The morning call., 1890-04-27
COACHMAN POET
OF ROTHESAY.
Making Verses as He Drives His
Cab in the Highlands.
a Few Quotations From Some Of His Longest
Poems Showing Pathos and POwer-Ths
Isle Of Bute-A Quiet, Romantic Spot

iFT1, FTER having wandered through Scot
yfkSlg land the land Of the thistle and smoky
EVHS whisky, and finding myself again at Ed
~ nbuTgh, retraced my steps TO Glasgow,
bent upon finding some quiet, romantic spot near
there where could idle away a couple OF weeks
studying the Scotch people ana thelr everyday
life. IL was the period Of the bank holiday In
July, when every man, woman aud child In Scot
land seems to turn out for a weeks frOllc.
Consequently all the railroads. steamers,
coaches and every style of conveyance were SO
uncomfortably occupied that was not long In
settling myself in 4 quaint, Out-oi-the-way place,
which found al Ro;hesay, pleasant summer
resort, situated on Rothesay Bay, Isle OF
Butte. Unfortunately l had neglected securing
rooms In advance, SO that when l presented my
self to the pretty maid who occupied the posi-
tiOD Of hotel clerk at the Glenburn, was told
that every bed in The house was engaged and 1t
was only In consideration OF the fact that had
Travelled all the way from California for the sole
purpose OF feasting on the beauties of Scotland
that l was assigned a bedroom for the night
upon my solemn promise that l would vacate II
the next morning when the party for whom IL
had been retained was to arrive. Consequently
the following day was spent in hunting apart
ments and going 10 housekeeping on plan
which works well all through Great Britain, but
which Is unknown in this country and which
consists OF having rooms and throwing tie re-
suonsibilIty OF catering upon the generally very
obllging and always strictly honest la,.dlady.
Thai same day vel had during the morning
met friend, an American lady, who joined me
III The housekeeping question-peIs uaded
pOTIy Scotch dame who rented her best rooms
during tue to let US take possession OF her
pretty parlor and two bedrooms which had
been secured by Lady C, but which we were
allowed to occupy until she arrived for the sum
OF $50 a week, probably the double of what
her ladyship would be obliged to pay; but then
We were Americans, and as such supposed 10 be
immensely wealthy However, we were per-
fecIly satisfied with cur new arrangements.
EVafV hlcNaO.
courtesy herself into our rooms and take the or
ders for the three meals of the next day and col
lect Inc bill for the expenditures of the previous
day. Every item, 10 the value Of penny, was
S5 per week insured for US a bountilul bill OF
fare and nice table service.
Ro.hesay is fun OF interest for her inhabitants,
who never forget that Victoria, Queen Of En-
gland, together with her husband, Children ana
retainers, visited The pretty little Town In 1912,
and that among the numerous TILES owned by
the future King of England Is "Duke of ROthe-
say" title belonging TO the eldest son OF the
sovereign of Scotland, and therefore held by the
Prince of Wales as eldest son of the Queen the
representative Of the ancient kings OF scotland.
On the very first day OF our housekeeping we
engaged 4 cab TO take US regularly for late
afternoon drive, and during ouI FIRST outing we
made the discovery that II we were not actually
drawn along the road by Pegasus, we had at
least poet for driver; de hrst attracted our
attention by the intelligent way IN which he
pointed out every pretty bit Of landscape, often
pulling up his horse 20 break for US some fra
grant blossoms, or stopping long enough 10
gather a whole bunch Of wild flowers. After
While he yenIured TO ask questions about the
American poets-Lonefeow, Whittier and even
our Bret Harte-and finally bluShng like
young girl when fist listening TO an aV0wal of
love, he avOwed that be himself had yentured 10
Initiate his famous cOuntryman and had actually
written poetry, IN proof OF which lie presented
little volume, not disdaining TO accept The Amer
lean dollar offered IN exchange.
