BACK BITE

May 25, 1899

n THE Herald reported: ''A pedlar named John Kerr, belonging to Kilmarnock, was discovered in a very enfeebled state in a pighouse at Netherwood farm, a few miles south of Dumfries. He seems to have crept into the pighouse on Sunday night unobserved, and it was not until the following afternoon that attention was attracted to his presence by his groans.

''He was then suffering from a sharp attack of bronchitis. Some warm tea was brought to him, and Dr Kerr was sent for. But before medical assistance could arrive - in the evening - the poor fellow had died in his last place of shelter. He was 48 years of age. A pedlar's certificate in his pocket bore to have been granted at Abernethy, Invernesshire, in October 1895.''

n THE Herald also reported: ''Sir Donald Currie's fine steam yacht Iolaire, which has just returned from a three months' cruise in the Mediterranean and other waters with a party including Dr Jameson and Mr A Beits, put into Gourock Bay yesterday.

''In a day or two she will be joined by Sir Donald and party, who will proceed on a two months' cruise to Scalpa, after which the vessel will be docked. Mr Kenneth M Clark's new steam yacht Katoomba arrived at Greenock yesterday from the Mediterranean, and after passing the Customs went down to Largs.''

n ''M D'' of Glasgow wrote to the Editor of The Herald. ''I have often wondered why lavatories are so rare for women and so comparatively common for men in Glasgow.''