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Electric Scotland News
The good news is that at 7.00 or so pm today (Thursday) I at last managed to get into the site and able to publish again. I hope we've done enough to stop that hacker but only time will tell.
-----
The big news this week is really all about Robert Burns Lives! with Frank's 200th chapter. Anyone that completes 200 chapters deserves to be read and he's done an outstanding job over all these years educating us all on Robert Burns and his legacy.
You can read this 200th chapter at http://www.electricscotland.com/fami...s_lives200.htm
Electric Canadian
Muskoka Memories, Sketches from Real Life
By Ann Hathaway (1904)
We're now up to chapter IX with this book which you can read at:
http://www.electriccanadian.com/hist...koka/index.htm
Nova Scotia Historical Society, Reports and Collections
I have found a number of volumes from this Society and have added the first four to get you started. I'll be adding more as I find them.
I added Volume XVI 1912 which includes, Papers, Memoir Lieut. Governor Michael Francklin, 1752-1782, with portraits, by James S. Macdonald. The Trent Affair with portraits, by George Johnson, D. C. L., James William Johnston, First Premier of Nova Scotia under Responsible Government, with portrait, by John V. Payzant, M. A., Notes Historical and Otherwise of the Northern District of Queens County, by R. R. McLeod, M. A., History of St. Matthew's Church, Halifax, N. S., with portraits, by Prof. Walter Murray, M. A., LL. D., Early Reminiscenes of Halifax, with portraits, by Peter Lynch, Q. C., Papers read before the Society, 1878-1912
You can read this volume at http://www.electriccanadian.com/hist...ions/index.htm
The Flag in the Wind
This weeks issue was compiled by Jim Lynch where he comments on a newspaper that supports YES and another that says NO plus a Synopsis.
You can read this issue at http://www.scotsindependent.org
Electric Scotland
Alexander Murdoch (1841-1891)
A Scottish Engineer, Poet, Author, Journalist
Added a third book called "Scotch Readings: Humorous and Amusing" and we're breaking this down into individual chapters for you to read. We've added two more chapters, "Davie Tosh's Hogmanay Adventure" and "Gleska Mutton, 4d Per Pound" which you can find at the foot of the page at:
http://www.electricscotland.com/poet...doch/index.htm
Thomas Dick Lauder
This is an author that wrote many historical books and we are going to be bringing you a selection of his books over the next few months.. We are starting on his 3 volume book "Lochandu".
Hope you are enjoying this book. Added another two chapters which brings us up to chapter 16 and that completes Volume 1 and you can find these at the foot of the page at: http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...er_thomas1.htm
Enigma Machine
Added puzzle 61 which you can get to at http://www.electriccanadian.com/life.../enigma061.htm
Scottish Historical Review
Added the July 1922 issue. It includes three interesting articles, "Sir Archibald Lawrie's Charter Collections", "Relation of the Manner of of Scotland and Roman Advance in Britain" and the "City of Perth".
You can read this issue at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...w/volume19.htm
The Book of Scottish Anecdote
Humorous, Social, Legendary and Historical edited by Alexander Hislop, eighth edition.
As I got no volunteers to collate the Burns anecdotes I did them myself and they can be viewed at:
http://www.electricscotland.com/burn..._anecdotes.htm
Added pages 352 to 401. You can read these at: http://www.electricscotland.com/history/anecdote
Alan Cunningham
This distinguished poet entered the world under those lowly circumstances, and was educated under those disadvantages, which have so signally characterized the history of the best of our Scottish bards.
We've added chapter XIV to the Life of Alan Cunningham.
You can read it at the foot of his page at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...gham_allan.htm
Life Sketches from Scottish History of Brief Biographies of the Scottish Presbyterian Worthies
We now have the first 14 worthies up for you to read. Will complete the book next week.
You can read this book at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...hies/index.htm
The Northern Highlands in the Nineteenth Century
Some years ago I published the 2 volumes in this set. Well I have now found a third volume is now available and so have started to work on this.
