The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1907-06-01
The Massacre of Glencoe.

public auction. says The Tablet. The
ultimate resting place of this CHASTITY
historic relic is still a matter of con-
lecture. But we may suggest that it
might appropriately be deposited in
the Chamber of Horrors. Meanwhile.
daily paper has gratitied it's readers
with a fac-simile reproduction of a
portion Of the nurderous document.
And the weird story Of the massacre
has again attracted general attention.
1t may be of interest to add that
the tragic tale of Glencoe has been
told anew with many touches ri local
color in our excellent Highland con-
temporary the Guth na Bliadhna. For
one of the most noteworthy pieces in
the summer number of last year was
an article on "Gleann Comhann,' by
Gillespuig Mas Dhomhnuill Mhic Eo-
CHAIN. 1t is we'll worth the attention
of all who are interested in this tragic
story.
This writer naturally enough lays
stress on the fact that the Macdonalds
| of Glencoe We're a Catholic clan. For
our contemporary. as our readers are
| aware, is not only an organ Of the
Gaelic movement. but is. at the same
| time, a Jealous Catholic journal. In
| fact, it seeks at every turn to combine
| loyalty to the language with devotion
to the Church. Catholicism. it is
urged, was the ancient faith Of the
Gaidhealteachd, an dProtestantism is a
new fashion brought in from the Low
| lands.
An interesting feature in this article
is the Introduction of a Gaelic eleey
on the massacre. "Marbhrann Murt
C;hlinne Comhann" composed by the
bard Mucanach. This poem contains
seventeen stanzas of eight lines each
But in spite of it's length. the writer
of the article very properly gives his
readers the benefit Of the whole. One
passage, it is pointed out. is a. prayer
!
the poets belief in the Catholic doc
trine Of Purgatory. In some points
this poem naturally suggests a COM
parison with Aytouns widow Of
Glencoe" in "The Lays Of the Scottish
| Cavaliers"
Another matter Of special interest
in this Gaelic article on the massacre
Of Glencoe is the following story
which serves in some degree to re-
lieve the gloom, and shows that some
Of the soldiers sent on this brutal
business We're not inca pable Of feeling
compassion for their victims. 1t will
be remembered that they had orders
to slay all males under the age Of
seventy-a. notable instance surely of
out Heroding Herod. While they
were proceeding with their bloody
work an officer caught sight of
young woman sitting at distance
weeping and holding a little child in
her arms. A soldier was sent to see
If the child was A. hoy. and il 80 he
was to kill 1t. But on finding that it
was a boy. he had not the heart to
kill it and add to the mourning moth
er's sorrow. He returned and told
this to the officer But ho was sent
back again on the same errand. and
ordered to show the blood on his
sword in proof that the deed had been
done Again he went back with a
heavy heart But finding a little dog
he killed that instead of the child.
The sword was bloody enough to
satisfy the commander; and the boys
life was spared.
Many years after that, the soldier
had fallen on evil days, and was wan
dering in destitute state through the
Highland glens. One stormy winter
night he sought and found shelter in
a Highland home. The good people
who took compa ssion on him asked
+. where he had been in the wars, and
whether he had been at Glencoe. He
admitted that he was present at the
slaughter, but said that his hand was
free from the blood of the Macdon-
aids, and he told his story of the child
he was sent to kill The master of
the house sprang at once and took
the old mans hand and kissed it, and
the child who had been spared. He
had learnt the tale from his mothers
lips. Now at last he was able to
thank his benefactor. and to give him
a home in his old age.