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to the reader some idea of the ardency and thoroughness with which he
threw himself into the largest and least of his multifarious engagements in
this service。 But first I must say a word or two upon the life of
lightkeepers； and the temptations to which they are more particularly
exposed。 The lightkeeper occupies a position apart among men。 In sea…
towers the complement has always been three since the deplorable
business in the Eddystone； when one keeper died； and the survivor；
signalling in vain for relief； was compelled to live for days with the dead
body。 These usually pass their time by the pleasant human expedient of
quarrelling； and sometimes； I am assured； not one of the three is on
speaking terms with any other。 On shore stations； which on the Scottish
coast are sometimes hardly less isolated； the usual number is two； a
principal and an assistant。 The principal is dissatisfied with the assistant；
or perhaps the assistant keeps pigeons； and the principal wants the water
from the roof。 Their wives and families are with them； living cheek by
jowl。 The children quarrel； Jockie hits Jimsie in the eye； and the mothers
make haste to mingle in the dissension。 Perhaps there is trouble about a
broken dish； perhaps Mrs。 Assistant is more highly born than Mrs。
Principal and gives herself airs； and the men are drawn in and the servants
presently follow。 ‘Church privileges have been denied the keeper's and
the assistant's servants；' I read in one case； and the eminently Scots
periphrasis means neither more nor less than excommunication； ‘on
account of the discordant and quarrelsome state of the families。 The
cause； when inquired into； proves to be TITTLE…TATTLE on both sides。'
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The tender comes round； the foremen and artificers go from station to
station； the gossip flies through the whole system of the service； and the
stories； disfigured and exaggerated； return to their own birthplace with the
returning tender。 The English Board was apparently shocked by the
picture of these dissensions。 ‘When the Trinity House can；' I find my
grandfather writing at Beachy Head； in 1834； ‘they do not appoint two
keepers； they disagree so ill。 A man who has a family is assisted by his
family； and in this way； to my experience and present observation； the
business is very much neglected。 One keeper is； in my view； a bad
system。 This day's visit to an English lighthouse convinces me of this； as
the lightkeeper was walking on a staff with the gout； and the business
performed by one of his daughters； a girl of thirteen or fourteen years of
age。' This man received a hundred a year！ It shows a different reading
of human nature； perhaps typical of Scotland and England； that I find in
my grandfather's diary the following pregnant entry： ‘THE
LIGHTKEEPERS； AGREEING ILL； KEEP ONE ANOTHER TO THEIR
DUTY。' But the Scottish system was not alone founded on this cynical
opinion。 The dignity and the comfort of the northern lightkeeper were
both attended to。 He had a uniform to ‘raise him in his own estimation；
and in that of his neighbour； which is of consequence to a person of trust。
The keepers；' my grandfather goes on； in another place； ‘are attended to in
all the detail of accommodation in the best style as shipmasters； and this is
believed to have a sensible effect upon their conduct； and to regulate their
general habits as members of society。' He notes； with the same dip of ink；
that ‘the brasses were not clean； and the persons of the keepers not TRIG'；
and thus we find him writing to a culprit： ‘I have to complain that you are
not cleanly in your person； and that your manner of speech is ungentle；
and rather inclines to rudeness。 You must therefore take a different view
of your duties as a lightkeeper。' A high ideal for the service appears in
these expressions； and will be more amply illustrated further on。 But
even the Scottish lightkeeper was frail。 During the unbroken solitude of
the winter months； when inspection is scarce possible； it must seem a vain
toil to polish the brass hand…rail of the stair； or to keep an unrewarded vigil
in the light…room； and the keepers are habitually tempted to the beginnings
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RECORDS OF A FAMILY OF ENGINEERS
of sloth； and must unremittingly resist。 He who temporises with his
conscience is already lost。 I must tell here an anecdote that illustrates the
difficulties of inspection。 In the days of my uncle David and my father
there was a station which they regarded with jealousy。 The two engineers
compared notes and were agreed。 The tower was always clean； but
seemed always to bear traces of a hasty cleansing； as though the keepers
had been suddenly forewarned。 On inquiry； it proved that such was the
case； and that a wandering fiddler was the unfailing harbinger of the
engineer。 At last my father was storm…stayed one Sunday in a port at the
other side of the island。 The visit was quite overdue； and as he walked
across upon the Monday morning he promised himself that he should at
last take the keepers unprepared。 They were both waiting for him in
uniform at the gate； the fiddler had been there on Saturday！
My grandfather； as will appear from the following extracts； was much
a martinet； and had a habit of expressing himself on paper with an almost
startling emphasis。 Personally； with his powerful voice； sanguine
countenance； and eccentric and original locutions； he was well qualified to
inspire a salutary terror in the service。
‘I find that the keepers have； by some means or another； got into the
way of cleaning too much with rotten…stone and oil。 I take the principal
keeper to TASK on this subject； and make him bring a clean towel and
clean one of the brazen frames； which leaves the towel in an odious state。
This towel I put up in a sheet of paper； seal； and take with me to confront
Mr。 Murdoch； who has just left the station。' ‘This letter' … a stern
enumeration of complaints … ‘to lie a week on the light…room book…place；
and to be put in the Inspector's hands when he comes round。' ‘It is the
most painful thing that can occur for me to have a correspondence of this
kind with any of the keepers； and when I come to the Lighthouse； instead
of having the satisfaction to meet them with approbation； it is distressing
when one is obliged to put on a most angry countenance and demeanour；
but from such culpable negligence as you have shown there is no avoiding
it。 I hold it as a fixed maxim that； when a man or a family put on a
slovenly appearance in their houses； stairs； and lanterns； I always find their
reflectors； burners； windows； and light in general； ill attended to； and；
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