WHEN SCOTSMEN SPEND FREELY. GOLF.

Hokitika Guardian, 8 September 1923, Page 4

WHEN SCOTSMEN SPEND FREELY.

GOLF.

(By One of Them in Daily Mail). LONDON, July 1”

To-day marks tile beginning of Glasgow Fair, Scotland’s annual holiday, which is better known south of the border as Scotch Fortnight. There have been great changes since the old days when keen and canny men of business gathered together to buy and sell. The “Fair” is no longer a market: it is an annual festival, a glorious occasion for riotous merrymaking ami jollification. To nine-tenths of Glasgow’s milliov inhabitants this is by far the most important season of the year. It is their only opportunity of real gaiett and amusement.

hi many cases it is only by the most industrious economy that a holiday is possible at all this year. A\ artime prices and post-war wages (it any) have made a huge drain on the family exchequer, lint whenever all odd “saxpeiice" could lie saved it was ear-marked lor the “Fair."

Though funds may he lower than usual, the holiday spirit remains the same, for the average Scot is far from being so dour as he is supposed to be llis customary caution is now thrown to the winds and in its place you will timl -a surprising display of irresponsible frivolity and recklessness.

Landladies, shopkeepers, and purveyors of every kind of amusement will prepare to reap their annual harvest, which comes with the sudden invasion of determined holiday-makers. Not a coast town on the Firth of Clyde hut will be overflowing will) trippers. Hotliesay and Dunoon, prime favourites always, will not have a square foot of house room unoccupied. Kven the Isle of .Man, Blackpool, and neighbouring resorts will share in the inunda 1 ion.

From the noisy shipyard and the grimy coal pit, from office stool and shop counter, thousands of city dwellers will join in the stampede to the coast. Trains, motor-coaches, and steamers will he taxed In their utmost to accommodate the ardent holidaymakers. Officially Glasgow Fair ends in most cases on Tuesday week; actually on the (lav after.

There is an age-long tradition in Clydeside shipyards that no work is done on Iho first (lay after the Fair. Wi-e employers know their men and arrange their dates accordingly.

Associated with this a curious custom exists'which is typical of the whimsical humour of the Scotsman.

On the morning that work is supposed to he resumed a number ol workmen gather at the gates. One of them solemnly throws a brick tip in the air, ii having been previously agreed tbal if the brick stays up they will begin work there and then, but that if it comes down again they will have tile day oil ! It is related that on one occasion n careless apprentice entrusted with Ihe responsible duty of throwing up the brick threw it in the direction of a roof, where it remained. Hut history is silent as to the amount of work done dun day.