Scotland's School Houses. 321 



this coaching life we touch the base every-day life of 

 care and struggle at very few points indeed and hence 

 our joy. We are deep in love with Nature, and true 

 worshippers at her shrine have few sorrows. 



While revelling in the exquisite beauty of England — 

 such quiet and peaceful beauty as we had never seen 

 before — the thought often came to me that I should be 

 compelled to assume the apologetic strain for my 

 beloved Scotland. It could not possibly have such 

 attractions to show as the more genial South, but so 

 far from this being so, as I have already said, there was 

 scarcely a morning or afternoon during which the 

 triumphant inquiry was not made, " What do you think 

 of Scotland noo ? " Of all that earned for Scotland the 

 first place in our hearts I mention the pretty stone 

 school-houses, with teacher's residence and garden 

 attached, which were seen in almost every village ; and 

 if I had no other foundation than this upon which to 

 predict the continued intellectual ascendency of Scot. 

 land and an uninterrupted growth of its people in every 

 department of human achievement, I should unhesitat- 

 ingly rest it upon these school-houses. A people which 

 passes through the parish school in its youth cannot 

 lose its grasp, or fall far behind in the race. Indeed, 

 compared with the thorough education of the masses, 

 the lives and quarrels of politicians seem petty in the 

 extreme. It is with education as with righteousness, 

 seek it first and all political blessings must be added 



