ESSAY ON SCOTLAND

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 4 March 1914, Page 2

ESSAY ON SCOTLAND

(By a Schoolboy).

Scotland is a braw wee land on the North of EngJand; it has water nearly all round it, aod whisky over a large part of it. The population is about tour and three-quarter millions, includmg Mr Andrew Carnegie. It has a pecuiiai language of its own, and if one can pronounce it coherently it is an infallible test of sobriety. It possesses considerable mineral wealth, but very little of it finds its way out of the country. Gold has been found in certain districts in the pockets-of certain natives but m both cases it has been found difficult to work. The best known exports of Scotland are Harry Lauder and Scotch Whisky, though sufficient oi the latter is retained in the country to satisfy the demands of home consumption. The chief import in recent years, is Winston Churchill. The national dress of Scotland is the kilt, which is a kind of short petticoat. In.patt.ern it resembles a chess board, tnough m cold weather the wearer finds it more like a draught board. It is believed to have been originally invented because the aborigines were unable to find trousers big enough to get then- teet through. '1 he bagpipes provide the chief mueic of the c £f o {: it is a wind instrument which is said when blown, to produce a tune. Un m*uy occasions in the history of war, bcotch regiments have marched to (Jeath listening to the strains of the bagpipes though it is not known whether the* .^willingness to meet the former was inspired by their desire to escape the latter. Scotland has produced many well known men, amonir whom are Robert Burns, believed to f ave been a Poet. It is usually denied tie was born in Battersea. His most famous poem are, "Scots Who Have." - and "StopYer Tickling Jock." In Scotland for a couple to declare them. selves man and wife in the presence of witnesses is tantamount to a marriage, though there is often a tendency to dispose of tne witnesses in many quarters. J-ne chief national characteristic is reckless expenditure.