WHITEADDER AND LAUDERDALE 



remember to have encountered in any other railway- 

 journey. In spite of this, however, the tradesmen 

 complain that the inhabitants go to Edinburgh for 

 their shopping ! Indeed, I doubt if you could buy 

 many things in Lauder. In pre-railroad days I expect 

 the inhabitants led the simple life. It is related of 

 one of the earliest female passengers by rail to Edin- 

 burgh that on beholding the sea for the first time, at 

 the moment foam-flecked by a brisk breeze, she 

 exclaimed, ' My certie, yon 's a bonnie flock o' sheep ! ' 

 But if the retail trade of Lauder is sorely harassed 

 by this lightning connection twice a day with the 

 main line, you can at any rate buy flies, the right sort 

 for the Leader, of course, and they don't hold altogether 

 with the simple spider patterns of the Whiteadder. 

 As I have already hinted, the Lauder anglers don't 

 think so much of the Whiteadder ; probably they 

 don't often fish it, or know much about it. Every- 

 body in Lauder has lots of time to spare. It isn't in 

 the least like other Scottish or northern townlets, and 

 most of the natives love a crack. There are two 

 respectable little hotels and other harbourages for 

 visitors from the outer world. A few score of such 

 from Edinburgh, with a taste for the simple life or 

 for angling, repair thither in the hoHday season, and 

 there is a great deal of forgathering with patriotic 

 and reminiscent natives. A more delectable spot and 

 a more delightful neighbourhood for such a purpose 

 would be hard to find within easy reach. There are 

 other accessories in Lauder, too, besides the river and 

 the old peel towers and the many prehistoric camps 

 that crown the summits of the overlooking Lammer- 



377 



