothing would have surprised and hurt him more than to hear that he was striking terror into small bosoms. Two well-known theologians have passed away in the persons of Principal Forsyth, an Aberdonian, who was for many years at the head of the Congregational TranKng College in London, and Professor W. D. M'La.ren, member of a well-known Edinburgh family, formerly of the Congregational Hall in Melbourne. He wa3 a classfellow of Sir George Adam Smith, and Professor Pringle Pattison. Mr D. A. i..j.‘Corquodale, a Scone man, was the first provist of Carnoustie when it became a burgh in 1889. and served six years in the municipal chair. A LIBERAL RALLY. Aberdeen has been for the last week or two the scene of an intensive campaign by the Asquithian Liberals, culminating in the annual meeting of the Scottish Liberal Federation, and a demonstration addressed by Mr Asquith. It was a great mortification to the party three years ago when it lost both of the city seats, which it held from time immemorial. I am amused to see that one of the advocates of Scottish Home Rule qualified his speech by the assurance that he wants to do nothing which will upset the present arrangement whereby Scotsmen hold more than their fair share of good jobs on the other side of the Tweed. He evidently belongs to that large family which desires to make the best of both worlds. I have still to be convinced that the demand for Home Rule in Scotland has much hold outside these annual party gatherings. We could certainly do with a little more control of our own affairs, but we are compensated by reflecting on the extent to which we control affairs larger than our own.