The Essential Scot
By LEWIS SPENCE
N E has always felt that the salient characteristic of the Scot is his attitude of mental and moral superiority. That this had its beginnings in a distant acceptance of Calvinistic dogma is only partly true, for the national struggle against English aggression unques- tionably aroused sentiments of self-reliance and personal value. But that the Calvinistic doctrine of election quickened in the Scot an indwelling belief in his superior moral worth cannot be questioned. In the nature of things no man could credit that he was not of the elect, and the consciousness of election induced a fierce con- tempt for all who were not supposed to share it. Even today its results are noticeable in certain middle-class, and particularly in lower middle-class, circles in Scotland, where a quite amusing air of rectitude and priggish self- satisfaction is to be observed.
One of the most pronounced results of this hereditary amour propre is the Scot's certainty of success in worldly affairs. To him failure seems impossible. This explains much of his sense of the infallibility of his own powers. It also makes for conscientious performance.. The best type of Scot is a tireless and reliable worker, methodical and conscientious, who, indeed, regards toil as the very charter by which he holds existence. It would be absurd to pretend that matters in this regard are as they were thirty years ago ; still, from most careful observation, one believes that the standard of workmanship and faith- ful industrial performance is at present much higher in Scotland than elsewhere.
The Scot carries a pretty heavy burden of conscience and the memory of a thorough if sententious home- training. But it dots not carry him, as do certain codes and regimens the individual, noticeably the English public school system. He wields it, and is its apostle, not its creature. As Kipling says of his prospective benedict, " he must be a man of weight." Esteem is the Scot's food. If, by the period of middle life, he has not achieved a measure of it, he sometimes loses face, and grows resentful and misanthropic.
With the exception of a few thousands in Edinburgh and Glasgow, the great mass of the Scottish people is still very much in a peasant condition of mentality, although this phase is rapidly breaking down because of the rush to urban districts. This is chiefly demonstrated by their attitude to the amenities of existence, and espe- cially toward the considerations of Art, few European peoples being so low in the scale of aesthetic appreciation and understanding. The ears of the mass of our folk are sealed to finer nuances and their eyes are blinded to finer shade:. Yet they have a true tenderness for simple beauty, and a prepotent sentiment for the loveliness of nature, and their innate spirituality and sharp sense of the remote are not to be questioned. They are a nation of potential artists and seers, temporarily obfuscated by a way of life thrust upon them by necessity, and awaiting manumission. for the resumption of mighty spiritual adventures.
His confidence in himself notwithstanding, the in- telligence of the Scot is evilly traversed by his tendency to self-exercise and prolonged consideration. He is seldom clear upon great spiritual issues, and if he pretends to be, he.is dishonest with himself. The dual nature of his mentality is apparent in his attitude to most major issues. Unlike his English neighbour, he finds it difficult to compromise ; and if he does so, there is trouble later on. He is not nearly so practical as the English believe ; indeed, he is much less practical than they, although, out of his milieu, he is adaptable enough. In some social grades he is wearisomely and aggressively argumentative. Oddly enough, lie frequently exhibits a superficial tendency to a species of sub-intelligence reminiscent of the fox-terrier, as one of his most acute critics has said, and he places a quite ridiculous value upon knowledge of persons and their affairs. Scotland is, indeed, a great whispering-gallery, and gossip is one of the outstanding national vices.
Of course, there is a correct and an entirely mistaken view of what is known as " Scotch meanness." The Scot is not nearly so prodigal with his spare cash as the Midlander, and not half so " close " as the native Cockney or Yorkshireman. The truth is that Scottish people of nearly all classes are trained to save from an early age. But any who have experienced the overflowing and even wasteful hospitality of Glasgow or Dundee will not soon forget its ridiculous excess. It is the Scot of the lower middle class, and more particularly the Scot from the far north, who has won for his fellow-countrymen a reputation for meanness and " slimness."
I believe that a great deal of the Scot's philosophical quality arises out of his intellectual confidence. He is much too intellectually proud to be beaten, and will continue to wrestle with a problem until he has mastered it. Moreover, he is genuinely interested in the obscure, and enjoys its clarification.
As regards vices of the mind, suspicion and jealousy are by far his worst. To be quite frank, I feel that my fellow-countrymen suffer from these primitive weaknesses to a degree so excessive as to group them in this respect with certain savages of a low type—and with the Irish. Nowhere is suspicion so rampant, so heartless, or so wanton. And yet the Scottish people are con- spicuously, a kindly folk, neighbourly, companionable, merciful and the most humane in Europe. Nor is there any country where persecution of any sort, either public or private, arouses greater indignation.
Is the Scot dour and surly ? By no means. He fraternizes much more readily and heartily than the Englishman. Dourness I have found to be synonymous . with a barbaric shyness for the most part. We must remember, too, that many Scots revel in their dignity, especially if they belong to the municipal classes. Many of these resemble the German burgomaster type, and are by no means unworthy descendants of Bailie Nicol Jarvie. Indeed, a salient, type in Scotland today is the " Buddy," who, if he has done his country yeoman service, should surely now consider the propriety of dying out. He is " clogging the wheels," and is tiresome and antiquated without being ornamental.
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