In the current number of the "Nineteenth Century" the Marquis. of Aberdeen very pleasantly discusses the question whether the preservation and study of the Scottish vernacular would conduce to the strengthening and enrichment of Scottish character and of the national life. His conclusion is in the affirmative, and it is based upon the valuable qualities of mind and heart which are embodied in Scottish speech and literature, and which would be in danger of attenuation were the Doric to die out. Indeed it would not be too much tosay that the perpetuation of the fine Scottish philosophy of life-virile yet tender; concretely direct, yet subtly acute—depends in great measure on the preservation of the Doric. The efforts which several Scottish associations are putting forth in this direction will redound to the enrichment not only of the Scottish mentality but of the vocabulary of English literature. Wee, bonnie, eerie, sonsy, bairn, laddie, braw, daft, are among the Scots words (some of them also, Northern English) that have been adopted to fill vacuities in Southern English speech. Smeddum might be a useful addition—and corrective—to ca'canny and jalouse,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.