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A pdf version of this newsletter can be downloaded at: http://www.electricscotland.com/newsletter/131115.pdf
CONTENTS
Electric Scotland News
Electric Canadian
The Barren Ground of Northern Canada
AD 1759 Battle For Canada
Canadian Rangers
The Flag in the Wind
Electric Scotland
The Scottish Historical Review
Songs Of Scotland, Prior To Burns
Enigma Machine
Leaves from the Journal
Merchant's Guide to Stirling & District
Lord Charles Neaves
Scotland, Picturesque: Historical: Descriptive
David Herschell Edwards - Modern Poets
Robert Louis Stevenson
Recollections of a Speyside Parish
Robert Burns Lives!
Clan Leslie Society International
Our Food: West of Scotland
Ed Means Column
Beth's Newfangled Family Tree
100 Scottish Songs on YouTube
Gaelic Song Lesson
and finally
Electric Scotland News
Most of you will know that John Henderson helps out with providing some content to the site on a regular basis. Well his PC went down so has had to get a new one with all the hassle that can cause. He did manage to get some of his regular items to us today but a few other items will be arriving tomorrow and then we'll be back to our usual schedule.
-----
I'm on the Communications panel for COSCA and part of that work is to try and come up with a questionnaire, or in fact a series of them, to try to get a handle on how clan societies are performing. This is to try and discover information that might help them do better. The work also involves looking to see whether we can conduct questionnaires at Highland Games and also a possible one in Scotland to see how local Scots view clans.
One of the problems with this type of work is that clan societies are very independent and are usually not noted for working with others. This means it is really impossible to ask questions of society members unless you do it through the clan society. So some of the difficult questions that need answers are to do with the value that members see or don't see in being a clan member. Until we can ask these questions we won't really know what they think and it seems most clan societies don't want to ask these questions or if they do they are not keen to share the results.
There are a whole variety of questions I would like to ask such as is the newsletter of value as that is often the only benefit of membership. Then I feel that clan societies do not do a big enough job on enthusing their members. Often when you do sign up and pay for your membership you get nothing from the clan other than receiving a newsletter down the road. I have often thought that there should be a one off membership joining fee that would be sufficient to provide a book about the clan, a clan badge, tie, scarf or other goodies. That way you walk away with something and can wear your tartan tie or scarf or clan badge with pride. Problem is you are usually expected to purchase these goodies after you become a member.
Then I often see clans organising a clan gathering in Scotland but many can't afford to attend. I wonder if they did a gathering, say ever 5 years, if they couldn't arrange a monthly payment so that over the 5 years you'd have put in enough to pay to go to Scotland.
One other question of many that I'd also like to ask is if people would be interesting in "Adopting a clan". This is where an individual has no family ties to the clan but would like to adopt it and become part of the clan family.
I am considering posting a questionnaire on the site to see if clan members would be willing to complete it. I'm not sure how many might be prepared to do this but I suspect if I did this then I probably wouldn't be able to ask what clan you belong to. However, it still might give us an idea on how people feel about their membership. I'm also hoping that if it isn't clan specific then perhaps a few clan societies might be willing to recommend it to their members.
Anyway, something I'm considering.
-----
While this really has no connection to Scotland as such I thought I'd copy you into an email I received...
Have you ever wondered where that plane flying over head is going and what type of aircraft?
You can get to this facility at http://www.flightradar24.com/ and I did scroll to Scotland and found it at:
http://www.flightradar24.com/56.89,-3.58/7
Some tricks:
Drag the map to take you to the area you want to view
To view your region or town, you can zoom in by tapping with your mouse.
On the map you will see all the planes in the air.
Click on an airplane, and on the left screen you will get all the info on airline, type, speed, altitude in real time, re calculated every 10 seconds.
On some you can also click on view from the cockpit. You do need the Google Earth plug-in to view this.
-----
There is still a problem with the Arcade and so still patiently waiting on Steve to fix the issue.
Electric Canadian
The Barren Ground of Northern Canada
By Warburton Pike (1917).
We're now up to Chapter XV of this book.
Here is a wee bit from Chapter XIV...
By this time it was well on in September, and eight hundred miles had to be travelled to reach the Rocky Mountains and when these were sighted there were still two hundred miles to MacLeod’s Lake, the farthest point I could reasonably hope to reach by open water. The first night we camped in the Quatre Fourches, the channel connecting the lake with the main stream of Peace River. The banks were thickly peopled with Indians and half-breeds, drying whitefish which were being taken in marvellous numbers; white and grey wavies and ducks of many kinds were flying overhead in large flocks, and rising in front of the canoe at every bend of the stream; plovers and other wading birds were screaming over the marshes, and I noticed a good many snipe; but who would fire a charge of ammunition at such a wretched little mouthful when geese were plentiful? Without going out of our way to hunt, we could have loaded the canoe with wild-fowl, but of course only killed as many as we required for food.
At the end of the Quatre Fourches we passed into the main stream of Peace River, and, with a sharp westward turn, commenced our ascent of the easiest of all the Northern waterways. From its junction with the Slave River to the first range of the Rocky Mountains, with only the obstruction of the shute some forty miles below Fort Vermillion, its course is navigable throughout for a light-draught steamer, and, but for this shute, would be an invaluable route for supplying the Hudson’s Bay Company’s upper river-posts.