Now added issue 1, 1842, which you can read at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...lands/3no1.htm
Robert Burns Lives!
Edited by Frank Shaw
His 200th chapter: Celebrating Frank's 200th Chapter of Robert Burns Lives! By Alastair McIntyre
I began writing this column even before it first appeared in September 2002 on www.electricscotland.com. At times it seemed like a chore with my work pulling me to different cities throughout the southeast United States on a weekly basis (after all the bills had to be paid!) but yet most of the time it was a joy. Through this website I have met many a good man and woman, many a layman or professor, Burnsians and some who wanted to be. I have met a vast number of friendly people, but one time I encountered a rascal of a man who told me I had offended him because I mispronounced a word. He was the exception! I’ve often wondered how this Glaswegian would have sounded to my fellow Southerners here in America. I have made permanent friends with some over the years and eaten with many in their homes and in restaurants throughout Scotland, England, France, and in the States. Quite a few have even been overnight guests of Susan and me in our home, some so long it was tempting to put their names on strips of paper, drop them in a hat, and then naming the guest room after the person whose name was picked.
I have grown tremendously in my knowledge and understanding of Burns. He is not simply someone to study, he is someone I cannot help but love. I am not afraid of Burns and neither do I feel unworthy to write about him. I do not worship him and neither do I feel unworthy to represent him. Why, you ask? Because Burns championed the dignity of man! If I chose to, I could verbally arm wrestle or tilt with many Burnsians but I see no need to find out who can quote the most of Burns, as if quoting is what makes one a Burns scholar.
As any rookie might, I made a big error in introducing this website when I stated it was for laymen. How foolish of me! Now as I look back on the history of Robert Burns Lives!, I find that professors, others with earned doctorates, and lecturers volunteered to write for the website. I have been introduced as a Burns scholar on more than one occasion, but I beg to disagree. I have made it clear that a Burns scholar is usually one who has given his or her entire life to teaching Burns. Ross Roy is a great example as are many associated with universities. I may collect Burns books, manuscripts, busts, as well as pictures and paintings, the so-called Burnsiana, but that does not make one a scholar, particularly me.
I have been lucky to meet and cultivate many friendships in the name of Robert Burns. Alastair McIntyre stands out in this category. He wrote me sometime back with a reminder that we were approaching our 200thchapter of Robert Burns Lives!. As owner and publisher of electricscotland, he suggested I ask someone to write about this milestone. (For the 150th chapter, Professor Ross Roy willingly accepted my invitation.) So following Alastair’s idea, I made a list of ten people whom I felt comfortable contacting and, not surprisingly, one of the names was Alastair himself. After a short time of reflection, I chose Alastair because only he knows of the many times we have worked together to get a chapter right, many times right up to his deadline. He has always been a gentleman and, for someone who has lived all over the world, he is a “down to earth” fellow. Alastair had earlier shared with me his goal to reach “a million hits” (or “visits” as he calls them) on electricscotland and I’m happy to report that the projected number of hits has come and gone by millions more. I cannot imagine reaching a million viewers, much less millions upon millions, as Alastair has. It seems strange to welcome him to the pages of Robert Burns Lives! but that is what I have the honor of doing now. (FRS: 5.7.14)
You can read the article at http://www.electricscotland.com/fami...s_lives200.htm
Clan Leslie International
Got in the April 2014 newsletter which you can read at:
http://www.electricscotland.com/fami...ters/leslieint
MacIsaac
Found a little information on the MacIsaac name which I've added to our MacDonald page and you can read this at:http://www.electricscotland.com/webclans/m/macisaac.htm
Henry Dryerre
Compositor, Poet, Journalist and Musician.
John found this person and thought more information about him would be welcomed by Electric Scotland readers. He wrote a book: "Blairgowrie, Stormont and Strathmore Worthies" with 51 biographical sketches and he's going to send in a couple a week for us.
