CURLING 287 



bola, curls gently inwards, takes an " inwick " off the 

 inner edge of another, and circles in to lie " a pot-lid " 

 on the very tee. What yells of applause and triumph 

 rend the air ! " Shift that if ye can, my lads ! " shouts 

 Bodencleuch in friendly mockery ; while Dreepdaily 

 chafes and rages in wild but impotent disgust. That 

 great shot of the smith's has decided the " end " and 

 the game ; for in vain does the schoolmaster with the 

 laird following to neutralise his play try to break a 

 way to that winning-stone through the advanced-guards 

 of Bodencleuch. 



It is interesting to see the stiff-set Scotch features 

 gradually expand, the tight-drawn wrinkles of the 

 mouth relax, the grey eye kindle and beam ; illumi- 

 nated by the joviality within, the very cheeks dimple. 

 Had Sydney Smith ever assisted at a curling-match he 

 must have recanted that heresy of his about Scotchmen 

 being unsusceptible to humour. To be sure, a good 

 deal may pass current in the circumstances that would 

 scarcely bear subsequent criticism, as the manner of 

 Artemus Ward's lecturing eked out its matter. Yet 

 enough would remain, could it only be collected, after a 

 long winter of curling, to give Dean Ramsay materials 

 for another of his volumes. One touch of hard 

 frost in Scotland makes the whole world kin, setting 

 them all by the ears in amicable contest. Each parish 

 and village has its curling club. Challenges fly about 

 thick as snowballs round the doors of the parish 

 school, and the long - standing peaceful feuds are 

 referred to their annual arbitration. The stakes are 



