The Athletes and Athletic Sports of Scotland

H ATHLETIC SPORTS OF SCOTLAND. the bodydirectly, andwill be dealt with, as to its value inthe programme of Scottish games, in its own place. But it is as a means for creating and maintaining a love for athletic exercises thatour Scottish national sports are of most value. There are many other athletic exercises that will strengthen every part of the body, besides the featsincluded in a programme of Scottish games. But these lasthave the follow­ ing merits :—Theyare easily learned; they require strength, grace, and skill; where apparatus is needed it is mostly of a simple andinexpensive kind, within the reach of all; a suitable place forholding them can be found in every parish at little or no expense. The resultis that while our Scottishgames afford full scope for a gathering that shall bring together the best athletes, musicians, and dancers from every part of Scotland, supported by the highest patronage, they can be successfully got up in a single parish, and in some instances more than one successful gathering is held yearly in the same parish. The result isthat most or all of the athletic feats, the dancing,and music that make up the programme of our Scottishgames, are practised more orless all over the country by the greatmass of the people. These games have b come partof our national life, and it is of national importance that, by encouraging what is good in them, and repressing what is evil, they may be made more and more ameans ofimproving us as individuals and as a nation. For contests that do not rouse our evil passions, but excite high spirited rivalry to excel in manly athletic feats, in graceful joyous dances and heart-stirring music, are calculated to benefit us physically, morally, and intellectually.