New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-01-28
SCOTTISH POETRY
Andrew Lang on Some Modern
Highland Singers.
Ola The Illustrated london NeWs.

From The Illustrated London News.
How extraordinary is the dspropor-
ton between the demand for poetry and
the supply, I have just read, in NJ.
Dimnet's work. Les Snurs Bronte," that
OF their volume of poems only two copies
were sold in the first year Of publication.
Yet there were many thousands of living
poets. and only two had the curiosity to
spend a few shillings on the works Of
contemporaries 1Iy own dear country.
caledonia. is "a nest of singing birds"
in every country newspaper they pour
forth their woodnotes mild. In The
Edinburgh Book IF Verse" professor
Macneile Dixon and The Book Of Scot
fish Verse" (Sir George Douglas. Bit we
have over 1900 pages Of poetry by
Scotsmen. but not by any means always
ir Scots. When patriot compares these
collections with say. Sir A. CUTLER
COUGHS Oxford Collection of British
verse. he cannot but be reminded Of
what the nebriated CALIFORNIAN said
when he awoke in a kirkyard and saw
what he mistook for a ghost: rs this
an indiveedual rise. or general resur-
reCtion? It's on unco' puir show for
Kirkintilloch"
England a very much larger and richer
country than Scotland. country, too
that never came under John Knox and
ate number of poets. great or not so
great. hut all delightful. our northern
climate probably is as adverse 10 great
poetry q 6 II is 10 great cricket.
Nevertheless. among contemporary
Scottish poets we have one at least.
who can strike a ringing note, Mr.. VIII
Oeilvie. Of Teviotdale. | give two
stanzas from The Raiders" a dream Of
the good Did DAYS on the border, when
life 10 me. perhaps. would have been
better worth living i'm Rutandshire--
last night a wind from Lammermoor came
roaring UP the glen.
With the tramp OF trooping horses and the
laugh Of reckless men,
And struck a mailed hand on the gate and
cried IN rebel glee;
ride the March with me-
I know not il the farms We fred are burned
10 ashes vet
! know not II the stirks grew tired before
the stars We're set
only know that late last night. when
northern winds blew free.
troop Of men rode up the glen and
brought horse for me
This poetry is good enough, hope
for boys Of all ages. You can shout It.
as the ST. Andrews student
Sang the song TIA Pharshon"
For his personal diversion;
or as the two elderly gentlemen Of an
ancient day met each other shouting the
Battle Of Flodden from "Marmion." in
the dark Edinburgh street shook hands,
and parted
one may also like Mr.. Douglas Aims
lies "Stirrup Cup. on Meeting the Grand
daughter Of Cameron Of Lochiel''-
Say. will he come again."
Nay, Lady never.
Say. will he never reign
Az Lady. ever
AN. for the heart Of MS
Follows Prince Charlie.
There's not part Of Us
SWays not as barley
Under tho breeze that blew
Up the Atlantic
Waiting the one, the true
Prince. the romantic.
Back to his native land
over the water
Here's TO Prince Charlie and
Lochiels granddaughter
This. If not in the manner of Mr.
Swinburnc. is more like business than
his Jacobite song nor is it quite impos-
sible that the gentle LOchiel (who died.
! think, in l74S) has "A granddaughter
living. | have met men whose grand
srcs fought at Culloden. A thoroughly
Highland poet. "A being very different
from the Lowland poet, il Mr. Donald
Mackenzie. His poem on THE Wee
Folk" the fairies. Is truly Celtic and
fairy
O many a fairy milkmad
With the one eye blind.
Is mid the lonely mountains
BY the red deer hind:
Not one will wait 10 greet me,
For they have naught 10 say.
The Hill folk the still folk, the folk that
Mt away.
/ think that Southern fairies have the
due complement Of eyes: and never heard
that, in the Highlands. they have zone
short" The fact does not add 10 their
charms. but increases their fearfulness
Tho fairies are still conversant with
Lochaber where friends Of mine have