The Athletes and Athletic Sports of Scotland

P R E F A C E . •o WHILE half-a-dozen books have been written on Curling and four on Golf within little more than a dozen years— three of these within three years—no attempt has been made to give a detailed account of the Athletic Sports of Scotland. Yet these sports, combined with Bagpipe- playing and Dancing, are as characteristic of Scotland as Curling or Golf, and are far more widely diffused and generally practised. For one who practises Curling or Golf,there are ten who practise one or other of the events that form the programme of Scottish Games. Every county has one or more such Gatherings, and in some counties there is more than one in the same parish. There is hardly a trade or profession in Scotland that does not include one or more athletes, musicians, or dancers, who have competed at some Gathering. The Gatherings are patronised by all classes of Her Majesty's subjects, and, in a special manner, by Her Majesty herself. The author feels, therefore, that no excuse is needed for writing a treatise on a subject that forms so characteristic a feature of the national life of Scotland. His excuse for its imperfections is that he has done his best with the materials at his command. W. M'C. S. PERSIE, BLAIRGOWRIE.