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.

Hardie, (James) Keir - 1856 -- 1915

British politician, born near Holytown, North Lanarkshire, C Scotland, UK. He worked in the mines between the ages of seven and 24, and was victimized as the miners' champion. He became a journalist and the first Labour candidate, entering parliament in 1892. He founded and edited the Labour Leader, and was chairman of the Independent Labour Party (founded January 13 1893). Instrumental in the establishment of the Labour Representation Committee, he served as chairman of the Labour Party (1906--8). His strong pacifism led to his becoming isolated within the Party, particularly once World War 1 had broken out Source: http://search.biography.com/print_record.pl?id=5404

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.

Seasons, Wind and Weather (cont.)

Would ye partake of harvest's joys,
The corn must be sown in Spring.
Thomas Carlyle (1795-1881), The Sower's Song

Is there any light quite like the June sun of the North and West? It takes trouble out of the world.
Sir Frank Fraser Darting (1903-1979), Island Days

The licht begouth to quinkle out and fail,
The day to darken, decline and devaill...
Up goes the bat, with her pelit leathern flycht,
The lark descendis from the skyis hycht
Singand her complin song efter her guise
Gavin Douglas (1475-1522), Prologue to the Aeneid, on a June Evening

Ri Fuachd Callainn, 's math clò ollainn

For New Year cold, good is woollen cloth

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