Scotland/Scots > Reminiscences of a Highland parish

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A HIGHLAND PARISH.
belongings, ancestry and descendants included,
is familiarly known to every other. Yet this
familiar intercourse never causes the inferior at
any time, or for a single moment, to alter the
dignified respectful manner which he recognises
as due to his superior. They have an immense
reverence for those whom they consider “ real
gentlemen,” or those who belong to the “ good
families,” however distantly connected with them.
No members of the aristocracy can distinguish
more sharply than they do between genuine
blood though allied with poverty, and the want
of it though allied with wealth. Different ranks
are defined with great care in their vocabulary.
The chief is always called lord—“ the lord of
Lochiel,” “the lord of Lochbuy.” The gentlemen
tenants are called “ men ”—“ the man ” of such
and such a place. The poorest “ gentleman ”
who labours with his own hands is addressed in
more respectful language than his better-to-do
neighbour who belongs to their own ranks. The
one is addressed as “you,” the other as “thou;”
and should a property be bought by some one
who is not connected with the old or good