Tweet
CONTENTS
--------
Electric Scotland News
Electric Scotland Community
The Flag in the Wind
Holiday Cottages
Gairloch in North-West Ross-Shire
Chronicals of a Country Cobbler
Book of Scottish Story
John MacKintosh
Scottish Notes and Queries
The Kingdom of Fife
Glasgow
Scottish Loch Scenery
Oor Mither Tongue
Poems of William Dixon Cocker
Robert Burns Lives!
Pipes of War
Geikie's Etchings
From the Clyde to California (New Book)
Schots Weekend in Belgium
Electric Scotland News
----------------------
This newsletter is going out earlier than usual as I'm attending a Knights Templar Garden Party in Toronto this evening.
-----
Well the news this week revolves around a test of a toolbar that is added to the foot of any page of our ElectricScotland.com web site.
I'd certainly appreciate your feedback on what you think about it but let me explain what it's all about.
From the left hand side you get...
1. A search box which defaults to searching our site but if you click on the drop down you can also search the web.
2. Next you'll see a wee globe and this option lets you translate the page you are on to a variety of different languages. I've aleady had a native French speaker test it out on French and also Spanish. He told be it was actually very good although he said some of the fonts were a bit messed up but certainly very readable.
3. Next is the star icon which delivers the most recent posts on the site which so far seems to be our What's new page.
4. Then the Facebook "Like" button where if you have signed on to connect to Facebook, of which more later, you can register that you like a page.
5. A small picture of person is the next one and that gives you some stats on how many people are visiting the site right now and where in the world they are from. It also shows the top 3 pages they are visiting.
6. Then there are 2 small arrow icons. Each of these will bring up a table of links to various parts of our web site.
7. YouTube is the next icon which shows you the current top videos on that service in a wall of thumbnails where you can click on any of them to play the video.
8. twitter is the next one where you can display your own page in twitter in one window and view someone else in another.
9. Share is the next one. Clicking on that you can share the page you are viewing with people in the social networks or by email.
10. We then move to the Connect icon where when hovered over a window comes up to let you connect to your Facebook, Twitter, MySpace or Yahoo account. When you do connect to one of those a Chat icon will appear meaning you can chat with any others that are online.
11. There is then a kind of radio icon to the right of the connect bar where we can make an accouncement and clickin on that you can read the announcement.
13. And then at the extreme right there is a down arrow kind of icon which when clicked on reduces the menu bar to just a small icon which will says Tools on it. I've already been told that is seems to remember your setting as when you come back to the site it will remain in the state you left it in which is either the full toolbar or just the Tools icon.
I've been told that they intend to add a comments option which means you can add a comment to any page and that I feel would be a worthwhile addition.
And so that's the Toolbar.
We've been doing a huge amount of work to get it working in all browsers and after lots of hours of work it does seen to be reliable.
This now means we'll live with it for a wee while while we decide if this is something we should keep or do away with and of course we'd love to hear what you think of it.
I might just add that there is a version of it that is compatible with our Electric Scotland Community so we might try it in there as well.
-----
Also just as a reminder I am intending to spend some time at the Fergus Highland Games next Saturday, 14th August. It's my intention to spend most of my time at the Clan Tents area as I'd like to pick up some wee videos if I can. Just for the occasion I'll likely wear my Electric Scotland Baseball cap to make it easier to recognize me.
ABOUT THE STORIES
-----------------
Some of the stories in here are just parts of a larger story so do check out the site for the full versions. You can always find the link in our "What's New" section in our site menu and at http://www.electricscotland.com/rss/whatsnew.php
Electric Scotland Community
---------------------------
We've added a new "Communities" group to our forums as we see this as being something for the future. We moved the Gairloch and Loch Maree Group under this new group as it doesn't look to being used by that community. To that we've added another forum for "North Halton Celtic Historical Society" which is a group I've been working with for a while.
Two issues remain one of which is the Postcard program where we still await some support from the company. The other issue is the chat facility and here we may decide to try another option.
We did, as I suggested we might, remove the Media option and so we are still seeking a better way for you to upload audio and video files.
We understand there is another update of our underlying software that may be available in the next week so we hope that won't break anything.
Our community can be viewed at http://www.electricscotland.org/forum.php
THE FLAG IN THE WIND
--------------------
As I had to do the newsletter earlier than usual I don't know who is doing this weeks newsletter but it will be there.
