THE PLAID. 299 



stir out without his plaid, and numberless are the different 

 modes in which he folds and wears it, so as best to suit all 

 changes of temperature and weather. I have seen in a 

 London paper an advertisement offering to teach young 

 ladies the use of the " fan " in six lessons, for the moderate 

 consideration of live guineas. Although it seems incredible 

 that the fair advertiser can meet with pupils, yet it is clear 

 she does, or she would never incur the expense of long and 

 repeated advertisements. Now if some well-skilled wearer 

 of the plaid were to commence business as teacher of the 

 various ways and shapes in which its folds may be arranged 

 both for picturesque effect and for utility, he would be far 

 more deserving of encouragement than the five guinea 

 teacher of the " use of the fan." The great advantage of a 

 plaid over every other garment for the pedestrian, traveller, 

 or sportsman, on the mountain side, is, that in sunshine and 

 dry weather, folded in a rope-like twist round the body, it is 

 no encumbrance, and can be so disposed as to be entirely out 

 of the wearer's way, however much he may have occasion to 

 move his arms. Should, however, a cutting blast or a cold 

 rain come on, the piaid can be made to perform well all the 

 offices of a cloak, either short or long, and one that will 

 completely keep out a shower of any moderate duration. 

 Very little rain is absorbed by a plaid if of good materials, 

 tolerably new, and well put on. The drops run off the long 

 wool ; it takes a long time before it begins to soak through, 

 and an hour's breeze dries it again. 



I have shot through many a long day with a plaid round 

 me, without feeling in the slightest degree encumbered by it, 

 and knowing at the same time that it was always at hand, 

 like a friend in need, to shelter myself and gun from the 

 sudden squalls of wind and rain which are so frequent on the 

 mountains during the autumn. When you are seated in a 

 pass, waiting for ^oe, the trusty plaid is a most valuable 

 friend ; or when waiting for wild duck or swan, it covers you 

 and your dog from the shower of sleet or snow, which would 

 otherwise frequently oblige you to wend your way homewards, 

 perhaps at the very moment when your chance for shots was 

 the best. 



The shepherd makes use of his plaid not only as a pro- 

 tection against cold and wet, but also as a pocket or bag in 

 which to carry anything or everything he may wish to take 

 with him : one end being sewn up, although it does not take 



