Wichita eagle., 1889-01-26

Scotch people. They are famed for class
of national airs OF a style and structure
that is peculiar of wild, dignified,
strongly-marked and expressive character.
And the influence these songs exercise on
the Scots character is confesSedly great.
| The pictures of heroism, love and happi-
ness exhibited in their song are indellibly
impressed in the memory and elevate the
| mind of the hunblest person. United
with their appropriate music they affect
the sons OF Scotia when far distant from
| their native glens aud majestic mountains
with undesirable feelings and excite as
pirations of most romantic adventure
The practice of advancing 10 battle with
songs of Indictment and defiance was
truly Celtic. The bards conducted the
| music and by different modulations and
| changes in the air the troops were led to
advance or retreat.
The great Highland pipe is national
instrument; it is used alone in Scotland.
| And in halls of JOY in scenes OF mourning,
4 it has heralded. 1t has animated her
warriors in battle and welcomed them back
after their tolls to the homes of their
and the hills of their nativity. Its strains
| were the first sounded on their ears of in
fancy and they are the last TO be forgotten
| in the wanderings of age. Even High
| landers will allow that it is not the gen.
| test OF instruments, but when lar from
their mountain homes what sounds how
| ever melodious could thrill round their
| hearts like one burst of their native pipe?
| The feelings that other instruments awak-
en- are general and underlined because they
| talk alike to Frenchmen. Spaniard, Ger
| man and Highlander, but the bagpipe is
sacred to Scotland and speaks language
which Scotchmen alone feel. 1t talks to
them of home and all the past, and brings
before them in the burning shores of In
dia the wild hills and oft frequented
or If friends ar
thinking OF them and the sweethearts and
wives that are weeping for them there,
and, need it be told here, to how many
fields of danger and victory its strains
have led? There is not battle that is
honorable to Britain in which its war
instrument has been hushed by the con-
fusion and carnage of the scene it has been
borne into the thick of battle and far in
the advance its bleeding but desolate bear
er, sinking on the earth, has sounded at
once encouragement to his countrymen
and his own cOronarch.
Scotland has distinguished herself also
in the field of literature as in the field
of war and song. Burns, whose
anniversary we celebrate tonight was a
poet and a Scotohman. And tho not
quoted as universally, perhaps, as Shak-
speare, slill his sengs are household words.
How wonderfully true to nature and ex-
and lifts our ideas of the talents and in
telligence of the Scottish peasantry. What
melody, what fun, what joy, what sorrow,
what pathos, what fire, what patrotismi
He sings them all Wonderful man! He
is enshrined in all our. hearts and his
poetry and songs will never pass away
from the memory of man.
The hospitality of the Scot is proverbal
and dates back to the ancient Celts. A
uniform practice among them was to
leave their doors open night and day that
the traveller may obtain shelter and enter
tainment. Being of social nature they
INDUCED in frequent festivities and plenty
of liquor was Important Without this
adjunct it could be no feast. They often
met for a carousal and they enjoyed them
selves at such times heartily. They con-
tinued to sit and drink and converse on
various matters and the more they talked
the more subjects for conversation arose,
and they would occasionally spend days
aud nights over the bottle. The famous
Lord Lovar is a striking example of
genuine chief of the old school. He
gave an entertainment to which
all the country around was invited. The
Lairds sat towards the head of the head of
the table and drank claret with the host.
Next to them were seated the DUN vassals
who drank whisky punch. The tenants
who were beneath these were supplied
with ale, and at the bottom, and even out
side, a multitude of the clan RECALLED them
selves wilh bread and cheese and table
beer Lovant, addressing one class, would
say, Cousins, told the servants to hand
you wine, but they tell me you like punch
best" TO others, Gentlemen, there is
what you please at your service. but | send
you ale, as | know you prefer it" Wichita
cousins, which do you prefer? Claret,
Scotch punch or ale or water, with either
of which let us drink to old, old Scotland
the home of the brave and the land of
free.
pen" by B. Arnott and recitation, Tam
O'Shanter," by D. j. Wallace.
Mr.. Chairman and Sons OF CALEDONIA:
| respond at this time with some degree
of hesitation and temerity.
| respond to sentiment and society
that represents the patriotic aspirations of
an heroic people. L have the privilege as
an American citizen to speak In the spirit
of the American constitution, which
soil of the republic, which proclaims
to the oppressed sons of Scotia
and of Erin's isle, and of arbitrary and
military oppressed Germany, that the
moment he sets foot on the soil of our con- |
tinent, that the earth wherein he treads is !
holy and consecrated to the genius of uni |
versal liberty.
No matter in what language his doom |
may have been pronounced; no matter on |
what disaterious battle ground his liberty |
may have been clOyen down; no matter IL |
he may have been born under an African |
or an Indian sun; no matter what COM !
pleXion incom batabie with freedom, the |
moment he sets foot on American soil the |
altar and the god sink together in the |
dust, and lis body swells beyond the meas
ure of his chains and he stands redeemed, |
and disenthraIled by the ire |
stable genius of the patriotism OF the |
American freeman. Some men have |
taken rank with the great because they |
have Mortified and terroriZed the world; !
some because they have abused the world /
and every thing that is holy and lovely in |
it: some, much the smaller number have |
been lauded to the skies and stars because
they carried hearts that beat IN holy uni |
son with its great pure and holy aspira-
tions.
Sons of Scotio, You have carved mark
Oh this glorious continent an indelible
stamp of progress and grandeur greater,
yrander and more sublime than the Col
.ossus of Rhodes.
We do not forget the valiant and heroic
Paul Jones and his glorious Bonhomme
Richard in our revolution against
nation whose victorious arms had
terrified the world Americans will not
forget the patriotic General Mcpherson
and his heroic death that this republic
might live. Welcome. sons OF Scotland
and the land of patriotic mase; thrice well
,ome TO the land of the free and the home
If the brave, whose flag you held in one
lsnd and the torch of battle in the other.
Fou rushed on the magazine of foreign
iespotism and amid the terrible explosions
and the conflagration you inscribed liberty
ln the flag of the union and left 1t TO wave
n triumph over the blood stained ruins of
usurpation.
He was followed by the soug America"