42
"Woman's Truth," contains the word "rattoun," as applied to and meaning a woman. In Balzac's "Harlot's Progress" (J. M. Dent & Co.'s 1896 edition), at page 14, the word "rat" is used in alluding to a young woman. It may have been a slang term somewhat similar to the word "maul," which is in common use in designating their sweethearts by the lower order of youths in this city at the present day. Slang as a rule only lives for a season, but there are exceptions, a]id in this case it is quite evident that in these far-back days "rat," "ratton," "rattoun," be they slang or not, were terms signifying and applied to young women. This, I think, clearly establishes the fact that the Ilattoun Row was the woman's row or ladies' mile of that period, and there are good reasons to support this theory, from the fact that in its pristine days the Row occupied the best natural position in the township. Being situated on the ridge of a hill, with a southern exposure, which guaranteed a dry site for dwellings, and with the gardens of the Deanery spread out on the slope below, it certainly was the most attractive street in the town, and as such would naturally become the favourite parade of the ladies, hence the name. In fact, the thoroughfare retained its favourable character up till within the last seventy or eighty years, when the residenters were in the habit of letting their houses as summer quarters, advertisements anent which can be seen in old files of the Glasgow Herald. The University commenced its career in a small building in this street in 1454, and this also might be adduced as another proof in favour of the locality.
Ruchill, originally Roughill, was in the seventeenth century the property of the Peadies, who were at that time a leading family in Glasgow, but has since then been held successively by the Dreghorn, Dennistoun, and Dundas families. From the last it was acquired by purchase early in last century by the late James Davidson; but he, having built a residence at Wemyss Bay, resided mostly there, and Ruchill House was long tenanted by the late J. H. Young, a well-known manufacturer in the city. In 1893 the Corporation purchased for a public park, from the trustees of Mr. Davidson, 53 acres of the demesne at the price of £29,176 5s., on part of which they have since built an extensive hospital.
