The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-01-26
Now Suits Filled.
PLAIDS OF VARIOUS CLANS.
The Highlander i'm Evidence at Burns
Anniversary Entertainment.

For eighteen years the Caledonian Quoit-
ing Club has celebrated the Burns anniver-
sary with an entertainment, and the one
hundred-and- thirty ninth year since the
birth of the poet Robert Burns was the oc-
casion of a demonstrate ton at Y. M G. A.
Hall last night Year after year have these
loyal Scotchmen gathered to do honor and
give praise to their beloved poet. Unusual
preparation was made for the event and
talent from abroad was called in. AS the
clans were gathering Farquhar Beaton, of
Detroit, champion piper of America, dressed
in full kilt, played the bagpipes. This art
is possessed by few this side of the Atlantic
and his music was thrilling for the born
Scots and interesting for the others.
John A. McGaw, president of the associa-
ton, presided and made a brief address to
open the programme. He was followed by
Rev. j. Cumming Smith, who gave an in
teresting talk, in which he spoke of the
good opinion that the Scotch have of them
selves and told the story of DIR. Watson,
who says that when he was recently travel
ing in Scotland man in the same carriage
said: If you will stand up with me at
the window l will show you something: YOU
Will only get glimpse of it suddenly and
for an instant" They stood up and waited.
soon little smoke came into view. That's
with smile of ineffable complacency. After
a while Ian Maclaren remarked that j. NJ.
Barrie was born there Yes" said the
A man once said there were three small
countries-PaleStine, Greece and Scotland
but Scotland beat them all. The speaker
said that the Scotch had reason to be proud.
The poet Burns did not emerge from mean
conditions. He represented the Scotch peas
antry whom he reflected, who had knowl-
edge and morals and We're archaeological
and would maintain their honor Mr. Smith
then spoke of the popular elements Of
Burns's poetry, and drew attention to the
TACT that the poet did not write of the eagle,
the lion and the stars, but of the
field mouse and the daisy; he represented
the jolly beggars, not kings or earls. Burns
was essentially a religious man, but he re-
coiled from the Calvinism of that time. He
had the poetic strain of the common peo-
pie. Robbie was not simply a Scotch
man; he was cosmopolitan, and he reached
higher light that is placeless and time
less In all that Mr. Smith said he met a
responsive chord in his audience, Whe Their
humorous or earnest.
After the address there were twenty
musical and literary numbers, and applause
enough to testify to the enjoyment of the
audience, which insisted on several recalls.
Miss Bessie McAlpin, of Chicago, late of
Edinburgh, Scotland in Scotch costume,
delighted with her various character songs.
in which she gave the dialect and the pc
culiar1tieS of the speech. Miss Aggie Ran
kin, favorite in this city, gave the High
land fling. and the sword dance with much
grace and was recalled several times Miss
Osman, one of the Demorest medalists,
read Bowl About and 1.-THE Gowks Err
rand. Miss Sophie Cohen Bradford sang
two songs that are always welcome, The
Maid o. Dundee and :. Twas Within a
Mile o. Edinboro Town. Miss Schaffer
of this city, who has sweet ,contralto
Adair:" 4 good bit Of dialogue ,~LochieIIs
Warming" was given by Mr.. James nj.
Bradford and Mr.. Gordon r. Gauld, the
costuming adding to the piece. Mr.. Beaton
played THE Cock o. the North" and was
given royal acknowledgment. Mr.. An
drew Smith, the well-knoNsn tenor. sang a
solo and assisted in a chorus. The Gale
DOMAIN Quartet. Kerr Higgins, John M.
Clark j. M. l.. Kerr and Peter Purves-
sang three times. and Mr.. Kerr sang Scot
land Yet There were plaids of many
clans in the costumes worn, and the full
dress, seldom seen except on grand occa-
Sions like last night, was picturesque part
of the performance. AS a closing for the
evening the entire company and many
voices in the audience joined in singing
"Auld Lang Syne." The programmes were
souvenirs, as they contained a portrait of
the poet and the complete programme, with
the words of all the songs. After the con-
cert the members adjourned to the club
rooms for banquet.