a building there which certainly has not befooled the fine
old site. Over the two garden wall doors on the seaside may
be found various carvings and scriptural mottoes set up by
Mr Ford in 1872.
THE LAND o' CAKES.
Who has not heard of the " Land o' Cakes "? This
is a two-storied block which stands about the centre of the
town on the north side, overlooking the sea. There is a fine
warm feeling attached to the name, and in the days that are
gone the hungry, no doubt, would be tempted to seek out the
place with the expectation of finding something to eat; but
it was a place for the drouthy rather. Old Forbes got a license
to deal in spirituous liquors here, and he being a man of
humour, and his wife a famous baker of oatmeal cakes, he in
honour of his better-half's abilities entitled his "public"
"The Land o' Cakes." Forbes himself was a salter,
and regularly followed out his employment. It is said that
he liked a "drap o' his ain stuff," and ilka morning
on going in to breakfast he had to get a slockener. If what
his guidwife Barbara set down to him was not altogether to
his taste, "Babbie," he would say, " that's
a puir breakfast this mornin', ye had better gie's a bit glass,
I think, to help it." Another morning, if the dish supplied
happened to be nice, " Ay, Babbie," he would say,
" that's a grand breakfast; I think it deserves a bit
glass to keep it company." The "Land o' Cakes"
did not only keep a good dram, but it was a " house of
credit" too, especially for the salters. There was no
bookkeeping, but every penny was chalked down behind the door;
and all the chalk marks had to be washed out on the Saturday
night, otherwise there were no more drams for the forgetful.
RINGAN'S HOLE.
There does not seem to be much of a mystery about " Ringan's
Hole" after all. In the years that are gone, a rough-looking
block of buildings stood overlooking the beach at this particular
spot. The block comprised a famous public-house, owned and
held for a great many years by one " Ringan." In
those days, as now, the "game of golf" was a very
favourite pastime here; so much so, that daily, as soon as
the tide went back, the game was wont to be taken up by the
golfers along the beach. It must have been a very rough course,
but there were quite a number of holes. One of these was cut
out directly opposite the public house door; and so it was
christened " Ringan's Hole, " and " Ringan's
Hole" the spot remains to this day. Mr Gib was the last
occupant of a house which stood till recently showing the
site of Ringan's block.
LICENSED HOUSES.
About the middle of last century there were no less than twenty-four
licensed spirit and ale houses in the parish. Now, with a
much larger population, there are seven of these: three are
public houses, where the indulger may, if he pleases, sit
down and take a dram; and four are licensed grocers, where
the drouthie passerby must go outside and take his dram. It
looks funny, doesn't it? and why it should be so we can't
tell. Langsyne the tippler could gulp it over at once if he
were needfu', no matter where he bought it. Oh ! poor despised
tippler.
THE CASTLE o' CLOUTS.
The Castle o' Clouts is a two-storied building a little to
the east of Grant's Hotel. To those unacquainted with the
locality the name betokens some very old and ready to "topple
over" structure; but the name belies the building, because,
if not a handsome, it is a sturdy-looking block. This is how
it got the name. Auld Tarn Rodger, a jobbing tailor, lived
in the upper storey a great many years ago. " Claes ta
Clout" was the sign-board he hung over his door, and
"Claes ta Clout" was his cry some days as he trudged
along the street. In course of time his business increased
so much that he was compelled to employ a good many assistants.
The clothes he got in to mend were daily hung outside the
building, and when any of his customers wished to know if
his " claes were clouted, " he just slipped along
and cast an eye over the stock as it flaunted in the air.
A wag one day on passing inquired at a bystander if this was
"a castle o' clouts, " and the Castle o' Clouts
it remains.
PIPER'S WYND.
This old close lies a little to the east of Harlo Hill, on
the same side, and it derived its name from Ralstone's old
public-house there. On his sign-board stood a piper in gaudy
attire,
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