You can read this book as we get in up at:
http://www.electriccanadian.com/hist...rren/index.htm
AD 1759 Battle For Canada
The Battle for Quebec, a video documentary.
You can see this at http://www.electriccanadian.com/hist...ebec/index.htm
Canadian Rangers
The Canadian Rangers are a sub-component of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) Reserve. They provide patrols and detachments for national-security and public-safety missions in sparsely settled northern, coastal and isolated areas of Canada that can not conveniently or economically be covered by other parts of the CAF.
You can read more about them at http://www.electriccanadian.com/forces/rangers.htm
The Flag in the Wind
This weeks issue was compiled by Fraser Hudghton in which he does a good article on our veterans.
You can read this issue at http://www.scotsindependent.org
Electric Scotland
The Scottish Historical Review
We are on Volume 13 and have now added the April 1916 issue. You can get to this at:
http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...w/volume13.htm
An excellent article on Scottish Influence on Orkney
Orkney and Shetland were colonized by the Norwegians in the seventh, eighth and ninth centuries, as were also the Hebrides, Caithness and Sutherland. The Norwegian earldom of Orkney and Shetland was founded by King Harald Hairfair about the year 880. Caithness and Sutherland were subdued and ruled as an independent state by the earls of Orkney from about the year 890 until 1014, when Caithness was definitely annexed as a Scottish earldom. This happened during the reign of the first king of all Scotland, whose daughter became the second wife of the Earl of Orkney. The son by that marriage was made the first earl of the Scottish earldom of Caithness, while his half-brothers, by the first marriage, succeeded to the Norwegian earldom of Orkney.
However, two lines of earls of Orkney and Caithness did not start here, because the first earl of Caithness succeeded in claiming a share of the earldom of Orkney as well, and in time his line became sole earls of both Orkney and Caithness, and thus owed allegiance to two sovereigns, a position which they manipulated in their political interests from time to time.
Another interesting article is on Seventeenth Century Receipts in that it shows some of the old medical prescriptions that were used back then. A particular nasty one is...
Take a fat Dogge, and kill him, and take out his Guts, and Bowels, and Gall, but keepe in the Heart, and Lungs, and Liver, then fill the body full of Frogges, and blacke Snailes, and sowe him up strongly, and rost him on a Spit, as long as he will drop one drop, then put the Liquor in a cleare Vessell, and put thereto a pint of Oyle of Bay, and blacke Soape one ounce, and temper them together, and anoint the grieved Part therewith.
You can read the previous issues at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/review/
Songs Of Scotland, Prior To Burns
This book is by Robert Chambers who is famous for collecting old Scottish Songs.
Added another four songs...
The Shepherd's Wife
The Ploughman
Aye Waukin' O!
The Lee-Rig
The Shepherd's Wife notes: In Herd’s Collection is a long rambling dialogue song, of not much merit, but sustained by a melody of uncommon beauty, and, for a Scotch sentimental air, animation. After the song had been in a great measure laid aside, the air retained popularity, and of late years it has been insured a sort of immortality by being adapted for the melody of Burns’s charming song, A Rose-bud by my early walk. The present editor, unwilling to see the original rustic song entirely perish, has here condensed and purified it, so as to fit it for modem society.
You can get to this book at the foot of the page at:
http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...ers_robert.htm
Enigma Machine
This is where we are publishing this set of puzzles created by Doug Ross which can now be found in Doctor's Surgeries, Old Folks Homes, etc.
Added Enigma Machine 40 puzzle which you can get to at:
http://www.electriccanadian.com/life.../enigma040.htm
The other puzzles we've already published can be found at:
http://www.electriccanadian.com/life...igma/index.htm
I might add that if you follow the Enigma Machine thread in our Community you can work with others on figuring out each puzzle. You can get to these messages at:
http://www.electricscotland.org/foru...le-amp-Whistle
Hugh posts each new puzzle in there and then by the end of the week will provide the answers and then add the next one. He also gives the odd hint to help you solve the puzzle.
Leaves from the Journal
From our life in the Highlands from 1848 to 1861 (1868)
We're now on her second book and this week added chapters on...
Highland Funeral 21 Oct 1875
Unveiling of the Statue of the Prince Consort at Edinburgh 17 Aug 1876
Presentation of Colours to “The Royal Scots” 26 Sept 1876
Expedition to Loch Maree 12 Sept 1877
Visit to Broxmouth 23 Aug 1878
Death of Sir Thomas Biddulph at Abergeldie Mains 28 Sept 1878
Memorial Cross to the Princess Alice, Grand Duchess of Hesse 22 May 1879
Here is the chapter on Highland Funeral...
When the coffin was being taken away, she sobbed bitterly. We took some whisky and water and cheese, according to the universal Highland custom, and then left, begging the dear old lady to bear up. I told her the parting was but for a time. We drove quickly on, and saw them go into the kirkyard, and through my glasses I could see them carry the coffin in. I was grieved I could not be in the kirkyard.
