JANUARY, 1883. 265 



entertainment consists of the customary tea and fancy 

 bread of a town soiree, while an hour or two passes 

 pleasantly with the agreeable and gratuitous aid of the 

 ringing wild native airs, sung without affectation by the 

 young men. The simple programme over, the room is 

 cleared, the pipes tuned, and perhaps a score of couples 

 of all degrees join in the vigorous Highland dances. 

 All this may be seen anywhere, but we question if any- 

 where out of the Highlands can such a well-conducted, 

 kindly, merry, well dressed and well mannered company 

 be drawn together from the same social scale. Certain 

 we are that the poorest and humblest cottars are not less 

 actuated by that good feeling and " sympathy " that 

 breeds good manners than the most well-to-do ; and 

 while we sit and scan the pleasant faces and the comely 

 figures as they wind vigorously through the national 

 dances, we wonder if all this must gradually give way 

 before the hard work and prosaic chase of success so 

 much desiderated for the Highlands ? Whether it will 

 really be impossible for those classes in the " civilised " 

 condition to be gentle and kindly, as well as " merry and 

 wise," without forfeiting the other necessity of being also 

 "honest and true," is a question. Meantime we cry 

 " parley " with this terrible taskmaster " progress," and 

 would fain for a time be gentle barbarians. 



" It is a notable fact the sin of suicide is conspicuous 

 by its absence among the canine race" thus a last 

 week's leader. The question thus cursorily settled is, 

 nevertheless, one we are by no means willing to admit 

 as capable of being so readily shelved. We have 

 ourselves had recently a considerable controversy on the 

 subject of the suicide of animals with a most redoubtable 

 antagonist, and while unable to crow triumphantly over 



