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

20 MEN OF l\fUSCLF.. present the result would ha\·e been different. Some gentle– men, friends of M'Hardy, overheard the remark, and think– ing Paton was only bouncing, collected £ 2, which was offered as an extra prize for putting. In this contest Paton amply justified his assertion, as he defeated M'Hardy by 2ft. Paton was born at Murthly, near Dunkeld, Perthshire, in 1833, and, like the Taits, was a gamekeeper. He was one of the most handsome men who ever wore a kilt, and the finest exponent of Highland dancing of his time. His great opponents were Donald Dinnie and John George. Dinnie readily admits Paton's exceptional ability, both as athlete and dancer, while with the singlestick Donald main– tains Paton was more than a match for any one who ever opposed him. As far back as 1865 we find Paton, John George, and Donald Dinnie carrying off the three prizes-1st, 2nd, and 3rd-at the Johnstone games for putting, and hammer– throwing, and caber. The following year the same order was maintained in the putting, Dinnie, George, and Paton heading the prize-list. At throwing the hammer, however, Dinnie was again first with both the heavy and light hammer, while William Tait was second and George third with the latter, Paton not being placed. With the heavy hammer, which is guaranteed as 22lb., and ground to all appearance level, Dinnie made 91ft. 3tin., Paton 86ft. 7in., and William Tait 86ft. din. Paton's career at the games was short, and, unfortunately, he never competed at the Aboyne gathering. He took little care of himself, and scarcely ever trained, but even if he had, his habits might have counterbalanced any special training. As a hammer-thrower, Paton was among the best of his time in the pendulum style, the only fashion in which he could throw; but as we have before stated, the present