Blue Gowns

a term applied to a class of privileged beggars in Scotland. Each had his district and made the rounds with regularity carrying the news, and not infrequently making himself very useful. No gentlemen thought of refusing a blue gown his regular present. He was theoretically welcome at every fireside, and was supposed to know the history of each person and event far and near, being, in fact, a sort of walking newspaper. For a further account the reader is referred to Edie Ochiltree, the famous character in Scott's tale of the Antiquary.