The morning news., 1899-12-31
THE GORDON HIGHLANDERs.
GREAT NORMAN SCOTTISH CLAN OF
THE NORTH.

Gordon of KhartOun.
From the Philadelphia Ledger.
owing to comparatively recent decis-
ion made by the war office, that Scottish
regiments should henceforth take title
from their counties or territorial districts
it has become difficult for the outsider 10
recognize the old names, so we'll known
in lighting story, in the new.
But few are still left, to conjure with
the Ninety second, or Gordon Highland
ers; the Forty-second, or Black Watch
$50 called from their dark tartans); the
Seaforths and the Seventy-ninth, or
Queen's own Cameron Highlanders, etc.
The first and last mentioned may broad
ly be regarded as the most typical of all
Highland regiments, as they embody and
represent in their clan names the Norman
and the Celt, respectively and thereby
also tell for all time the story of Scottish
union and lis strength, development
which was produced by Norman quite as
much S by native Celt.
For il is a huge mislak to insist that the
Scot ish clans are entirely Celtic because
heir foim or family government and ter
ritorial settlements are often so; per con-
ira, many of the most noted names in
Scottish annals are of Norman descent,
as pure and clear as the typical Vere-de-
We're, and 'came over with the Conquer
or families of England.
The two regiments recruited from the
clan were the old Eighty-first formed IN
1777 by son of the Earl of Aberdeen and
disbanded in 1889.
The present regiment, raised by the Mar
uuls of Huntly in 1894 has taken first
Il sir fha b,ax I
durance of the Gordon Highlanders have
b5en and sill are in daily repute amongst
us, and for the hundreds of Americans
who Wis ed Edinburgh Castle this summer
the story of the Gordons must necessarily
be of in ,erest.
InGe d, If one knew of a friend being in
Scotland, the most probable and possible
place of meeting was on the Castle Es-
planade, the public rendezvous between
10 o'clock and noon for all visitors, TO the
city
Edinburgh Castle as GuerdOn.
There is an unwritten law in military
circles that the Highland Regiment most
recently distinguished in Indian, frontier
and foreign service should on their return
lie qua tered in Edinburgh Castle, and this
plum of appreciation was given to the
Gordons as reward for their gallant charge
at Dargai, when Piper Findlater so
bravely continued to play THE Cock of
The North although shot through both
ankles, and compelled to sit where he fell.
II would be, indeed, libel to say of any
regiment that they look shabby but none
the less it would be a hard task to find
liner body of men as 20 hight, physique,
unconscious dignity, than this body of
men, recrui ed by the Gentlemen of the
North" from their tenants and retainers.
The beauty and picturesqueness of the
Highland dress is seen to perfection on
IL. IL,
and of en- on the castle esplanade this year
watching the drill, sword exercises, min
ute ms eclion of accoutrements, and heard
heir splendid band play Soldiers of the
Queen" or practice the trumpet "call to
arms" or on Sunday morning attended the
soldiers service in st. Giless Cathedral,
that marching line of waving tartans,
tesded by their pipers, must be indelibly
citar in mind and memory. Therefore, dou-
bly, hard 10 realize that what formed such
fascinating incident in our idle summer
lollGays has now become sad reality in the
campaign in South Africa.
War Cry and Badge.
That mayhap too, whilst we read and
recall, some one of those men, so eXcep-
tional in physique or attractive in court
eous manners as 10 impress our memo
res, now lies dead with his beloved colo
mel, on The veldt never again to respond
10 the cry-"A Gordon! a Gordon! to the
Iescuer'
He has died as he lived-a soldier of the
Queen, his clans adopted Gaelic motto of
Cath Ghairin!! Stand firm" has NOT
bten found wanting; and he has chung to
his traditions as does the Eidl1ean ma
craige, the rock ivy of his badge
For him and for many another equally
brave, the Coronach will wall; and right
loyalty will the Cameron's Lament
Wen maybe return 20 Loehaber no
more"-include his name in the hearts of
all who hear it.
The soldier on the Castle ramparts was
part of our picturesque summer; in the
Transvaal he has become the exponent of
the fortunes of war.
The Recruiting Picnic.
Maybe, too, he was one of that specially
picked squad, who at the close of the
tourist season, In late September. march
cd north on triumphal tour through their
ain country side to receive fresh colors
from the Prince at Breckay Castle so
famed in ballad lore; to be honored by
personal visit of thanks from their Queen;
TO be feted and cheered and dined and
heaped with presents, and again most en-
thusiastic welcome from their own hns-
men and friends in every village and ham
let through which they marched.
From Stonehaven, the old land and
home of the Barclays, through by Ban
'Holy 10 1OiOSne GdStles tIS seat u tHSii
chief, the Marquis of Huntly, veritable
Cock of the North" then to Bracklay, on
through Strathdom and Strathbogie, their
calf ground to Haddo the seat of the Earl
OF Aberdeen, then back to Aberdeen, the
Granite City and their official headquar-
ters, where the granite headed and can
ny Aberdonians threw stolidity TO the
winds decorated and illuminated their
beautiful city as if for royalty; held ban
quets and balls and routs for officers and
men alike. and thus brought to fitting
close that happy holiday, almost unique in
tae annals of Tommy Atkins For Il IL
be possible for any one to class magnih-
cent Gordon in all his bravery of bonnet
end plume bemedalled and bestriped red
coat his brooch and plaid and kilt and
porran, rosetted stockings and buckled
Saoes as a possible Tommy Atkins, then
'he men on this particular occasion were
certainly the heroes of the hour for the
oihcers, chiefs and many chicftains of the
oame purposely kept themselves In the
background and exalted the file. So many
an unconscious hero realized how sweet 1t