You can read the compilation at http://www.scotsindependent.org
Holiday Cottages
----------------
These are wee tourism articles. Got in this week...
East Lothian - A true Scottish treat
This can be read at http://www.electricscotland.com/travel/holidayndx.htm
Gairloch in North-West Ross-Shire
---------------------------------
It's Records, Traditions, Inhabitants and Natural History with a Guide to Gairloch and Loch Maree and a Map and Illustrations" by John H. Dixon FSA Scot. published in 1886.
Added this week...
Part IV.—Guide to Gairloch and Loch Maree.
Chapter VI.—The Gairloch Hotel to Poolewe
Chapter VII.—Poolewe to Aultbea
Chapter VIII.—Excursions from Kenlochewe
Chapter IX.—Excursions from Talladale
Chapter X.—Excursions from Gairloch
Chapter XI.—Excursions from Poolewe
Chapter XII.—Excursions from Aultbea
Chapter VI starts...
STARTING northwards from the Gairloch Hotel, the hamlet of Achtercairn (Part IV., chap, x.) is the first place we pass; Achtercairn House (Dr Robertson) is on the right.
As the road ascends the Achtercairn Brae the village of Strath of Gairloch is well seen. The house in the largest grove of trees is the Established church manse (Rev. D. S. Mackenzie), in the enlargement of which in 1823 the celebrated geologist and author, Hugh Miller, took part as a mason's lad. In another grove in Strath is the Cottage Hospital, founded by Mr Francis H. Mackenzie, but now-disused and occupied as a dwelling-house.
From the higher parts of the Achtercairn Brae there are splendid views of the Bay of Gairloch and the hills of Skye. From one point near the top of the Brae the jagged summits of the Cuchullins in Skye may be discerned.
To the left of the road, as the higher part is gained, there is a fine deep gorge down which the Achtercairn burn or river rushes; it forms a pretty cascade in the higher part. A rock on the north side of the gorge is called Craig an Fhithich, because a raven formerly nested in a crevice on the face of it. After a short descent notice a large boulder.on the right of the road called "The shoestone" (Clach nam Brog), from the fact that women who had walked barefoot over the hills on their way to church at Gairloch were (and still frequently are) accustomed here to resume their shoes and stockings. To the left is a reedy loch on the minister's glebe, called Loch Feur, a haunt of ducks and other wildfowl. Another small loch, called Lochan nan Breac, or Lochan nan Breac Adhair, lies still further to the left.
You can read the rest of this account at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...rloch/g264.htm
You can read all these chapters at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...loch/g2ndx.htm
Chronicals of a Country Cobbler
-------------------------------
By A Willock (1887)
Adding more chapters to this book...
Chapter XVII.—The midnight alarm
Chapter XVIII.—The burglary
Chapter XIX.—The Macartney legacy
Chapter XX.—Love laughs at Locksmith
Chapter XXI—Some shows
Chapter XXII.—Ither shows
Chapter XXIII.—A scrape wi' a bear
You can read these at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...bler/index.htm
Featured Pictures
-----------------
A visit to Newtonmore and the Highland Folk Museum is well worth a visit if you make it to Scotland. It shows how folk lived in the olden days and here are a few pictures from my own visit that I made several years ago.
Showing the field where they would grow crops
Croft and Duck Pond
A typical croft house.
Book of Scottish Story
----------------------
We've started "The Penny Wedding" and now have up Part 3 of a 4 part story which you can read at http://www.electricscotland.com/book.../story126c.htm
The other stories can be read at http://www.electricscotland.com/books/story/index.htm
John MacKintosh
---------------
A Biography by Geo. W. Crutchley (1921).
We now have up...
Chapter I - Early Days
BUSINESS LIFE
Chapter II - The Romance of Business
Chapter III - Adventures in Advertising
Chapter IV - Scientific Advertising
Chapter V - Continental Ventures
Chapter VI - Notes of Travel in America
Chapter VII - War Days
Chapter VIII - 'Goodwill toward Men'
CHURCH LIFE
Chapter IX - 'Queen's Road'
Chapter X - The Business Man in the Church
Chapter XI - Wider Church Activities
In Notes of Travel in America it starts...
Mr. Mackintosh considered that the attitude of the missionary to foreign lands afforded a parallel for the business man's attitude to foreign trade. "One cannot wait," said he, "until the home Church has brought everyone into its fold before sending out missionaries into other lands, or the missionary cause would never have begun; and so also in business, you must reach out abroad while extending at home, if you are to be first in the foreign field as well as in your native Land."
