THE BLACK BREAD CONTROVERSY.
[To TEE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."]
Sus,—If Radical partisans have any saving sense of humour left, perhaps the following extract from Sir Walter Scott's "Old Mortality" may suit their present contention. Niel Blane, the prudent host of the • Howff,' had been requisitioned for provisions by the Covenanters and the King's troops after the skirmish at Drumclog. Whereupon the following conver- sation took place between him and his daughter Jenny :—
" 'And what are we to eat oursells then, father,' asked Jenny, when we hue sent awn the hail meal in the ark and the girnel ? ' We maim gar wheat-flour serve us for a blink,' said Niel, in a tone of resignation : 'it's no that ill food, though far free being sae hearty or kindly to a Seotehman's stamack, as the curney aitmeal is ; the Englishers live amaist upOn't; but, to be sure, the pock-puddings ken nae better.' "„
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