The Merry Past 



With respect to personal liberty Scotland (apparently 

 to the delight of its inhabitants, as the Scotch mem- 

 bers are always in favour of restriction) has fared 

 even worse than England. Even in the great towns of 

 Scotland all restaurants are shut at ten, after which 

 no alcoholic refreshment can be obtained. It does 

 not, however, appear that any striking increase of 

 sobriety has been the result. In all probability the 

 very pharisaical observance of the Sabbath, at first 

 imposed upon the Scotch people against their natures, 

 has since grown into a sullen, sulky habit, which in- 

 capacitates them from much natural enjoyment. 



Though the Scotch are endowed with excellent 

 brains and are by no means devoid of a sense of 

 humour, the national life is somewhat blighted by a 

 stern Puritanism which looks askance at pleasure. 



In former days, however, the Scotch would not 

 appear to have been so Puritanical. Lord Lovat 

 was fond of pleasure and luxurious. He used, 

 for instance, to send eight miles every day for 

 the water he drank. He was exceedingly fond of 

 highly-seasoned minced veal, and probably on most 

 occasions ate rather more than prudence dictated — 

 on the plea that it was difficult to persuade the 

 stomach, because it had no ears — as he never could 

 gratify his taste and appetite for his pet dish without 

 suffering from the indiscretion. When confined in 

 the Tower, only two hours previously to his execu- 

 tion, he thought he might, with perfect impunity, 

 make a hearty meal of his favourite fare : and, as the 

 story goes, he actually did consume a large mess of 



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