Saw my good Brown at a little before two. He said all had gone off well, but he seemed very sad; he had to go back to Mirras to meet all the family at tea. All this was terribly trying for the poor dear old widow, but could not be avoided. Already, yesterday morning, she had several of the wives and neighbours to tea. Every one was very kind and full of sympathy, and Brown was greatly gratified by the respect shown to him and his family to-day.
You can read the other chapters at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/leaves/
Merchant's Guide to Stirling & District
You can find this book towards the foot of our History of Stirlingshire page.
No entry this week but likely an entry tomorrow.
You can get to this book which we'll be adding to over the next few weeks at:
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/stirlingshire
Lord Charles Neaves
Added three more of his poems...
Old Noah's Invention
The Planting of the Vine
A Bottle and Friend
I haven't included any of these poems in here so to rectify that here is the one on Old Noah's Invention...
WE read that old Noah, soon after the Flood,
Found out a new liquor to quicken his blood:
Of water grown tired in his long navigation,
He hit on the process of vinification.
It doesn't appear that he took out a patent,
But the wondrous discovery wasn't long latent;
For Noah, though such might not be his intention,
Got drunk on this very stupendous invention.
And ever since then we have evidence ample,
Mankind have been following Noah's example.
Sometimes they get drunk, and sometimes they do not;
But the business of drinking is seldom forgot.
They drink when they're merry, they drink when they're sad;
They drink whensoever good drink's to be had.
What marriage or christening would meet with attention,
If you didn’t still practise this wondrous invention?
The Wine-Cup may Poetry claim as a daughter,
Though a poet or two have been drinkers of water:
Good wine to the wise is a swift-winged steed,
While abstainers in general come little speed.
Would Homer or Horace have written a line,
Without plenty of Greek and Falernian wine?
What where North without Ambrose? or who would e’er mention
A Socratic repast without Noah’s invention?
Some folks would persuade us from drink to abstain,
Tor they trace ev’ry crime to that terrible bane:
But if drinking’s a sin, yet I cannot help thinking,
Mankind have had sins independent of drinking.
The Antediluvians were free from that curse;
But their lives were no better,—in fact, they were worse:
And at least you can’t prove any moral declension,
Since the date when old Noah made known his invention.
Then wisely partake of the generous juice;
But don’t forfeit the boon by excess or abuse.
At your board let the Muses and Graces be found,
And the light-hearted Virtues still hover around.
And let this, I beseech you, be one of your rules,
Never show any folly in presence of fools;
For the wise man alone has a due comprehension,
And can make a right use—of old Noah’s invention.
You can view these at: http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...es_charles.htm
Scotland, Picturesque: Historical: Descriptive
This is a book we're serialising from the author of Historical Tales of the Wars of Scotland And of the Border Raids, Forays and Conflicts by John Parker Lawson (1839)
You need to scroll down the page to get to this book where we've now added...
No entries this week but should get one tomorrow.
You can get to this at: http://www.electricscotland.com/history/wars/
David Herschell Edwards
His 16 volumes of modern Scottish Poets is probably the most massive collection of poetry by anyone in the world and it's all about Scots poets which makes it all the more amazing. Each volume portrays around 100 poets and each poet has their own wee biography, a critical assessment and a few examples of their poetry.
No volume this week but hope to get Volume 11 in tomorrow.
You can get to this at: http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...ards_david.htm
Robert Louis Stevenson
A weekly serialisation of this intimate two volume biography of Robert Louis Stevenson by his cousin Graham Balfour.
Added this week...
Again no chapters this week but hopefully tomorrow.
You can read this chapter towards the foot of the page at:
http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...lstevenson.htm
Recollections of a Speyside Parish
By James Thomson (1902)
Just to give you a flavour of the writing of this book here is a paragraph from Lummies and the Mad Sow...
ONE of the most exciting incidents that happened during my time in the parish occurred on a hot Sunday afternoon in July. “Aul’ Lummies,” as he was called, having come from the Parish of Lumpbanan, took off a feu in the village and built a house upon it. The portion of land allotted to it was named after him “Lummie’s Knowe.” It was a barren heritage, and it was likely to remain in that condition, for “Lummies” was as “lazy as he was long.” His neighbour wives called him “a nesty sklipe.” One of them never uttered the contemptuous word but she spat upon the ground. When the minister spoke to him about the insanitary condition of his domicile and its surroundings, he replied—“A nuisance, sir! Fa ever heard sic a name for a muck midden?” On the Sunday afternoon referred to, “Lummies” went to the knowe to flit the cow, and there he lay down and fell asleep. He had not slept long when, to use his own words, “he never got sic a fleg in his life. A great muckle soo ran richt ower me squilein’ like a sticket beast. Then I sees aul’ ‘Bodies,’ wi’ nae coat on his back nor bonnet on his head, an’ a lot o’ mair fowk wi’ him, runnin’ doon the knowe like mad. ‘Bodies’ cries tae me, ‘Foo the d----l didna ye turn back the soo? Run efter her, man.’ I set aff an’ ran till I could run nae mair. I clappit doon for want o’ breath. Eppie Petrie tried tae turn her at the Clayholes, but she fleggit Eppie’s coo an’ the stirk, an’ they ran hame wi’ their tails on en’ an’ the soo ahin’ them.”