Naturally, his thoughts turned to the mighty United States Republic, with its eighty millions, or more, of potential customers. When the American is not smoking he is chewing gum or candy, and his wife and children willingly assist him in the consumption of sweetmeats. What an opportunity was thus presented to a toffee manufacturer blessed with faith and vision!
In the autumn of 1903, in company with his brother-in-law, he undertook a lightning tour through America and Canada, exploring these countries for the purpose of ascertaining their business possibilities. Men of adventurous spirit have gone to America prospecting for gold or other precious metals, but surely this was the first occasion on which a man ventured to the other side of the world prospecting for business in such a simple homely thing as toffee. All the principal cities were visited from New York to San Francisco, from Montreal to Vancouver. For a month nearly every night was spent in the train, but during the day the travellers would alight and make careful observations. Gradually the conviction was formed in Mr. Mackintosh's mind that he could establish his business in America, and he determined to make a bold bid for trade in the West. The heavy duty on confectionery imported into the United States made it impossible to compete with Americans by goods manufactured in England. It was necessary to erect factories and produce the toffee on the spot. These difficulties did not appeal him, as they certainly would have appalled a less determined man.
You can read the rest of this chapter at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...ackintosh6.htm
The other chapters can be read at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...kintoshndx.htm
Scottish Notes and Queries
--------------------------
This is a periodical started in 1887.
We decided to make some of these issues available for you to read and added another issue this week. These issues can be found at the foot of the page at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...spapers/notes/
The Kingdom of Fife
-------------------
Its Ballads and Legends by Robert Boucher, Jun (1899)
This week we added another chapter called "The Rose-a-Lindsaye" which can be read at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/fife/
Glasgow
-------
By the British Medical Association (1922)
We've added another chapter to this book, "Glasgow Medical Men and Literature". By W. Stewart.
You can read this at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...glasgowndx.htm
Scottish Loch Scenery
---------------------
From drawings by A F Lydon with descriptive notes by Thomas A Croal (1882)
This week we added "Loch Fad" which you can read at http://www.electricscotland.com/pictures/lochs10.htm
The other entries can be read at http://www.electricscotland.com/pictures/lochs.htm
Oor Mither Tongue
-----------------
An Anthology of Scots Vernacular Verse by Ninian Macwhannell (1938)
We have another poet up for you, Lauchlan MacLean Watt, which you can read at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...ther/index.htm
Poems of William Dixon Cocker
-----------------------------
We've been adding a few pages from this book each week and have another 4 pages (168 - 171)which you can read at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist.../cocker_wd.htm
Robert Burns Lives!
-------------------
By Frank Shaw
Several years back I read an interesting article by Jim Gilchrist, long-time writer for The Scotsman. I contacted Jim through a mutual friend, Dr. Kenneth Simpson, regarding the possibility of sharing his article so cleverly entitled “Dr G Ross Roy Interview - The Chairman of the Bard.” In fact, I enjoyed the title so much I have borrowed it from time to time in talking or writing about Dr. Roy. Over the years I have met and corresponded with many prominent Burns scholars here in the States and in Scotland. Yet no other Burnsian, scholar or layman, can adequately be described as “Chairman of the Bard” than G. Ross Roy. What a terrific title!
I want to thank Jim for allowing me to re-print the Roy article for our readers, and my gratitude is also extended to The Scotsman. In a recent email, Gilchrist wrote that “after an alarming number of decades on The Scotsman, I took early retirement from it last August…” Jim is, I hope, enjoying a much deserved retirement. I get the feeling he is like many of us who have retired - we never really do - and “semi-retired” may be a better description. Although technically retired, this talented writer continues to cover folk and jazz music and other material for the paper. He also contributes to the US Scottish interest magazine Scottish Life, and I heard via email from Ken Simpson that Jim “is still writing the weekly radio review for the Hootsmon; and he’s free-lancing - last year he wrote a fine piece on RB (Robert Burns) for Korean Air’s in- house magazine.” I need to get my hands on that article.
When my wife gave me a subscription to The Scotsman many years ago, it became a wee bit frustrating receiving the newspapers a week or two after their publication dates. Sometimes they would come in bunches of four or six. Thankfully, the internet took care of that situation, making Gilchrist’s columns current. It has been my wish to share this article since it was published in November of 2008. Enjoy!