You can read these at: http://www.electricscotland.com/poet...erre/index.htm
National Geographic: Wild Scotland - The Western Isles
Added this video to our Nature page at http://www.electricscotland.com/nature/index.htm
The Longest Running Gentleman's Agreement in the History of World Trade
By Adrien von Ferscht
Adrien got in touch to tell us about this article so we have a wee summary of it and a link to the full article at:
http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...ina/silver.htm
The Working Life of Christina McKelvie MSP
Got in her column for 2nd May 2014.
You can read this at: http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...vie/140502.htm
And Finally...
Nola sent us in an amusing story...
For those connoisseurs of the English language:
His Lordship was in the study at Downton Abbey when Carson, the butler approached and coughed discreetly.
"May I ask you a question, my lord?"
"Go ahead, Carson," said his lordship.
"I am doing crossword in 'The Times' and I have found a word about which I am not too clear."
"What word is that?" asked his lordship.
"The word is 'aplomb', my lord."
"That is a difficult word to explain. I would say it means 'self-assurance' or 'complete composure'."
"Thank you, my lord, but I'm still a little confused."
"Then, let me give you an example to make it clearer. Do you remember a few months ago the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge arrived to spend a weekend with us?"
"Of course, my lord, I remember the occasion very well. It gave the staff and myself much pleasure to look after them."
"Also", continued the Earl of Grantham, "do you remember that William plucked a rose for Kate in the rose garden?"
"I was indeed present on that occasion, my lord."
"And while plucking the rose, a thorn embedded itself very deeply in his thumb?"
"Yes," replied Carson. "I witnessed the incident, my lord, and saw the Duchess herself remove the thorn and bandage his thumb with her own dainty handkerchief."
"And that evening, the prick on his thumb was so sore that Kate had to cut up his venison, even though being from our own estate it was extremely tender."
"Yes, my lord, I saw and heard what transpired."
"Then the next morning, while you were pouring coffee for Her Ladyship, Kate enquired of William in a loud voice, 'Darling is your prick still throbbing this morning?'"
"And you, Carson, did not spill one drop of coffee! That was aplomb!"
And that's it for this week and I hope you all have a good weekend.
Alastair
The good news is that at 7.00 or so pm today (Thursday) I at last managed to get into the site and able to publish again. I hope we've done enough to stop that hacker but only time will tell.
-----
The big news this week is really all about Robert Burns Lives! with Frank's 200th chapter. Anyone that completes 200 chapters deserves to be read and he's done an outstanding job over all these years educating us all on Robert Burns and his legacy.
You can read this 200th chapter at http://www.electricscotland.com/fami...s_lives200.htm
Electric Canadian
Muskoka Memories, Sketches from Real Life
By Ann Hathaway (1904)
We're now up to chapter IX with this book which you can read at:
http://www.electriccanadian.com/hist...koka/index.htm
Nova Scotia Historical Society, Reports and Collections
I have found a number of volumes from this Society and have added the first four to get you started. I'll be adding more as I find them.
I added Volume XVI 1912 which includes, Papers, Memoir Lieut. Governor Michael Francklin, 1752-1782, with portraits, by James S. Macdonald. The Trent Affair with portraits, by George Johnson, D. C. L., James William Johnston, First Premier of Nova Scotia under Responsible Government, with portrait, by John V. Payzant, M. A., Notes Historical and Otherwise of the Northern District of Queens County, by R. R. McLeod, M. A., History of St. Matthew's Church, Halifax, N. S., with portraits, by Prof. Walter Murray, M. A., LL. D., Early Reminiscenes of Halifax, with portraits, by Peter Lynch, Q. C., Papers read before the Society, 1878-1912
You can read this volume at http://www.electriccanadian.com/hist...ions/index.htm
The Flag in the Wind
This weeks issue was compiled by Jim Lynch where he comments on a newspaper that supports YES and another that says NO plus a Synopsis.