You can read the rest of this chapter at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist.../chapter13.pdf
You can read this book and the other chapters at: http://www.electricscotland.com/history/speyside/
Robert Burns Lives!
The G. Ross Roy Medal for 2013 will be awarded on November 14th and this year’s recipient is Dr. Michael Morris of the University of Glasgow.
Supervised by Professor Nigel Leask of the School of Critical Studies at the University of Glasgow, Michael earned his PhD earlier this year for an outstanding interdisciplinary thesis entitled ‘Atlantic Archipelagos: A Cultural History of Scotland, the Caribbean and the Atlantic World, c.1740-1833’. On the strength of his thesis, Michael has been offered a publishing contract with Routledge and was awarded the prestigious 2013 G. Ross Roy prize for the Best PhD in Scottish Literature, open to postgraduates from all universities in Scotland. Michael’s PhD proposes that the Caribbean, with its tragic history of slavery and exploitation, represents a ‘forgotten past’ for post-devolution Scotland, as well as recovering the thread of Scottishness in the ‘cross-cultural weaving loom’ of Caribbean identity. In examining a wide range of Scottish literature from the 18thand 19thcenturies, as well as the contemporary works like James Robertson’s modern classicJoseph Knight, Morris poses some searching questions for contemporary Scottish identity, without ever resorting to a facile ‘rhetoric of blame’. Morris’s forthcoming monograph will be published to coincide with the referendum on Scottish Independence in 2014 and will doubtless make a positive contribution to the broader discussion of that important event, to the extent that it excavates some of the deeper underlying issues at stake.
You can read this article at: http://www.electricscotland.com/fami...s_lives185.htm
Clan Leslie Society International
Got in their October 2013 newsletter.
You can read this issue at http://www.electricscotland.com/fami...ters/leslieint
Our Food: West of Scotland
Added a video of Our Food in the West of Scotland which you can view at:
http://www.electricscotland.com/nature
Ed Means Column
How the UK government has been mishandling Scotland's finances.
This is his first column for us with more to come in the weeks ahead. A good chance to learn about the issues around Scottish Independence.
You can read this at http://www.electricscotland.com/inde...ans/131109.htm
Beth's Newfangled Family Tree
Got in Section 2 of the December issue and Section 1 should be with us next week. You can get to this at:
http://www.electricscotland.com/bnft
100 Scottish Songs on YouTube
Found this collection of Scottish songs which I thought I'd share with you and have added a link to them from John's Scottish Sing-Along page at:http://www.electricscotland.com/poet...rson/singalong
Gaelic Song Lesson
Added a video of Rachel Walker giving a lesson on how to sing a Gaelic song, You can view this at:
http://www.electricscotland.com/gaelic
And finally...
A Prize Comment
I overheard a fellow saying,
“It's hard to stomach the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to Barack Obama, the leader of the most militarised country in the world! It’s a bit like giving Scottish National Party leader Alex Salmond a medal for services to the English Tourist Board.”
-----
Understanding Engineers
A pastor, a doctor and an engineer were waiting one morning for a particularly slow group of golfers. The engineer fumed, "What's with these guys? We must have been waiting for 15 minutes!
The doctor chimed in, "I don't know, but I've never seen such ineptitude!"
The pastor said, "Hey, here comes the greens keeper, let's have a word with him "Hi George! Say, what's with that group ahead of us? They're rather slow, aren't they?"
The greens keeper replied, "Oh, yes, that's a group of blind fire-fighters. They lost their sight saving our clubhouse from a fire last year, so we always let them play for free anytime."
The group was silent for a moment.
The pastor said, "That's so sad. I think I will say a special prayer for them tonight."
The doctor said, "Good idea. And I'm going to contact my ophthalmologist buddy and see if there's anything he can do for them."
The engineer said, "Why can't these guys play at night?"
-----
And that's it for this week and I hope you all have a good weekend.
Alastair
CONTENTS
Electric Scotland News
Electric Canadian
The Barren Ground of Northern Canada
AD 1759 Battle For Canada
Canadian Rangers
The Flag in the Wind
Electric Scotland
The Scottish Historical Review
Songs Of Scotland, Prior To Burns
Enigma Machine
Leaves from the Journal
Merchant's Guide to Stirling & District
Lord Charles Neaves
Scotland, Picturesque: Historical: Descriptive
David Herschell Edwards - Modern Poets
Robert Louis Stevenson
Recollections of a Speyside Parish
Robert Burns Lives!
Clan Leslie Society International
Our Food: West of Scotland
Ed Means Column
Beth's Newfangled Family Tree
100 Scottish Songs on YouTube
Gaelic Song Lesson
and finally
Electric Scotland News
Most of you will know that John Henderson helps out with providing some content to the site on a regular basis. Well his PC went down so has had to get a new one with all the hassle that can cause. He did manage to get some of his regular items to us today but a few other items will be arriving tomorrow and then we'll be back to our usual schedule.