As to the subject of this article, G. Ross Roy, there is not much to say that has not already been spoken or written about this delightful man. You may wish to go to the chapter titles found in Robert Burns Lives! to refer to the many articles by and about Dr. Roy. Enough said. (FRS: 8.4.10)
This article is entitled "Chairman of the Bard by Jim Gilchrist, The Scotsman.
You can read this article at http://www.electricscotland.com/fami...ns_lives94.htm
The rest of Franks articles can be read at http://www.electricscotland.com/fami...rank/burns.htm
Pipes of War
------------
A Record of Achievements of Pipers of Scottish and Overseas Regiments during the War of 1914 - 1918. by Brevet-Col. Sir Bruce Seton, Bart. of Abercorn, C.B. and Pipe Major John Grant. (1920)
We now have up...
ntroduction
A History of the Pipes
The Pipes in the War, 1914-1918
The Western Front
Galipoli
Salonika
Mesopotamia
The Last Stage
Pipers in the Ranks
Pipers on the March
Here is a bit from Pipers on the March...
Playing the pipes in action, though essentially the most important, is, for obvious reasons, only one of the duties of the soldier piper. Every unit of an army is not always in close touch with the enemy, and every battalion puts in a good many miles of marching in a year in conditions which are rarely ideal and very often acutely miserable. It is here that the pipes have rendered such conspicuous service as the marching instrument par excellence; and the cult of the bagpipe has spread to units and nationalities which, before the war, would never have thought it possible that the company piper would become one of their most cherished institutions.
That Irish regiments should again adopt the national instrument that had played their ancestors on to the battlefields of France in 1286 is so natural as to need no comment ; but when we find English and Australian units, battalions of the United States army, and ships of His Majesty's Navy, to say nothing of field ambulances and transport units, adopting the bagpipe, no further evidence is required to substantiate its claim to be a highly important feature of modern military organisation.
It is indeed to a recognition, in the very early days of the war, of the great value of the pipes in "exciting alacrity and cheerfulness in the soldier" that is due the fact that so many units have deliberately tried to keep their pipers out of harm's way, and have only allowed them, under protest, to accompany their companies into action, and then only in limited numbers. Commanding officers have appreciated that, as a stimulus to tired men, to men marching weary miles to take up a position, to men returning worn out from a spell of duty, the music of the pipes has proved invaluable.
Instances of this stimulating effect are too numerous to mention, but a few, taken from contemporary accounts of the war, may be regarded as typical.
The following incident in the retirement from Mons has frequently occurred elsewhere. "I shall never forget how one General saw a batch of Gordons and K.O.S.B. stragglers trudging listlessly along the road. He halted them. Some more came up, until there was about a company in all, with one piper. He made them form fours, put the piper at the head of them, 'Now lads, follow the piper and remember Scotland,' and they all started off as pleased as Punch, with the tired piper playing like a hero."
You can read more of this chapter at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...pesofwar10.htm
You can read the other chapters at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...esofwarndx.htm
Geikie's Etchings
-----------------
This week we've added a couple more articles...
Gigerbread Stand at the Fair
"Very Fou"
You can read these at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...ikie/index.htm
From the Clyde to California
----------------------------
With jottings by the way by James Airken (1882)
A REASON is generally given for the publication of a book. The reason for the appearance of the present volume cannot be better expressed than in the following extract from one among the many, communications received:
"I cannot refrain from telling you how very greatly I am enjoying the account of, I am told, your tour in America that is appearing in the 'Greenock Herald,'... and I write to express not only thanks but a strong hope that you will publish your letters in a collected form by and by. I have been under the impression that I read more of American travels, newspapers, etc., than most folks, and was conceited enough to think myself-well posted up about a country which in some respects is more worthy of imitation than we are disposed generally to admit; but before your letters are done, I will have added to my knowledge a great many side lights of a very interesting kind."
In compliance with many requests of a like nature, the papers have been handed over to the publishers, who have kindly undertaken their issue in the present form; and if they add some information, however little, of a great country and a great people so closely allied to us in bonds of friendship and race, it will be a source of pleasure and gratification to the writer.