You can read this issue at http://www.scotsindependent.org
Electric Scotland
Alexander Murdoch (1841-1891)
A Scottish Engineer, Poet, Author, Journalist
Added a third book called "Scotch Readings: Humorous and Amusing" and we're breaking this down into individual chapters for you to read. We've added two more chapters, "Davie Tosh's Hogmanay Adventure" and "Gleska Mutton, 4d Per Pound" which you can find at the foot of the page at:
http://www.electricscotland.com/poet...doch/index.htm
Thomas Dick Lauder
This is an author that wrote many historical books and we are going to be bringing you a selection of his books over the next few months.. We are starting on his 3 volume book "Lochandu".
Hope you are enjoying this book. Added another two chapters which brings us up to chapter 16 and that completes Volume 1 and you can find these at the foot of the page at: http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...er_thomas1.htm
Enigma Machine
Added puzzle 61 which you can get to at http://www.electriccanadian.com/life.../enigma061.htm
Scottish Historical Review
Added the July 1922 issue. It includes three interesting articles, "Sir Archibald Lawrie's Charter Collections", "Relation of the Manner of of Scotland and Roman Advance in Britain" and the "City of Perth".
You can read this issue at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...w/volume19.htm
The Book of Scottish Anecdote
Humorous, Social, Legendary and Historical edited by Alexander Hislop, eighth edition.
As I got no volunteers to collate the Burns anecdotes I did them myself and they can be viewed at:
http://www.electricscotland.com/burn..._anecdotes.htm
Added pages 352 to 401. You can read these at: http://www.electricscotland.com/history/anecdote
Alan Cunningham
This distinguished poet entered the world under those lowly circumstances, and was educated under those disadvantages, which have so signally characterized the history of the best of our Scottish bards.
We've added chapter XIV to the Life of Alan Cunningham.
You can read it at the foot of his page at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...gham_allan.htm
Life Sketches from Scottish History of Brief Biographies of the Scottish Presbyterian Worthies
We now have the first 14 worthies up for you to read. Will complete the book next week.
You can read this book at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...hies/index.htm
The Northern Highlands in the Nineteenth Century
Some years ago I published the 2 volumes in this set. Well I have now found a third volume is now available and so have started to work on this.
Now added issue 1, 1842, which you can read at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...lands/3no1.htm
Robert Burns Lives!
Edited by Frank Shaw
His 200th chapter: Celebrating Frank's 200th Chapter of Robert Burns Lives! By Alastair McIntyre
I began writing this column even before it first appeared in September 2002 on www.electricscotland.com. At times it seemed like a chore with my work pulling me to different cities throughout the southeast United States on a weekly basis (after all the bills had to be paid!) but yet most of the time it was a joy. Through this website I have met many a good man and woman, many a layman or professor, Burnsians and some who wanted to be. I have met a vast number of friendly people, but one time I encountered a rascal of a man who told me I had offended him because I mispronounced a word. He was the exception! I’ve often wondered how this Glaswegian would have sounded to my fellow Southerners here in America. I have made permanent friends with some over the years and eaten with many in their homes and in restaurants throughout Scotland, England, France, and in the States. Quite a few have even been overnight guests of Susan and me in our home, some so long it was tempting to put their names on strips of paper, drop them in a hat, and then naming the guest room after the person whose name was picked.
I have grown tremendously in my knowledge and understanding of Burns. He is not simply someone to study, he is someone I cannot help but love. I am not afraid of Burns and neither do I feel unworthy to write about him. I do not worship him and neither do I feel unworthy to represent him. Why, you ask? Because Burns championed the dignity of man! If I chose to, I could verbally arm wrestle or tilt with many Burnsians but I see no need to find out who can quote the most of Burns, as if quoting is what makes one a Burns scholar.
As any rookie might, I made a big error in introducing this website when I stated it was for laymen. How foolish of me! Now as I look back on the history of Robert Burns Lives!, I find that professors, others with earned doctorates, and lecturers volunteered to write for the website. I have been introduced as a Burns scholar on more than one occasion, but I beg to disagree. I have made it clear that a Burns scholar is usually one who has given his or her entire life to teaching Burns. Ross Roy is a great example as are many associated with universities. I may collect Burns books, manuscripts, busts, as well as pictures and paintings, the so-called Burnsiana, but that does not make one a scholar, particularly me.
