The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1882-10-25
The B ag-PiperS

The fact North Carolina was 50 large
" settled by the sons OF Aud Scotia =
both scotch and-Irish' and scotch
Covenantcrs, and Loyal Hghlan-
ders, I" will impart an interest to the fol
lowing =
Ever since the former homes Of the
IIiyhandcrs have been converted into
sheep farms. and sporting grounds for
the production OF game. it has been the
fashion i'll other portions OF Britain To
speak disparagingly Of the IIi-hlandcrS.
But when there is national danger
around, and hot work to be done. tie
military authorities generally know
where to find the Highland regiments
and where to place them. The Thanks
of IIlghlanders are also due To YOU for
your kindly allu>ion to the Lagpipcs.
which. no doubt. contributed its own
share To the heroic performed by the
| Highland Brigade at Tcl-cl-kebir last
week. rs II is well known that the bay
onet charge OF Il Highland brigade to the
| ltavourile and inspiring tune 81 "Tubcr-
| Fctdh' Is simply Irresistible. But ii is
80 seldom that public writers accord
any merit to this great national instru-
ment. or admit that there j. any music
IN ii. that you must accept our special
thanks for your kindly allusiou H. III. ~
Saxon. or even uucUltiyatet Scottish
ears. there may appear no music in the
ba@-pipe; but the true child Of the noun
tain, the glen, and the heather il j, tulI
Of soul-stirring melody, The following
graphic description Of the bagpipc TN
the Rev, DR.. McI.achlan. in the History
of the Scottish IIi@hlandcrs. etc. vol. J..
page Ito. and which may be new r.
many of Your readers. j. 81 much to the
point that | venture to ask Your in~cr-
ton of il in connection With the recent
British victory under Sir Garnet WulSc-
ley in Egypt THE Bagpipc, The
effects OF this national instrument in
arOu>ing the feelings Of those who have
from infancy been accustomed To its
wild and waTlikc tones are truly aston
ishfng. In halls OF JOY and scenes OF
mourning il has prevailed; it ha. anima-
ted >cotland's warrior, in battle, and
welcomed them back after thoir tolls 10
the homes of their luye and the hills of
Their nativity. IL strains were the first
sounded on the ears OF infancy. and thcy
are the last to be forgotten in the Wan-
derings Of old age Even High.audcr~
will allow that it j. not the quicteSt Of
instruments. but when far from their
native homes, what sounds. however
melodious. could thrill round their hearts
like one burst Of their wild native pipe.
The feelings which other Instruments
awaken are general and underlined. be-
cause they talked alike T. Frcnchmen,
>paniard-, Germans IIigllandcrs, for
they are common to all-but the ha--
pipe j. sacre 10 Scotland. and speaks a
language which >cotsmcn only feel. II
talks to them ., home and All the past.
and brn-- before them. on the burning
shores ~ India. the wild and ott-.re-
qucutcd streams of Caledonia, the friends
that are thinking Of them, and tho sweet
hearts and wIYta that are weeping for
them; and need il told here TO how
many fields of danger and victory its
proud strains have led: There j not q
battle that i honorable to Britain ia
which its war blast has not sounded.
When every other Instrument ha- been
hu>hed IN the confusion aud carnage ot
the scene il Las been borne iutn the
thicke-t OF the battle, and lar II the adj
vance 1t, bleeding but devoted bearer.
sinking to the earth lIa- sounded at once
encouragement u hi, coGntrymen and
hi- own cOroaach.