We have the first chapter up which can be read at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...a/clydendx.htm
Schots Weekend in Belgium
-------------------------
I was interested to learn of this Scots weekend in Belgium and so I emailed them and they were kind enough to provide a little background on the event which you can read at http://www.electricscotland.com/gatherings/schots.htm
And that's it for now and hope you all have a good weekend :-)
Alastair
http://www.electricscotland.com
--------
Electric Scotland News
Electric Scotland Community
The Flag in the Wind
Holiday Cottages
Gairloch in North-West Ross-Shire
Chronicals of a Country Cobbler
Book of Scottish Story
John MacKintosh
Scottish Notes and Queries
The Kingdom of Fife
Glasgow
Scottish Loch Scenery
Oor Mither Tongue
Poems of William Dixon Cocker
Robert Burns Lives!
Pipes of War
Geikie's Etchings
From the Clyde to California (New Book)
Schots Weekend in Belgium
Electric Scotland News
----------------------
This newsletter is going out earlier than usual as I'm attending a Knights Templar Garden Party in Toronto this evening.
-----
Well the news this week revolves around a test of a toolbar that is added to the foot of any page of our ElectricScotland.com web site.
I'd certainly appreciate your feedback on what you think about it but let me explain what it's all about.
From the left hand side you get...
1. A search box which defaults to searching our site but if you click on the drop down you can also search the web.
2. Next you'll see a wee globe and this option lets you translate the page you are on to a variety of different languages. I've aleady had a native French speaker test it out on French and also Spanish. He told be it was actually very good although he said some of the fonts were a bit messed up but certainly very readable.
3. Next is the star icon which delivers the most recent posts on the site which so far seems to be our What's new page.
4. Then the Facebook "Like" button where if you have signed on to connect to Facebook, of which more later, you can register that you like a page.
5. A small picture of person is the next one and that gives you some stats on how many people are visiting the site right now and where in the world they are from. It also shows the top 3 pages they are visiting.
6. Then there are 2 small arrow icons. Each of these will bring up a table of links to various parts of our web site.
7. YouTube is the next icon which shows you the current top videos on that service in a wall of thumbnails where you can click on any of them to play the video.
8. twitter is the next one where you can display your own page in twitter in one window and view someone else in another.
9. Share is the next one. Clicking on that you can share the page you are viewing with people in the social networks or by email.
10. We then move to the Connect icon where when hovered over a window comes up to let you connect to your Facebook, Twitter, MySpace or Yahoo account. When you do connect to one of those a Chat icon will appear meaning you can chat with any others that are online.
11. There is then a kind of radio icon to the right of the connect bar where we can make an accouncement and clickin on that you can read the announcement.
13. And then at the extreme right there is a down arrow kind of icon which when clicked on reduces the menu bar to just a small icon which will says Tools on it. I've already been told that is seems to remember your setting as when you come back to the site it will remain in the state you left it in which is either the full toolbar or just the Tools icon.
I've been told that they intend to add a comments option which means you can add a comment to any page and that I feel would be a worthwhile addition.
And so that's the Toolbar.
We've been doing a huge amount of work to get it working in all browsers and after lots of hours of work it does seen to be reliable.
This now means we'll live with it for a wee while while we decide if this is something we should keep or do away with and of course we'd love to hear what you think of it.
I might just add that there is a version of it that is compatible with our Electric Scotland Community so we might try it in there as well.
-----
Also just as a reminder I am intending to spend some time at the Fergus Highland Games next Saturday, 14th August. It's my intention to spend most of my time at the Clan Tents area as I'd like to pick up some wee videos if I can. Just for the occasion I'll likely wear my Electric Scotland Baseball cap to make it easier to recognize me.
ABOUT THE STORIES
-----------------
Some of the stories in here are just parts of a larger story so do check out the site for the full versions. You can always find the link in our "What's New" section in our site menu and at http://www.electricscotland.com/rss/whatsnew.php
Electric Scotland Community
---------------------------
We've added a new "Communities" group to our forums as we see this as being something for the future. We moved the Gairloch and Loch Maree Group under this new group as it doesn't look to being used by that community. To that we've added another forum for "North Halton Celtic Historical Society" which is a group I've been working with for a while.
Two issues remain one of which is the Postcard program where we still await some support from the company. The other issue is the chat facility and here we may decide to try another option.
We did, as I suggested we might, remove the Media option and so we are still seeking a better way for you to upload audio and video files.
We understand there is another update of our underlying software that may be available in the next week so we hope that won't break anything.
Our community can be viewed at http://www.electricscotland.org/forum.php
THE FLAG IN THE WIND
--------------------
As I had to do the newsletter earlier than usual I don't know who is doing this weeks newsletter but it will be there.
