Volume 3 - Electric Scotland

45xJ POLITKNRSS.
ling, nor that the keepers or the servants of a Highland
inn think it unnecessary to do more than render ordinary
service for established pay. The politeness of an English
inn-keeper or a London waiter, is a matter of statutory
enactment, or established regulation ; and, however
pleasing the deception may be to our feelings, it does not
enter into comparison with the facts under consideration.
There is one point in this case, however, which re-
quires some explanation, for the benefit of Southrons. It
is the apparent insensibility, and real neglect, of the
master of a Highland inn towards his guests. For this,
there are two causes; the worst is pride. He is a gentleman
; a Donald, or a Mac, or some ramification of some
clan. This appears to have been a Celtic disease of all
times. Nothing can well be madder than a Welsh
GryfFyth in the moment of the Genealogical Oestrus.
The inhabitants of Cydathencea, down to the lowest
porter, all pretended to be noble; and, at this day, all
the vagabonds of Rennes are descended from the ancient
Armorican Barons. Thus, though the Highland inn-
keeper knows the full value of your money, he scorns to
show it, or to degrade himself by meddling with base
commerce. This is absurd enough; and, as it happens,
maybe either offensive or ludicrous: wise men, (like
you and me,) smile at it, and may often find it a source
of amusement. In former days, he walked into your
room, drank part of your wine, and, if not too magnifi-
cent, might have been rendered an entertaining com-
panion. That fashion will succeed no longer: and there-
fore he is now not seen at all, or he is scornful and proud
at the neglect of those whom he perhaps considers his in-
feriors: base Saxons without a clan. The other cause
is the division of labour. Every Highland inn is an
appendage to a farm :
or the farm is an appendage to the
inn ; it is pretty much the same thing. The man's busi-