Men of Muscle, and the Highland Games of Scotland, etc.

DO!llALD ROS. OF STRATHGLASS. now sheep farms. The little crofts have disappeared, and the bare walls, fast mouldering away, only remain to mark the spot where some Highlander onre lived and reared his family. It may have been poor, but it was a home which the father and son would, and often did, die for ; but sheep pay better, and the Highlander has had to go. Many went to Canada, where land was cheap and plentiful, and there, across the broad Atlantic, the kilt, the bagpipes, and the Gaelic are loved and cherished, as much amidst Canada's nows as among the Scottish hills. It is a consolation to know, however, that there are still many small farm-holders left in the Highlands, which brings us back to the subje t of this ketch. Donald Ross was born 26 years ago at Kiltarlity, Beauly, Inverness-shire. He stands 6 feet z inches, and, in con– dition, weighs 15 stone 7 lb. His father is a gamekeeper in the employment of Lord Lovat, and Donald assists his sire in the same service. Donald began to practise athletics without any idea of ever becoming a professional, but purely for the love of the sport; and as a consequence did not com– pete, when a lad, in any of the local sports, even in the con– fined events. Indeed, the youth of the district did not press him to enter, knowing his ability in practice. It was therefore with much delight they learned that Donald intended to compete only in the amateur ranks. At Beauly, in 1891, Ross made his first appearance as a competitor, and won second place; and during the rest of the season competed at several other amateur meetings with fairly good results. Amateur Highland gatherings are none too plentiful in Scotland, and the prizes offered at the few there are are not encouraging to the athletes ; so that it is not surprising that in a short time Donald became fretful under the restraint of amateur rules, and finally, in 1893, entered in the professional competition at Im·erness. At this time Ross was but 19 years of age, yet he carried