I have been lucky to meet and cultivate many friendships in the name of Robert Burns. Alastair McIntyre stands out in this category. He wrote me sometime back with a reminder that we were approaching our 200thchapter of Robert Burns Lives!. As owner and publisher of electricscotland, he suggested I ask someone to write about this milestone. (For the 150th chapter, Professor Ross Roy willingly accepted my invitation.) So following Alastair’s idea, I made a list of ten people whom I felt comfortable contacting and, not surprisingly, one of the names was Alastair himself. After a short time of reflection, I chose Alastair because only he knows of the many times we have worked together to get a chapter right, many times right up to his deadline. He has always been a gentleman and, for someone who has lived all over the world, he is a “down to earth” fellow. Alastair had earlier shared with me his goal to reach “a million hits” (or “visits” as he calls them) on electricscotland and I’m happy to report that the projected number of hits has come and gone by millions more. I cannot imagine reaching a million viewers, much less millions upon millions, as Alastair has. It seems strange to welcome him to the pages of Robert Burns Lives! but that is what I have the honor of doing now. (FRS: 5.7.14)
You can read the article at http://www.electricscotland.com/fami...s_lives200.htm
Clan Leslie International
Got in the April 2014 newsletter which you can read at:
http://www.electricscotland.com/fami...ters/leslieint
MacIsaac
Found a little information on the MacIsaac name which I've added to our MacDonald page and you can read this at:http://www.electricscotland.com/webclans/m/macisaac.htm
Henry Dryerre
Compositor, Poet, Journalist and Musician.
John found this person and thought more information about him would be welcomed by Electric Scotland readers. He wrote a book: "Blairgowrie, Stormont and Strathmore Worthies" with 51 biographical sketches and he's going to send in a couple a week for us.
You can read these at: http://www.electricscotland.com/poet...erre/index.htm
National Geographic: Wild Scotland - The Western Isles
Added this video to our Nature page at http://www.electricscotland.com/nature/index.htm
The Longest Running Gentleman's Agreement in the History of World Trade
By Adrien von Ferscht
Adrien got in touch to tell us about this article so we have a wee summary of it and a link to the full article at:
http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...ina/silver.htm
The Working Life of Christina McKelvie MSP
Got in her column for 2nd May 2014.
You can read this at: http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...vie/140502.htm
And Finally...
Nola sent us in an amusing story...
For those connoisseurs of the English language:
His Lordship was in the study at Downton Abbey when Carson, the butler approached and coughed discreetly.
"May I ask you a question, my lord?"
"Go ahead, Carson," said his lordship.
"I am doing crossword in 'The Times' and I have found a word about which I am not too clear."
"What word is that?" asked his lordship.
"The word is 'aplomb', my lord."
"That is a difficult word to explain. I would say it means 'self-assurance' or 'complete composure'."
"Thank you, my lord, but I'm still a little confused."
"Then, let me give you an example to make it clearer. Do you remember a few months ago the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge arrived to spend a weekend with us?"
"Of course, my lord, I remember the occasion very well. It gave the staff and myself much pleasure to look after them."
"Also", continued the Earl of Grantham, "do you remember that William plucked a rose for Kate in the rose garden?"
"I was indeed present on that occasion, my lord."
"And while plucking the rose, a thorn embedded itself very deeply in his thumb?"
"Yes," replied Carson. "I witnessed the incident, my lord, and saw the Duchess herself remove the thorn and bandage his thumb with her own dainty handkerchief."
"And that evening, the prick on his thumb was so sore that Kate had to cut up his venison, even though being from our own estate it was extremely tender."
"Yes, my lord, I saw and heard what transpired."
"Then the next morning, while you were pouring coffee for Her Ladyship, Kate enquired of William in a loud voice, 'Darling is your prick still throbbing this morning?'"
"And you, Carson, did not spill one drop of coffee! That was aplomb!"
And that's it for this week and I hope you all have a good weekend.
Alastair
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