Category: Observations
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Soothing Syrup
Barrowsgate eavesdrops on a conversation on the bus between two women, one of whom thinks she has got herself a coat at a bargain price. Note: An English language version of this was published in the Buchan Observer on 09 February 1937 in the ANZAC column.
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An Echo of Muckle Friday
Two of Barrowsgate’s newspaper colleagues decide to go to Muckle Fair in Aberdeen, pretending to be Buchan farm labourers looking for work. “Muckle Friday” was originally held in medieval times at the festival of Michaelmas on 29 September when the produce of the harvest would be sold in the stalls of the markets, and labourers…
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Thrift
Barrowsgate thinks that Mrs B is fairly thrifty, but knows of a lady in Torry who could teach her a thing or two.
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Beauty Unadorned
Barrowsgate is surprised to hear from a stranger on the train that he is not as handsome as he thought he was. He asks the readers what they think.
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The Third Degree
Barrowsgate describes the ideal characteristics of a Policeman. Note: An English language version of this was published in the Buchan Observer on 26 January 1937 in the ANZAC column.
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Sheiks and Shekels
Barrowsgate eavesdrops on a conversation between two farmers on the bus. One of them is so mean to his wife that he takes her false teeth with him when he goes out, to stop her eating.
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The Rainmakers
The context for this Bittie was the Water Supplies (Exceptional Shortage Orders) Bill of April 1934, which introduced powers to regulate the use of water. As it turned out, it began to rain heavily no sooner than the Bill had been passed.
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An Apology
Barrowsgate gets his neighbour’s wife’s photo published in the newspaper but she’s none too pleased about it.