Blair Collection > Vestigia celtica

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of the difficulty. One suggestion only I
will here presume to offer. It is that the
modern Gaelic language, and especially
colloquial Gaelic, as opposed to the book-
Gaelic of scholars, does not take kindly to
the use of abstract words. Indeed it may
almost be said, that Nature does not more
heartily abhor a vacuum, than the colloquial
speech of the modern Highlander abhors
the abstract. The genuine, unsophisticated
Gael of the Scottish Highlands would
never dream of saying, in an abstract way,
tha min daor, ach tha sgadan saor =m.Qa.\
is dear, but herring is cheap. He would
say, ^Aa a mliin daor, ach tha an sgadan
saor = \\\Q. meal is dear, but the herring is
cheap. Now, in whatever way the philolo-
gist may be able ultimately to solve the
difficulties of the curious idiom here under
consideration, I believe that this Celtic
abhorrence of the abstract will be found to
form a notable element in the solution.
The Gael does not rest satisfied with simply
saying, of his friend, that he is angelic, and
of his enemy, that he is devilish. Inspired