LANDOWNERS AND THE LAND.
[To THE EDITOR OW THE " SPECTATOR."]
Sia,---Nothing impressed me more in Scotland than the way in which lovely stretches of heather were hemmed in and barricaded by notice-boards. When I was at Oban, I endea- voured to escape inland from that somewhat contracted and unattractive little watering-place. As everybody knows, hills. lie at the back, which may be approached by winding paths looking thoroughly rural. I made the ascent, and found. myself at the melancholy carcass of a projected hydropathie establishment, whose vacant windows look towards Staffa and Iona. But beyond that neglected site progress was impossible. Paths and gates there are several, but all are labelled " Private." The restriction becomes galling, and justifies. insurrection, if not outrage, to quote Mr. Chamberlain. I simply disregarded all prohibition, and was magnificently rewarded as I walked over miles of breezy upland, from which I could see blue estuaries and purple hills, and breathe the air of the ocean. My dog accompanied me, and we seated ourselves on the topmost stone. In the midst of my enjoy- ment, the landowner appeared in the vale beneath, accompanied by the landowneress. They gesticulated, and no doubt arti- culated. I saw, but could not hear. I imagined what their feelings were, but, Conservative though I am, I confess they are feelings which I despise. The paths which were shut should have been open. The only escape for the resident in Oban from the streets of the town is by the high-road. You cannot even go along the shore to the right, it ends in private grounds, open by courtesy on given days at given hours, and those who wish to bathe have to go by steamer round the point I quite agree with you, Sir, that it is to the interest of all landowners to lynch any one of their number who stops up a. footway. I go farther, and say that it is to the interest of landowners to open as many more as they conveniently can.—
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