You can read the compilation at http://www.scotsindependent.org
Holiday Cottages
----------------
These are wee tourism articles. Got in this week...
East Lothian - A true Scottish treat
This can be read at http://www.electricscotland.com/travel/holidayndx.htm
Gairloch in North-West Ross-Shire
---------------------------------
It's Records, Traditions, Inhabitants and Natural History with a Guide to Gairloch and Loch Maree and a Map and Illustrations" by John H. Dixon FSA Scot. published in 1886.
Added this week...
Part IV.—Guide to Gairloch and Loch Maree.
Chapter VI.—The Gairloch Hotel to Poolewe
Chapter VII.—Poolewe to Aultbea
Chapter VIII.—Excursions from Kenlochewe
Chapter IX.—Excursions from Talladale
Chapter X.—Excursions from Gairloch
Chapter XI.—Excursions from Poolewe
Chapter XII.—Excursions from Aultbea
Chapter VI starts...
STARTING northwards from the Gairloch Hotel, the hamlet of Achtercairn (Part IV., chap, x.) is the first place we pass; Achtercairn House (Dr Robertson) is on the right.
As the road ascends the Achtercairn Brae the village of Strath of Gairloch is well seen. The house in the largest grove of trees is the Established church manse (Rev. D. S. Mackenzie), in the enlargement of which in 1823 the celebrated geologist and author, Hugh Miller, took part as a mason's lad. In another grove in Strath is the Cottage Hospital, founded by Mr Francis H. Mackenzie, but now-disused and occupied as a dwelling-house.
From the higher parts of the Achtercairn Brae there are splendid views of the Bay of Gairloch and the hills of Skye. From one point near the top of the Brae the jagged summits of the Cuchullins in Skye may be discerned.
To the left of the road, as the higher part is gained, there is a fine deep gorge down which the Achtercairn burn or river rushes; it forms a pretty cascade in the higher part. A rock on the north side of the gorge is called Craig an Fhithich, because a raven formerly nested in a crevice on the face of it. After a short descent notice a large boulder.on the right of the road called "The shoestone" (Clach nam Brog), from the fact that women who had walked barefoot over the hills on their way to church at Gairloch were (and still frequently are) accustomed here to resume their shoes and stockings. To the left is a reedy loch on the minister's glebe, called Loch Feur, a haunt of ducks and other wildfowl. Another small loch, called Lochan nan Breac, or Lochan nan Breac Adhair, lies still further to the left.
You can read the rest of this account at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...rloch/g264.htm
You can read all these chapters at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...loch/g2ndx.htm
Chronicals of a Country Cobbler
-------------------------------
By A Willock (1887)
Adding more chapters to this book...
Chapter XVII.—The midnight alarm
Chapter XVIII.—The burglary
Chapter XIX.—The Macartney legacy
Chapter XX.—Love laughs at Locksmith
Chapter XXI—Some shows
Chapter XXII.—Ither shows
Chapter XXIII.—A scrape wi' a bear
You can read these at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...bler/index.htm
Featured Pictures
-----------------
A visit to Newtonmore and the Highland Folk Museum is well worth a visit if you make it to Scotland. It shows how folk lived in the olden days and here are a few pictures from my own visit that I made several years ago.
Showing the field where they would grow crops
Croft and Duck Pond
A typical croft house.
Book of Scottish Story
----------------------
We've started "The Penny Wedding" and now have up Part 3 of a 4 part story which you can read at http://www.electricscotland.com/book.../story126c.htm
The other stories can be read at http://www.electricscotland.com/books/story/index.htm
John MacKintosh
---------------
A Biography by Geo. W. Crutchley (1921).
We now have up...
Chapter I - Early Days
BUSINESS LIFE
Chapter II - The Romance of Business
Chapter III - Adventures in Advertising
Chapter IV - Scientific Advertising
Chapter V - Continental Ventures
Chapter VI - Notes of Travel in America
Chapter VII - War Days
Chapter VIII - 'Goodwill toward Men'
CHURCH LIFE
Chapter IX - 'Queen's Road'
Chapter X - The Business Man in the Church
Chapter XI - Wider Church Activities
In Notes of Travel in America it starts...
Mr. Mackintosh considered that the attitude of the missionary to foreign lands afforded a parallel for the business man's attitude to foreign trade. "One cannot wait," said he, "until the home Church has brought everyone into its fold before sending out missionaries into other lands, or the missionary cause would never have begun; and so also in business, you must reach out abroad while extending at home, if you are to be first in the foreign field as well as in your native Land."