-----
I'm on the Communications panel for COSCA and part of that work is to try and come up with a questionnaire, or in fact a series of them, to try to get a handle on how clan societies are performing. This is to try and discover information that might help them do better. The work also involves looking to see whether we can conduct questionnaires at Highland Games and also a possible one in Scotland to see how local Scots view clans.
One of the problems with this type of work is that clan societies are very independent and are usually not noted for working with others. This means it is really impossible to ask questions of society members unless you do it through the clan society. So some of the difficult questions that need answers are to do with the value that members see or don't see in being a clan member. Until we can ask these questions we won't really know what they think and it seems most clan societies don't want to ask these questions or if they do they are not keen to share the results.
There are a whole variety of questions I would like to ask such as is the newsletter of value as that is often the only benefit of membership. Then I feel that clan societies do not do a big enough job on enthusing their members. Often when you do sign up and pay for your membership you get nothing from the clan other than receiving a newsletter down the road. I have often thought that there should be a one off membership joining fee that would be sufficient to provide a book about the clan, a clan badge, tie, scarf or other goodies. That way you walk away with something and can wear your tartan tie or scarf or clan badge with pride. Problem is you are usually expected to purchase these goodies after you become a member.
Then I often see clans organising a clan gathering in Scotland but many can't afford to attend. I wonder if they did a gathering, say ever 5 years, if they couldn't arrange a monthly payment so that over the 5 years you'd have put in enough to pay to go to Scotland.
One other question of many that I'd also like to ask is if people would be interesting in "Adopting a clan". This is where an individual has no family ties to the clan but would like to adopt it and become part of the clan family.
I am considering posting a questionnaire on the site to see if clan members would be willing to complete it. I'm not sure how many might be prepared to do this but I suspect if I did this then I probably wouldn't be able to ask what clan you belong to. However, it still might give us an idea on how people feel about their membership. I'm also hoping that if it isn't clan specific then perhaps a few clan societies might be willing to recommend it to their members.
Anyway, something I'm considering.
-----
While this really has no connection to Scotland as such I thought I'd copy you into an email I received...
Have you ever wondered where that plane flying over head is going and what type of aircraft?
You can get to this facility at http://www.flightradar24.com/ and I did scroll to Scotland and found it at:
http://www.flightradar24.com/56.89,-3.58/7
Some tricks:
Drag the map to take you to the area you want to view
To view your region or town, you can zoom in by tapping with your mouse.
On the map you will see all the planes in the air.
Click on an airplane, and on the left screen you will get all the info on airline, type, speed, altitude in real time, re calculated every 10 seconds.
On some you can also click on view from the cockpit. You do need the Google Earth plug-in to view this.
-----
There is still a problem with the Arcade and so still patiently waiting on Steve to fix the issue.
Electric Canadian
The Barren Ground of Northern Canada
By Warburton Pike (1917).
We're now up to Chapter XV of this book.
Here is a wee bit from Chapter XIV...
By this time it was well on in September, and eight hundred miles had to be travelled to reach the Rocky Mountains and when these were sighted there were still two hundred miles to MacLeod’s Lake, the farthest point I could reasonably hope to reach by open water. The first night we camped in the Quatre Fourches, the channel connecting the lake with the main stream of Peace River. The banks were thickly peopled with Indians and half-breeds, drying whitefish which were being taken in marvellous numbers; white and grey wavies and ducks of many kinds were flying overhead in large flocks, and rising in front of the canoe at every bend of the stream; plovers and other wading birds were screaming over the marshes, and I noticed a good many snipe; but who would fire a charge of ammunition at such a wretched little mouthful when geese were plentiful? Without going out of our way to hunt, we could have loaded the canoe with wild-fowl, but of course only killed as many as we required for food.
At the end of the Quatre Fourches we passed into the main stream of Peace River, and, with a sharp westward turn, commenced our ascent of the easiest of all the Northern waterways. From its junction with the Slave River to the first range of the Rocky Mountains, with only the obstruction of the shute some forty miles below Fort Vermillion, its course is navigable throughout for a light-draught steamer, and, but for this shute, would be an invaluable route for supplying the Hudson’s Bay Company’s upper river-posts.
You can read this book as we get in up at:
http://www.electriccanadian.com/hist...rren/index.htm
AD 1759 Battle For Canada
The Battle for Quebec, a video documentary.
You can see this at http://www.electriccanadian.com/hist...ebec/index.htm
Canadian Rangers
The Canadian Rangers are a sub-component of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) Reserve. They provide patrols and detachments for national-security and public-safety missions in sparsely settled northern, coastal and isolated areas of Canada that can not conveniently or economically be covered by other parts of the CAF.
You can read more about them at http://www.electriccanadian.com/forces/rangers.htm
The Flag in the Wind
This weeks issue was compiled by Fraser Hudghton in which he does a good article on our veterans.
