The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-05-11
Scotia's Brawny Sons Have q Very
Flourishing Organization
in Helena.
Institution, Growth, Development
and Aims Of tho So
ciety.
Something About Caledonian Amuse.
ments, Including Hitch aud kick, !" and
the Highland Fling.

joke, but it lisa pretty safe bet that he can
throw hammer, put a stone, hitch and
kick, and dance Highland fling. Ere
quently he can play the bagpipe, sometimes
very badly. But he is very desirable citl-
zen,-peaceable, industrious, thrifty and
loyal. His nationality is quite tenacious,
and he becomes thoroughly Americanized
only by the procession Of generations. In
Helena there are about two hundred natives
of Caledonia and descendants of Caledon-
ians. OF their number eighty-three are
banded in "The Caledonian Society of
Helena" for the purpose of preserving the
games and customs of Scotland, encourage
ing taste for the literature and knowl-
edge of her history, and establishing
relations of friendly intimacy and useful
helpfulness among those who are of Scottish
birth or ancestry.
The preliminary steps Of the orRaniza-
al organization was effected Jan. II, 1883,
with q charter membership of 80, and by
the election of the following officers:
Chief, Col. I. d. McCutcheon; first chief
tain, Francis F. McIntire; treasurer,
Walter Matheson; recording secretary,
Fraser; physician, Dr.. d. McH. Mckay;
directors, F. s.. p. Lindsay, A. Campbell
Botkin and John G. Mcintosh.
For some time after organizing the meet
ings Of the society, which are held on the
first Thursday Of each month, occurred IN
Bailey block. The present roster of Off
GERS is: Chief, Il. G. Wallace; first chief
tain, Walter Matheson; treasurer, John
McPhee; recording secretary, Finlay Nc
Rae; financial secretary, Daniel Fraser:
physician, DR.. D. NIGH. Mckay; directors.
g ID s~l~ A IoD
Arthur +. Mckay. A meeting will be held
during the current week for the purpose of
electing officers for the year.
Promptly the Caledonian club Of Helena
went on its mission, and two weeks after
it's organization celebrated the birthday of
party at Encore hall. The celebration was
a very high-class entertainment and re-
fiected much credit upon the young organi-
cation. November 30th, of the same year.
the society celebrated St. Andrews day
after the manner of Scotia's sons at home
This was stag party. and was as success.
ful as party can be minus the presence Of
lovely lassies. A picnic was held at Wild
er's grove in August, 1889, which was par
tlclpated in by quite a number of visitors
from the Butte society. Caledonian games
were INDUCED in on this occasion, in which
the contestants from the Silver City got
rather the best of it.
Ca!edonian games are a prominent feature
OF the picnics and gatherings of loyal
Scotchmen the world over, and to them, in
great measure, is due the robust physique
and sturdy character of the Scotchman.
The custom grew from trials of strength by
Hlghlanders when they met on the village
green for sport. The first games in Ameri-
ca were played in Boston in 1854, at free
picnic by the Caledonians of the Hub
From that informal meeting in Boston grew
the societies of America, of which there is
one in every considerable settlement of
''Scots who ha' wi Wallace Bled," or their
descendants.
All kinds of athletics are now included in
CALIFORNIAN games, but some of them are
peculiar to the land of their invention.
Among the latter are throwing the ham
mer, putting the shot and Glitch and
kick" the last being decidedly unique and
peculiarly Scotch. It consists of spring
BOURNE with that foot and alighting on the
foot from which the spring was made with
out letting the other touch the ground.
The trick of it must be learned at the ex-
pense of the vertebra. Most of the other
games are familiar. including pole vault
ing, foot racing and hurdle jumping.
The Highland fling and sword dance are
wholly Scotch, the former being an exem-
plificstion of the poetry of motion, and the
latter test of sureness of foot, agility and
grace, attended with some considerable
risk to the dancer from unexpected contact
with the bare blade of a sword.
Ut course no Caledonian picnic can be
considered an entire success without con-
test of rival pipers, although they must
frequently be foregone in section of the
universe SO far from the heath and heathers
of Bonnie Blue Scotland as is the great state
of Montana.