SCOTTISH CHARACTER.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2907, 20 July 1882, Page 3

SCOTTISH CHARACTER.

Scottish people are usually credited with two qualities, neither of which, as it seems to me, they possess. They are inordinately fond of money, and are possessed of infinite caution. “ A canny Scot ” has come to be a proverbial expression. As to their alleged avarice, it is to be noted that Scotland, in comparison with England, is a poor country, and therefore ef necessity its inhabitants will sat a higher value on a definite sum of money. Then, within the present century, Scotland has become much richer than formerly ; possibilities of gain have been opened up undreamt :of before. Into this the Scot has thrown himself with all his intense eagerness. He has been qdick to see and grasp the enormous power of wealth, and m some cases the passion for accumulation has superceded all else—this devotion (to money has become almost sublime in its intensity. But there are exceptional cases. Scotchmen, in accordance with their, extreme character, often obtain ito a height , of reckless expenditure ;to which there is happily nothing in English character to be B,ut the national history proves that, without; a single hesitation, they have again and again sacrificed material welfare do political and religious ideas, and this to an extent to which English history presents no parallel. The wealthy Scot, as seen by English eyes, is generally; a man who has raised himself to wealth. Long exercise of self-denial has made it a second nature. He cannot now throw away those hhbits through which he has risen. A little consideration, too, will show that the Scotia just as little entitled to whatever praise may belong to a cautious people. He is by nature excessively passionate and impulsive; the current of his thoughts is much more swayed by sentiment than reason. Of course there arc other elements in Scottish character which go to change this. They conceal it, but do not affect it. We do not call Vesuvius cold because its sides are covered with hard lava. The caution of the Scott is exactly similar to that of the man who has charge of a powder magazine! If he is to save his life be must adopt precautions such as are unknown to other men. So the depth of the Scottish feeling is hid with a superficial reserve. There is what seems to the Englishman an absolutely unnecessary reticience—an adoption, as it were, of measures to guard against events not likely to happen but the reason is that a word or an action which the more tolerant Englishman would hardly notice, will often be enough to move to the greatest rage a smouldering fire, and to lead to an outbreak absolutely disproportiohed to its cause—“ St James’ Magazine.”