Naturally, his thoughts turned to the mighty United States Republic, with its eighty millions, or more, of potential customers. When the American is not smoking he is chewing gum or candy, and his wife and children willingly assist him in the consumption of sweetmeats. What an opportunity was thus presented to a toffee manufacturer blessed with faith and vision!
In the autumn of 1903, in company with his brother-in-law, he undertook a lightning tour through America and Canada, exploring these countries for the purpose of ascertaining their business possibilities. Men of adventurous spirit have gone to America prospecting for gold or other precious metals, but surely this was the first occasion on which a man ventured to the other side of the world prospecting for business in such a simple homely thing as toffee. All the principal cities were visited from New York to San Francisco, from Montreal to Vancouver. For a month nearly every night was spent in the train, but during the day the travellers would alight and make careful observations. Gradually the conviction was formed in Mr. Mackintosh's mind that he could establish his business in America, and he determined to make a bold bid for trade in the West. The heavy duty on confectionery imported into the United States made it impossible to compete with Americans by goods manufactured in England. It was necessary to erect factories and produce the toffee on the spot. These difficulties did not appeal him, as they certainly would have appalled a less determined man.
You can read the rest of this chapter at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...ackintosh6.htm
The other chapters can be read at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...kintoshndx.htm
Scottish Notes and Queries
--------------------------
This is a periodical started in 1887.
We decided to make some of these issues available for you to read and added another issue this week. These issues can be found at the foot of the page at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...spapers/notes/
The Kingdom of Fife
-------------------
Its Ballads and Legends by Robert Boucher, Jun (1899)
This week we added another chapter called "The Rose-a-Lindsaye" which can be read at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/fife/
Glasgow
-------
By the British Medical Association (1922)
We've added another chapter to this book, "Glasgow Medical Men and Literature". By W. Stewart.
You can read this at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...glasgowndx.htm
Scottish Loch Scenery
---------------------
From drawings by A F Lydon with descriptive notes by Thomas A Croal (1882)
This week we added "Loch Fad" which you can read at http://www.electricscotland.com/pictures/lochs10.htm
The other entries can be read at http://www.electricscotland.com/pictures/lochs.htm
Oor Mither Tongue
-----------------
An Anthology of Scots Vernacular Verse by Ninian Macwhannell (1938)
We have another poet up for you, Lauchlan MacLean Watt, which you can read at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...ther/index.htm
Poems of William Dixon Cocker
-----------------------------
We've been adding a few pages from this book each week and have another 4 pages (168 - 171)which you can read at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist.../cocker_wd.htm
Robert Burns Lives!
-------------------
By Frank Shaw
Several years back I read an interesting article by Jim Gilchrist, long-time writer for The Scotsman. I contacted Jim through a mutual friend, Dr. Kenneth Simpson, regarding the possibility of sharing his article so cleverly entitled “Dr G Ross Roy Interview - The Chairman of the Bard.” In fact, I enjoyed the title so much I have borrowed it from time to time in talking or writing about Dr. Roy. Over the years I have met and corresponded with many prominent Burns scholars here in the States and in Scotland. Yet no other Burnsian, scholar or layman, can adequately be described as “Chairman of the Bard” than G. Ross Roy. What a terrific title!
I want to thank Jim for allowing me to re-print the Roy article for our readers, and my gratitude is also extended to The Scotsman. In a recent email, Gilchrist wrote that “after an alarming number of decades on The Scotsman, I took early retirement from it last August…” Jim is, I hope, enjoying a much deserved retirement. I get the feeling he is like many of us who have retired - we never really do - and “semi-retired” may be a better description. Although technically retired, this talented writer continues to cover folk and jazz music and other material for the paper. He also contributes to the US Scottish interest magazine Scottish Life, and I heard via email from Ken Simpson that Jim “is still writing the weekly radio review for the Hootsmon; and he’s free-lancing - last year he wrote a fine piece on RB (Robert Burns) for Korean Air’s in- house magazine.” I need to get my hands on that article.
When my wife gave me a subscription to The Scotsman many years ago, it became a wee bit frustrating receiving the newspapers a week or two after their publication dates. Sometimes they would come in bunches of four or six. Thankfully, the internet took care of that situation, making Gilchrist’s columns current. It has been my wish to share this article since it was published in November of 2008. Enjoy!
