I imagine the first question anyone will ask is what is a column called "Scottish Flotsam". I guess we will have to begin with what is "flotsam". Among the definitions of the word are "things washed ashore" or "miscellaneous trifles". Well, we believe you can find some great treasure on the ocean shore. But -- you will never know what you will find or its value. So we decided that is what this column is - flotsam. We wanted a place to put things that didn't fit anywhere else and might be of interest. Each item could be a column itself and might be some day but for now it will be the flotsam, which washes our way.

Lets begin with a famous Scot.

Rev. Patrick Bell (1799 - 1869)

Invented the reaping machine which was a direct precursor of the modern combine harvester. Born in Auchterhouse, near Dundee, he studied divinity at St Andrews University. Although designed in 1827, it was not until 1843 when Bell was ordained as minister at Carmyllie (near Arbroath), that the machine was brought into general use, following years of testing.

His original machine was purchased by the Science Museum in London (1869), with a smaller model going to the Royal Scottish Museum (1870) which is now displayed in the Scottish Agricultural Museum. Bell's workbench and tools can be seen at the Angus Folk Museum at Glamis.

He is buried at Carmyllie Church, where he is commemorated in the windows of the church

It is time to stop combing the library but we can not quit without some quotes from Quotable Scots another great History bookshelf resident. Let's see what quotes we can find.

PLACES

To imagine Edinburgh as a disappointed spinster, with a hare-lip and inhibitions, is at least to approximate as closely to the truth as to image the Prime Mover as a Levantine Semite.
Lewis Grassic Gibbon (fames Leslie Mitchell, 1901-1935) , Scottish Scene

Isna Embro a glorious city!
James Hogg (1770-1835)

Three crests against the saffron sky
Beyond the purple plain
Andrew Long (1844-1912), Twilight on Tweed

We seemed to stand an endless while,
Though still no word was said,
Three men alive on Flannan Isle,
Who thought on three men dead.
Wilfred Gibson (1878-1962), Flannan Isle

Now for a Gaelic Proverb for this month.

Oidhche Shamhna, theirear gamhna ris na laoigh;
Oidhch' Fhèill Eòin, theirear aighena ris na gamhna.		 — On Hallowe'en the calf is called a stirk;
On St John's Eve the stirk is called a heifer.

You can find more articles in the archive under Scottish Flotsam.

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October 1, 2004