Many time after this our pOetica cabman-
MeNcol was his name would during our drives
reeIte passages fOm "Glen Fruin," his epic
battle fought IN 1908 at Glen Fruln by the
MscGregOfs and COlquhOuns. His blue eyes
would kindle as he quoted from the conflict:
They meet, they close, and far and
Whlie on the breeze of morn
Is waited many song OF death,
AS TO the blood-bespattered heath
Full many q wight is borne
BY curse and groan and savage yell,
Transformed into earthly nell
Is hruiu's peaceful ger
And as more furious grows the din,
Dyed is the bosom Of the linn
With blood Of desperate men.
made his heart glad by telling him, which
was tile truth, that his poetry reminded ME OF
Waller scott, aud, In TACT, the honest fellow has
written some lines which many betleT-knoWn
poet might well be proud Of
This ROtheSay cabman, which has been styled
"BObbie Burns OF Butte" whose tull name Is
Duncan McNicOi, was born near Luss, on the
shores OF Loeb Lomond, and is nearly 40 years
old His parents circumstances were humble,
referring TO which lie happily says:
Twas in an aud biggin, with broom theeklt rggin
hat trst creation clappit ee;
Whaur frae their fresh fountain, on bonnie blue
The burnies rim singing Loeb Lomond, to thee
Mr.. McNicol has published couple OF books
OF verse, one entitled "Bute and Other POEMS"
and the other "Glen Fruin and Other Poems"
The rhyme preface In The latter Will DEAR quot
ing, which reads thus;
As at your leisure you peruse these issues of an
Intermittent muse, a limping stanza here and there
your md; out ere you eensure bear the fact In
mind that can claim no scholarly renown ne'er
having won the trencher and the gown. What little,
therefore, possess OF knowledge was cleaned from
time 10 Tine IN mes great college; aud. though but
faint and hickering seems my light amid many
hetIde 1t l never viii beneath bushel hide it. Life
has its aspects, sad as Wells its Pleasures hence
appear IN divers moods and measures; and very
heartily trust that they may please my patrons In
general way, for verify to edfy and tickle is oW
the joint intent Of d. McNICoL-
Mr.. Colin Rae Brown. q prominent man OF
Scotland, wrote to the West Coast journal, say
Ing after reading McNicOls Fallen Leaves
thai The matter aud manner OF this poem would
not have discrrdlted the greatest of natures
poetical high priests-Wordsworlh himself The
author must surely have come OF different race
than that which generally supplies recruits for
the cab ranks
IFallen Leaves" opens with:
AS hercey blows the wintry gale
Ger wood and lea, Ger hill and vale,
And whirls with melancholy wall
Around the caves,
Fast flies the drifting seet and rain,
The branches creak In paintive strain,
While on the highway and the plain
Lie fallen leaves.
The poem closes with a seasonable reflection
that has In ii the note OF mingled sadness and
good cheer:
As hercely blows Iife's blighting blast.
With care souls overcast.
While silently, yet sure and fast,
Death binds his sheaves.
And we, frall creatures of a day,
Like fitting shadows pass away,
And fading, mingle with the clay
Like fallen leaves.
There Is sympathetic sweetness which
seems 10 90 right to the heart and which seems
hard to connect with the author when looking at
his rough exterior. Another pretty poem of his,
entitled "Riddiings," commences with:
As ] silently sst,with the devil to pay.
Ar-Slg'close OF q bloodfreezing raw winter day,
Before me arose In mighty array
The varied events OF the past;
So mentally rddled the pOnderous bling.
To see from the rubbish what gold l could bring,
But, 'shyer my timbersl" the worrying thing
Struck me with establishment vast.
Another poem by the same rustic writer, en-
titled Beautiful AscOy Bay" is indeed a gem,
the FIRST verse of which Is:
Pve Travelled DER Scotias green valleys and plains,
Mid her giens and hamlets I've roamed
PLe strayed moDg her hills By clear, musical rils
And where rushing cataracts foamed;
But amid all the scenes OF my dear native land,
So grand, SO entieing and gay,
Be they ever 30 fair there none can compare
To beautiful AscOy Bay.
One day during drive asked the poet why he
continued with his cab? why he did not devote
his time 10 yerse-making and turn 1t TO some ac-
count II ON money point OF view He answered.
with peculiar smile, "Why. miss, II l did not
have these long and pleasant drives, through this
Beautiful county, could never get my inspra-
tioB." And can well Imagine how his poetic
fancy helps him 10 begue the long, weary hours
as he travels over hill and dale, through sun
shine and through storm, for the small sum OF
shlllings an hour. have met aud eOnyersed
with many poets in many lands, and l remember
zone better than the simple, honest-bearled
''poet OF Rothesay" Nj. w.