Blair Collection > Celtic monthly > Volume 5, 1897

234
THE CELTIC MONTHLY.
THE HIGHLANDERS OF SCOTLAND.
BY EXDEAN OF GUILD DAVID MACDONALD, ABERDEEN.
(Continved from page 220).
Present Social Condition.
aT|;^AVING thus given a cursory glance at
y^^P the Highlands — its people, litei'ature,
"^XX- music, and general characteristics — the
utmost that can be done in the course of a single
lecture — I shall now draw to a close with a few
remarks on the present social condition of the
country. If there is a bright side to this
Highland picture there is also a shady side, and
it is necessary that the latter should be freely
looked at, and honestly stated. Perhaps I may
do this the more readily without giving offence,
seeing that I am a genuine son of the mountains
myself, coming as I do from Locliaber, where
my progenitors were born and reared. I say
HIGHLANDER WORKING TUK
HAND PLOUcni i>F
'C\b CHROM, THE ANCIENT
THE mOHLANDS.
thi.s with some pride, for many of them did
good service in their country's battles at home
and abroad. Some of them could dis]]lay
trophies of prowess gained on many a well-
fought field. The name which I bear stands
conspicuous throughout the history of the
Highlands for its patriotism and daring. Its
possessors have ever been ready to risk life and
property for the cause considered at the time
just and right. I can then the more readilv
appeal to my brethren and kinsmen to give me
an impartial hearing. It is granted that the
Highlander excels morally and pliysically, and,
when intellectually cultivated, that he is one of
the best specimens of our humanity. His
qualities are, as a rule, great moral and physical
courage, sound judgment, genuine warm-hearted-
ness, together with religious fervour. Acknow-
ledging all this, how, we ask, are we to account
for the social degradation of many i)arts of the