Such acts of courtesy came natural to Colonel Wauchope: they were not put on for occasion. Whether in openhanded generosity and hospitality, or in the mere opening of a gate, he exemplified Emerson's idea of what a gentleman should be. As that writer expresses it, 'When I view the fine gentleman with regard to his manners, methinks I see him modest without bashfulness; frank and affable without impertinence; obliging and complaisant without servility; cheerful and in good humour without noise. These amiable qualities are not easily obtained, neither are there many men that have a faculty to excel this way. A finished gentleman is perhaps the most uncommon of all the characters in life.' [Sidenote: The miners' strike] Colonel Wauchope stood well by the miners through their long enforced idleness, with all its concomitant troubles, and when the time of distress was at last over and the pits had resumed work, the men determined to show their appreciation of his conduct by a public recognition of their esteem. On the 3rd May 1895, a large gathering took place in the New Craighall schoolroom, presided over by the manager of the works, when an illuminated address expressive of their gratitude, affection, and admiration, was presented to him in a silver-mounted casket. That he valued such an expression of affection from 'his own people,' as he liked to call them, goes without saying. In acknowledging the gift he said: 'This address will stand foremost among our household gods. On the face of it is a view of the old house of Niddrie, where for centuries my forefathers have lived before me. I will say that in distant lands and in moments of danger, my thoughts have always been of my old home and the people of Niddrie and this neighbourhood. And as to my poor services, I feel proud when they are brought to the {140} notice of my own people in my own country. And you may depend, that when the hour of danger is, if there is one thing that supports me in that hour, it is the knowledge that those at home are thinking about me, and should I fall, that their thoughts would be kindly towards me when I am no more.' Referring to a passage in the address that spoke of his relationship as owner of the soil to his dependants being ever of a kindly nature, he said: 'I would be no man at all if I were not pleased to hear that.' Then as for the unfortunate strike some months ago: 'I knew there were difficulties, and I stepped forward in a small way to try and help my countrymen and women. As for strikes, I don't like them. They are not good for our pockets, they are not good for our tempers, and they are unfortunate in every respect. It is an ill wind that blows nobody good, however, and that strike has done this good for me--it has given me this presentation, which shall for ever be valued. The strike will also have done good to the community, inasmuch as it has shown that when difficulties are around