Writings – Page 51 – Barrowsgate

A cautionary tale of beetles, bugs and insects and how to deal with them. The context for this bittie was the Colorado Beetle (Scotland) Order of 1933, brought in to combat the Colorado beetle which, as Barrowsgate notes, could have decimated potato crop.

The Repeal of Prohibition in America

Sep 22, 1933

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in Bitties Fae Barrowsgate, Observations, Writings

In 1933, the USA repealed the alcohol prohibition laws that had been in place since 1919. Barrowsgate notes that Scottish distilleries are working overtime to keep up with the demand and that the repeal is good news for Scotland.

The Scots – Their Reet an’ Rise

Sep 15, 1933

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in Bitties Fae Barrowsgate, Observations, Writings

Barrowsgate is not impressed with an account of a talk given by Lord Raglan at the British Association (for the Advancement of Science) in which he suggests that the Scots are not an ancient race. With a combination of logic and the Old Testament, Barrowsgate demolishes Raglan’s argument. Like Lewis Grassic Gibbon, Lord Raglan was…

The Silvery Dee

Sep 8, 1933

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in Other verse, Verse, Writings

Barrowsgate, abroad, misses his true love and the river Dee. A draft of this verse called “The Exile’s Farewell” predates this version.

Ase Backets!

Sep 8, 1933

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in Bitties Fae Barrowsgate, Observations, Other verse, Verse, Writings

Aberdeen Council is apparently making money from refuse – including ash buckets. An early example of refuse recycling.

The Pleasin’ Wife

Aug 1, 1933

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in Other verse, Verse, Writings

The lady that ran the local shop is sorely missed when she dies

Twice Wintin’

Aug 1, 1933

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in Other verse, Verse, Writings

Les, the new landlord of the Cleekim Inn doesn’t offer credit. One day, a customer asks for a gill of whisky and throws some coins on the bar. Before Les can count it, the customer downs the whisky and tries to leave. Les stops him and says “you’re short” but the customer says “it’s not…