A REJOINDER 119 



and one is a broad, burly fellow. This one is boarded 

 out with a certain crofter, and he is now about sixteen 

 years of age. He is entrusted by his master mth a 

 gun for shooting rabbits. If he is annoyed he 

 becomes like a madman. One day a native child 

 annoyed him over some trifle. This burly fellow 

 lost his temper and endeavoured to catch the native 

 child. He failed in that, but he threatened to 

 shoot the boy when he got a chance. Is he likely 

 to do it, it may be asked ? Will he commit a personal 

 injury ? His previous deeds may answer for him. 

 Some time ago a Glasgow parish girl annoyed this 

 youth. He seized a " grape," a double-forked instru- 

 ment with pointed prongs used for digging up 

 potatoes, ran after her, endeavoured to stab her, 

 missed her body but punctured her hand. The 

 girl was in a serious condition for some time and 

 nearly lost her hand. Does Dr. Cobbett contend the 

 conditions of society must be so altered that we 

 must not have " grapes " or other peaceful-occupation 

 instruments, because they are capable of becoming 

 lethal weapons when handled by persons of vicious 

 instincts, or that the environment of our society 

 must be so altered that tantalizing " Eves " shall 

 be no more ? And all this is to be done — and 

 those citizens who delight to have teasing " Eves " 

 around them are to be rendered restless and unhappy 

 — because, forsooth, we must not let the vicious 

 instincts of a defective race have an opportunity of 

 manifesting themselves ! Surely that is a remarkable 