You can read this issue at http://www.scotsindependent.org
Electric Scotland
The Scottish Historical Review
We are on Volume 13 and have now added the April 1916 issue. You can get to this at:
http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...w/volume13.htm
An excellent article on Scottish Influence on Orkney
Orkney and Shetland were colonized by the Norwegians in the seventh, eighth and ninth centuries, as were also the Hebrides, Caithness and Sutherland. The Norwegian earldom of Orkney and Shetland was founded by King Harald Hairfair about the year 880. Caithness and Sutherland were subdued and ruled as an independent state by the earls of Orkney from about the year 890 until 1014, when Caithness was definitely annexed as a Scottish earldom. This happened during the reign of the first king of all Scotland, whose daughter became the second wife of the Earl of Orkney. The son by that marriage was made the first earl of the Scottish earldom of Caithness, while his half-brothers, by the first marriage, succeeded to the Norwegian earldom of Orkney.
However, two lines of earls of Orkney and Caithness did not start here, because the first earl of Caithness succeeded in claiming a share of the earldom of Orkney as well, and in time his line became sole earls of both Orkney and Caithness, and thus owed allegiance to two sovereigns, a position which they manipulated in their political interests from time to time.
Another interesting article is on Seventeenth Century Receipts in that it shows some of the old medical prescriptions that were used back then. A particular nasty one is...
Take a fat Dogge, and kill him, and take out his Guts, and Bowels, and Gall, but keepe in the Heart, and Lungs, and Liver, then fill the body full of Frogges, and blacke Snailes, and sowe him up strongly, and rost him on a Spit, as long as he will drop one drop, then put the Liquor in a cleare Vessell, and put thereto a pint of Oyle of Bay, and blacke Soape one ounce, and temper them together, and anoint the grieved Part therewith.
You can read the previous issues at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/review/
Songs Of Scotland, Prior To Burns
This book is by Robert Chambers who is famous for collecting old Scottish Songs.
Added another four songs...
The Shepherd's Wife
The Ploughman
Aye Waukin' O!
The Lee-Rig
The Shepherd's Wife notes: In Herd’s Collection is a long rambling dialogue song, of not much merit, but sustained by a melody of uncommon beauty, and, for a Scotch sentimental air, animation. After the song had been in a great measure laid aside, the air retained popularity, and of late years it has been insured a sort of immortality by being adapted for the melody of Burns’s charming song, A Rose-bud by my early walk. The present editor, unwilling to see the original rustic song entirely perish, has here condensed and purified it, so as to fit it for modem society.
You can get to this book at the foot of the page at:
http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...ers_robert.htm
Enigma Machine
This is where we are publishing this set of puzzles created by Doug Ross which can now be found in Doctor's Surgeries, Old Folks Homes, etc.
Added Enigma Machine 40 puzzle which you can get to at:
http://www.electriccanadian.com/life.../enigma040.htm
The other puzzles we've already published can be found at:
http://www.electriccanadian.com/life...igma/index.htm
I might add that if you follow the Enigma Machine thread in our Community you can work with others on figuring out each puzzle. You can get to these messages at:
http://www.electricscotland.org/foru...le-amp-Whistle
Hugh posts each new puzzle in there and then by the end of the week will provide the answers and then add the next one. He also gives the odd hint to help you solve the puzzle.
Leaves from the Journal
From our life in the Highlands from 1848 to 1861 (1868)
We're now on her second book and this week added chapters on...
Highland Funeral 21 Oct 1875
Unveiling of the Statue of the Prince Consort at Edinburgh 17 Aug 1876
Presentation of Colours to “The Royal Scots” 26 Sept 1876
Expedition to Loch Maree 12 Sept 1877
Visit to Broxmouth 23 Aug 1878
Death of Sir Thomas Biddulph at Abergeldie Mains 28 Sept 1878
Memorial Cross to the Princess Alice, Grand Duchess of Hesse 22 May 1879
Here is the chapter on Highland Funeral...
Thursday, October 21, 1875
Much grieved at its being a worse day than ever for the funeral of Brown’s father, [He had died on the 18th, aged 86, at Micras, opposite Abergeldie, on the other side of the river.] which sad ceremony was to take place to-day. The rain is hopeless—the ninth day! Quite unheard of! I saw good Brown a moment before breakfast; he was low and sad, and then going off to Micras. At twenty minutes to twelve drove with Beatrice and Janie Ely to Micras. As we drove up (unfortunately raining much) we met Dr. Robertson, and all along near the house were numbers of people — Brown told me afterwards he thought above a hundred. All my keepers, Mitchell the blacksmith (from Clachantum), Symon, Grant, Brown’s five uncles, Leys, Thomson (postmaster), and the forester, people below Micras and in Aberarder, and my people; Heale, Lohlein (returned this day from a week’s leave), Cowley Jarrett, Ross and Collins (sergeant footman), Brown and his four brothers, including Donald (who only arrived last night, and went to the Bush, his brother William’s farm), took us to the kitchen, where was poor dear old Mrs. Brown sitting near the fire and much upset, but still calm and dignified; Mrs. William Brown was most kind and helpful, and the old sister-in-law and her daughter; also the Hon. M. West, Mr. Sahl, Drs. Marshall and Profeit, Mr. Begg, and Dr. Robertson, who came in later. The sons, and a few whom Brown sent out of the kitchen, were in the other small room, where was the coffin. A small passage always divides the kitchen and the sitting-room in this old sort of farmhouse, in front of which is the door — the only door. Mr. Campbell, the minister of Crathie, stood in the passage at the door, every one else standing close outside. As soon as he began his prayer, poor dear old Mrs. Brown got up and came and stood near me — able to hear, though, alas! not to see — and leant on a chair during the very impressive prayers, which Mr. Campbell gave admirably. When it was over, Brown came and begged her to go and sit down while they took the coffin away, the brothers bearing it. Every one went out and followed, and we also hurried out and just saw them place the coffin in the hearse, and then we moved on to a hillock, whence we saw the sad procession wending its way sadly down. The sons were there, whom I distinguished easily from their being near good Brown, who wrore his kilt, walking near the hearse. All walked, except our gentlemen, who drove. It fortunately ceased raining just then. I went back to the house, and tried to soothe and comfort dear old Mrs. Brown, and gave her a mourning brooch with a little bit of her husband’s hair which had been cut off yesterday, and 1 shall give a locket to each of the sons.When the coffin was being taken away, she sobbed bitterly. We took some whisky and water and cheese, according to the universal Highland custom, and then left, begging the dear old lady to bear up. I told her the parting was but for a time. We drove quickly on, and saw them go into the kirkyard, and through my glasses I could see them carry the coffin in. I was grieved I could not be in the kirkyard.
