The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1895-12-28
Queen Victoria's Highland Home.
J. r. Hunter in Harper's Magazine.
HIGHT Avn nANCE AT RAJ MORAL


4 HIGHLAND DANCE AT BALMORAL.
After day' S successful deer-shooting,
one of the sights of the season at Balmo-
raj or Abergeldie Castle, but chiefly at
the latter, is deer-da wherein the
deer do not dance but lie impassive and
dead enough. head and TAIL in numbers of
two, three, or more, at the chief entrance.
After the royal dimer-and the darker
the night the better-long heavy torches
called 'sownacks, made of splints of
dry bog fir bound together with green
birchen withes. are lighted and held alOtt
by number of stalwart killed Highland
ers, piper or two, splendidly radiant in
tartan and silver, strike up a march, and
the royal sportsmen, accompanied by all
the princesses, ladies, and gentlemen OF
their saite. come forth into the lurid cir
Gle to view the trophies of the day. At
ter inspection and remarks, torch Is
handed to each of the princes, invariably
dressed in full Highland costume, four or
more of whom take their places at the
head of long line of jagers, keepers,
forestegs, and gilies. each with flaming
torch. to dance a reel The piper manlp-
ulates Il strathspey and reel from his
drones and chanter, and all foot the light
fantastic Highland Fling, . with whoops
and wells and wild hurrahs. To the
quick pulsations Of .'Monymusk and
Hulachan. tartan kits and plaids,
brawny limbs, and jewelled belts and
dirks. feet and whirl in wild, yet measured
confusion beneath the lines Of scintillating
flame But the powers Of muscle and lung
soon flag ON the dull gravelly surface that
serves for dancing floor \ bonfire is
made of the 'sownack stumps, amid a
chorus of cheers that resound far through
the dark welkin. Jingling glasses are
charged with the strong wine OF the
country. and emptied to toasts, by the
dancers; then royalty seeks its bedcham-
Der. the great clock overhead chimes forth
some hour near midnight, and the grand
spectacular display is over-for a night
All the royal family are fond of dane
ing. and among the '.events Of their
soioum in the Highlands, balls, to which
tenantry and servants are all invited, have
held il prominent place. As might be ex-
pected. life is gaver at Abergeldie than at
Balmoral. At these balls all social dis
tinctions are disregarded. The one fiat is
dance. which the Highlanders are not
slow to do Their dancing is characterized
by much vigorous leaping, kicking, swing
inc. reeling. thumb cracking, and interjec-
tional '.woochs.
Another occasion Of merrymaking that
comes with birthday like regularity is the
great Scottish festal night Of Halloween.
celebrated on the 31st October of each
year The mystic rites of that evening.
50 graphically portrayed by Burns, are
somewhat in abeyance in Balmoral, but
instead the Highland custom of robbing
witch-spelIs of their terrors through the
cleansing agency Of fire may here be wit
messed in all It's pristine glory. Blazing
..sownackS. carried round the castle
literally in hundreds after sunset cOnsti-
tute the purifying media, and form, espe-
cally at distance, Il sight that must be
seen to be fully appreciated.
All these ainusements are varied by the
attendance Of first class concert and dra-
natic companies There is no monotony.
The tone Of everything said and done,
grave as we'll as gay. is decidedly healthy.
Life goes merry rs a marriage bell,
whose chimes bring to recollection the
fact that Balmoral has ever afforded
idyllic facilities for courtship. Besides
the Imperial Prince Of Germany, here the
Grand Duke Of Hesse and the Marquis OF
Lome wooed and won their brides. In
each case there was far more wooing and
fewer ..reasons of state than sentimental
outsiders are in the habit Of believing.
Royalty in its free. unassuming, and
iovous intercourse with the Highland
character Of proverbial independence meets
with no coarseneSs of feeling or action, ne
fawning formalities. no assimilation, anC
no mistrust. The social gap between the
monarch and the peasant is here brldgeo
with Il facility as graceful as cordial, thai
might well be initiated by the noble anc
commoner elsewhere.