The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1904-03-22
HEARTSOME
SCOTS SONG

forum and the balcony, it was one OF
HonoluIu's most brilliant assemblies
that welcomed the Scottish Entertain
ers''-AIiss Flora F. Donaldson and Mr..
Gavin Spence-in their ''twa hours at
hame' last night, under the auspices
of the Scottish Thistle Club.
What their forbears failed in doing
with England, as Mr.. Spence humor-
ously but reluctantly confessed in one
of his talking spells. these Scottish
entertainers did with that audience
namely effected it's conquest. Prac-
| ticaIly every number was encored and
| in most cases response was gener-
ously accorded, the only exceptions be-
ing where Mr.. Spence made the audi
| ence forget their avidity for the music
by his exquisitely told Scottish stories.
| His Introductory remarks put the house
| in happy mood at the outset.
Mr.. Spence appeared throughout the
l entertainment dressed in the full garb
| of a Scottish chief, the tartan being
| that of one of the Macdonald clans.
| In one of his educational interludes he
| explained, in amusing fashion, every
1 part Oh the costume as We'll as the
weapons it was designed to support.
| The scabbard did not contain its sword,
| but a glittering dirk was drawn from
| its sheath, a notwithstanding short knife
out of the right stocking and. as weap-
ons of peace, a knife and fork from the
| belt. The hirsute pouch dangling in
front, called "sporran'' in Scotch, is the
| only pocket in the outfit.
| 6rc
! Scotland" and she sang it with thrill
| ing effect. Her voice is remarkably
| sweet, as well as having wide COM
pass without apparent effort, and her
| enunciation clear as the notes of a
robin. From the strong rendition Of
| a stanza when her voice filled the
house with a ringing cadence, with
gentler sentiment following in the next
stanza she would make the transition
with perfect ease. 1t was then that
the ear would be ravished with soft
but distinct harpIike notes that seem
ed to be distilled from the celestial at
| mosphere. There was finest express
sion, wherein nature held art under
thorough control, in every song Miss
Donaldson sang. She compelled rec
ognition as the artist, but 1.-The charm
that reached the heart" was that of
the real bonnie Scottish lassie,' sing
ing her country's, songs as few are
talented to sing them or any country
yet with a naivete of peasant-like SIM
plicity and a nature spirit that almost
made the cultivated talent secondary.
Cheerfully responding to a prolong-
ed round of applause, Miss Donaldson
gave "Oh whistle and I'll come to yo1
my lad in delightfully."- chic manner.
Mr. Spence, as his first song, gave
1.-The Hundred Pipers,'' with a prefa-
tory explanation of the martial ex-
plot it commentaries. He revealed
beautiful tenor, besides mastery dra-
matte power, and made the house
Shrek with his imitation of the drone
of the bagpipes.
Miss Donaldson followed with the
Jacobite song, Bonnie Banks O Loeb
Lomond," and reappeared to a rousing
encore carrying a splendid bouquet sent
up to her. The encore selection was
Comm Thro' the Rye" and it is safe
to say the universal old favorite never
received a finer Interpretation in Ho-
nolu1u.
The first part of the program was
now completed by Mr.. Spence with the
song Alton Water which he charac-
terized as Burns masterpiece, and
humorous recitation, Scottish Words,
into which his tongue deftly glided as
the auditors awaited another vocal eff
fort in answer to their encore.
"Huntingtower'' was the first num-
Der after intermission. This grand old
duet took the house by storm. 1t was
never before SO finely produced here
the oldest Scottish inhabitant may be
defied to the contrary. Both the solos
of the preceding stanZas and the blend
ing of voices in the last one with the
romantic denouement were spell-bind-
ing in effect. A ringing saivo of APP
plause continued until the songsters
again came forward.
With a recital of the story, sfngu
larIy idyllic one, Mr.. Spence announced
a less familiar duet, THE Crooked
Baubee," and Miss Donaldson and he
then performed it in manner to give
it fairly the reportoria1 rank of the
lone piece worth the price of admis
sion in itself" Miss Donaldson then
beautifully sang, by request sent up,
1.-The Kailyard."
Mr. Spence next sang "Jessie's
Dream the famous Highland legend
of the siege of Lucknow, with musical
and histrionic power in equal parts and /
each of fawless quality. Instead of F..
singing to the inevitable encore he gave |
witty introduction to Miss Donald !
sons final solo. This was the Gaelic !
version of THE March of the Cameron
Men," down on the program in the Gel |
tic vernacular as "Caismeachd Chloinn I
Chamrain.' To all who knew the /
English version, the martial sense was
easily followed. Gaelic looks rugged i
but goes as liquidly as Hawaiian to .
music, and it is needless to say that the ,
prima donna let no feathers be lost to !
the bonnets of the mighty Camerons.
Miss Donaldson is the only profession
al Gaelic songstress living. with the
exception of Miss Mclaughlin now in
the British Isles.
With an expression of thanks to the
Honolulu people for their patronage,