Saw my good Brown at a little before two. He said all had gone off well, but he seemed very sad; he had to go back to Mirras to meet all the family at tea. All this was terribly trying for the poor dear old widow, but could not be avoided. Already, yesterday morning, she had several of the wives and neighbours to tea. Every one was very kind and full of sympathy, and Brown was greatly gratified by the respect shown to him and his family to-day.
You can read the other chapters at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/leaves/
Merchant's Guide to Stirling & District
You can find this book towards the foot of our History of Stirlingshire page.
No entry this week but likely an entry tomorrow.
You can get to this book which we'll be adding to over the next few weeks at:
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/stirlingshire
Lord Charles Neaves
Added three more of his poems...
Old Noah's Invention
The Planting of the Vine
A Bottle and Friend
I haven't included any of these poems in here so to rectify that here is the one on Old Noah's Invention...
WE read that old Noah, soon after the Flood,
Found out a new liquor to quicken his blood:
Of water grown tired in his long navigation,
He hit on the process of vinification.
It doesn't appear that he took out a patent,
But the wondrous discovery wasn't long latent;
For Noah, though such might not be his intention,
Got drunk on this very stupendous invention.
And ever since then we have evidence ample,
Mankind have been following Noah's example.
Sometimes they get drunk, and sometimes they do not;
But the business of drinking is seldom forgot.
They drink when they're merry, they drink when they're sad;
They drink whensoever good drink's to be had.
What marriage or christening would meet with attention,
If you didn’t still practise this wondrous invention?
The Wine-Cup may Poetry claim as a daughter,
Though a poet or two have been drinkers of water:
Good wine to the wise is a swift-winged steed,
While abstainers in general come little speed.
Would Homer or Horace have written a line,
Without plenty of Greek and Falernian wine?
What where North without Ambrose? or who would e’er mention
A Socratic repast without Noah’s invention?
Some folks would persuade us from drink to abstain,
Tor they trace ev’ry crime to that terrible bane:
But if drinking’s a sin, yet I cannot help thinking,
Mankind have had sins independent of drinking.
The Antediluvians were free from that curse;
But their lives were no better,—in fact, they were worse:
And at least you can’t prove any moral declension,
Since the date when old Noah made known his invention.
Then wisely partake of the generous juice;
But don’t forfeit the boon by excess or abuse.
At your board let the Muses and Graces be found,
And the light-hearted Virtues still hover around.
And let this, I beseech you, be one of your rules,
Never show any folly in presence of fools;
For the wise man alone has a due comprehension,
And can make a right use—of old Noah’s invention.
You can view these at: http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...es_charles.htm
Scotland, Picturesque: Historical: Descriptive
This is a book we're serialising from the author of Historical Tales of the Wars of Scotland And of the Border Raids, Forays and Conflicts by John Parker Lawson (1839)
You need to scroll down the page to get to this book where we've now added...
No entries this week but should get one tomorrow.
You can get to this at: http://www.electricscotland.com/history/wars/
David Herschell Edwards
His 16 volumes of modern Scottish Poets is probably the most massive collection of poetry by anyone in the world and it's all about Scots poets which makes it all the more amazing. Each volume portrays around 100 poets and each poet has their own wee biography, a critical assessment and a few examples of their poetry.
No volume this week but hope to get Volume 11 in tomorrow.
You can get to this at: http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...ards_david.htm
Robert Louis Stevenson
A weekly serialisation of this intimate two volume biography of Robert Louis Stevenson by his cousin Graham Balfour.
Added this week...
Again no chapters this week but hopefully tomorrow.
You can read this chapter towards the foot of the page at:
http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...lstevenson.htm
Recollections of a Speyside Parish
By James Thomson (1902)
Just to give you a flavour of the writing of this book here is a paragraph from Lummies and the Mad Sow...
ONE of the most exciting incidents that happened during my time in the parish occurred on a hot Sunday afternoon in July. “Aul’ Lummies,” as he was called, having come from the Parish of Lumpbanan, took off a feu in the village and built a house upon it. The portion of land allotted to it was named after him “Lummie’s Knowe.” It was a barren heritage, and it was likely to remain in that condition, for “Lummies” was as “lazy as he was long.” His neighbour wives called him “a nesty sklipe.” One of them never uttered the contemptuous word but she spat upon the ground. When the minister spoke to him about the insanitary condition of his domicile and its surroundings, he replied—“A nuisance, sir! Fa ever heard sic a name for a muck midden?” On the Sunday afternoon referred to, “Lummies” went to the knowe to flit the cow, and there he lay down and fell asleep. He had not slept long when, to use his own words, “he never got sic a fleg in his life. A great muckle soo ran richt ower me squilein’ like a sticket beast. Then I sees aul’ ‘Bodies,’ wi’ nae coat on his back nor bonnet on his head, an’ a lot o’ mair fowk wi’ him, runnin’ doon the knowe like mad. ‘Bodies’ cries tae me, ‘Foo the d----l didna ye turn back the soo? Run efter her, man.’ I set aff an’ ran till I could run nae mair. I clappit doon for want o’ breath. Eppie Petrie tried tae turn her at the Clayholes, but she fleggit Eppie’s coo an’ the stirk, an’ they ran hame wi’ their tails on en’ an’ the soo ahin’ them.”
You can read the rest of this chapter at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist.../chapter13.pdf
You can read this book and the other chapters at: http://www.electricscotland.com/history/speyside/
Robert Burns Lives!
The G. Ross Roy Medal for 2013 will be awarded on November 14th and this year’s recipient is Dr. Michael Morris of the University of Glasgow.
Supervised by Professor Nigel Leask of the School of Critical Studies at the University of Glasgow, Michael earned his PhD earlier this year for an outstanding interdisciplinary thesis entitled ‘Atlantic Archipelagos: A Cultural History of Scotland, the Caribbean and the Atlantic World, c.1740-1833’. On the strength of his thesis, Michael has been offered a publishing contract with Routledge and was awarded the prestigious 2013 G. Ross Roy prize for the Best PhD in Scottish Literature, open to postgraduates from all universities in Scotland. Michael’s PhD proposes that the Caribbean, with its tragic history of slavery and exploitation, represents a ‘forgotten past’ for post-devolution Scotland, as well as recovering the thread of Scottishness in the ‘cross-cultural weaving loom’ of Caribbean identity. In examining a wide range of Scottish literature from the 18thand 19thcenturies, as well as the contemporary works like James Robertson’s modern classicJoseph Knight, Morris poses some searching questions for contemporary Scottish identity, without ever resorting to a facile ‘rhetoric of blame’. Morris’s forthcoming monograph will be published to coincide with the referendum on Scottish Independence in 2014 and will doubtless make a positive contribution to the broader discussion of that important event, to the extent that it excavates some of the deeper underlying issues at stake.
You can read this article at: http://www.electricscotland.com/fami...s_lives185.htm
Clan Leslie Society International
Got in their October 2013 newsletter.
You can read this issue at http://www.electricscotland.com/fami...ters/leslieint
Our Food: West of Scotland
Added a video of Our Food in the West of Scotland which you can view at:
http://www.electricscotland.com/nature
Ed Means Column
How the UK government has been mishandling Scotland's finances.
This is his first column for us with more to come in the weeks ahead. A good chance to learn about the issues around Scottish Independence.
You can read this at http://www.electricscotland.com/inde...ans/131109.htm
Beth's Newfangled Family Tree
Got in Section 2 of the December issue and Section 1 should be with us next week. You can get to this at:
http://www.electricscotland.com/bnft
100 Scottish Songs on YouTube
Found this collection of Scottish songs which I thought I'd share with you and have added a link to them from John's Scottish Sing-Along page at:http://www.electricscotland.com/poet...rson/singalong
Gaelic Song Lesson
Added a video of Rachel Walker giving a lesson on how to sing a Gaelic song, You can view this at:
http://www.electricscotland.com/gaelic
And finally...
A Prize Comment
I overheard a fellow saying,
“It's hard to stomach the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to Barack Obama, the leader of the most militarised country in the world! It’s a bit like giving Scottish National Party leader Alex Salmond a medal for services to the English Tourist Board.”
-----
Understanding Engineers
A pastor, a doctor and an engineer were waiting one morning for a particularly slow group of golfers. The engineer fumed, "What's with these guys? We must have been waiting for 15 minutes!
The doctor chimed in, "I don't know, but I've never seen such ineptitude!"
The pastor said, "Hey, here comes the greens keeper, let's have a word with him "Hi George! Say, what's with that group ahead of us? They're rather slow, aren't they?"
The greens keeper replied, "Oh, yes, that's a group of blind fire-fighters. They lost their sight saving our clubhouse from a fire last year, so we always let them play for free anytime."
The group was silent for a moment.
The pastor said, "That's so sad. I think I will say a special prayer for them tonight."
The doctor said, "Good idea. And I'm going to contact my ophthalmologist buddy and see if there's anything he can do for them."
The engineer said, "Why can't these guys play at night?"
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And that's it for this week and I hope you all have a good weekend.
Alastair