As to the subject of this article, G. Ross Roy, there is not much to say that has not already been spoken or written about this delightful man. You may wish to go to the chapter titles found in Robert Burns Lives! to refer to the many articles by and about Dr. Roy. Enough said. (FRS: 8.4.10)
This article is entitled "Chairman of the Bard by Jim Gilchrist, The Scotsman.
You can read this article at http://www.electricscotland.com/fami...ns_lives94.htm
The rest of Franks articles can be read at http://www.electricscotland.com/fami...rank/burns.htm
Pipes of War
------------
A Record of Achievements of Pipers of Scottish and Overseas Regiments during the War of 1914 - 1918. by Brevet-Col. Sir Bruce Seton, Bart. of Abercorn, C.B. and Pipe Major John Grant. (1920)
We now have up...
ntroduction
A History of the Pipes
The Pipes in the War, 1914-1918
The Western Front
Galipoli
Salonika
Mesopotamia
The Last Stage
Pipers in the Ranks
Pipers on the March
Here is a bit from Pipers on the March...
Playing the pipes in action, though essentially the most important, is, for obvious reasons, only one of the duties of the soldier piper. Every unit of an army is not always in close touch with the enemy, and every battalion puts in a good many miles of marching in a year in conditions which are rarely ideal and very often acutely miserable. It is here that the pipes have rendered such conspicuous service as the marching instrument par excellence; and the cult of the bagpipe has spread to units and nationalities which, before the war, would never have thought it possible that the company piper would become one of their most cherished institutions.
That Irish regiments should again adopt the national instrument that had played their ancestors on to the battlefields of France in 1286 is so natural as to need no comment ; but when we find English and Australian units, battalions of the United States army, and ships of His Majesty's Navy, to say nothing of field ambulances and transport units, adopting the bagpipe, no further evidence is required to substantiate its claim to be a highly important feature of modern military organisation.
It is indeed to a recognition, in the very early days of the war, of the great value of the pipes in "exciting alacrity and cheerfulness in the soldier" that is due the fact that so many units have deliberately tried to keep their pipers out of harm's way, and have only allowed them, under protest, to accompany their companies into action, and then only in limited numbers. Commanding officers have appreciated that, as a stimulus to tired men, to men marching weary miles to take up a position, to men returning worn out from a spell of duty, the music of the pipes has proved invaluable.
Instances of this stimulating effect are too numerous to mention, but a few, taken from contemporary accounts of the war, may be regarded as typical.
The following incident in the retirement from Mons has frequently occurred elsewhere. "I shall never forget how one General saw a batch of Gordons and K.O.S.B. stragglers trudging listlessly along the road. He halted them. Some more came up, until there was about a company in all, with one piper. He made them form fours, put the piper at the head of them, 'Now lads, follow the piper and remember Scotland,' and they all started off as pleased as Punch, with the tired piper playing like a hero."
You can read more of this chapter at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...pesofwar10.htm
You can read the other chapters at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...esofwarndx.htm
Geikie's Etchings
-----------------
This week we've added a couple more articles...
Gigerbread Stand at the Fair
"Very Fou"
You can read these at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...ikie/index.htm
From the Clyde to California
----------------------------
With jottings by the way by James Airken (1882)
A REASON is generally given for the publication of a book. The reason for the appearance of the present volume cannot be better expressed than in the following extract from one among the many, communications received:
"I cannot refrain from telling you how very greatly I am enjoying the account of, I am told, your tour in America that is appearing in the 'Greenock Herald,'... and I write to express not only thanks but a strong hope that you will publish your letters in a collected form by and by. I have been under the impression that I read more of American travels, newspapers, etc., than most folks, and was conceited enough to think myself-well posted up about a country which in some respects is more worthy of imitation than we are disposed generally to admit; but before your letters are done, I will have added to my knowledge a great many side lights of a very interesting kind."
In compliance with many requests of a like nature, the papers have been handed over to the publishers, who have kindly undertaken their issue in the present form; and if they add some information, however little, of a great country and a great people so closely allied to us in bonds of friendship and race, it will be a source of pleasure and gratification to the writer.
We have the first chapter up which can be read at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...a/clydendx.htm
Schots Weekend in Belgium
-------------------------
I was interested to learn of this Scots weekend in Belgium and so I emailed them and they were kind enough to provide a little background on the event which you can read at http://www.electricscotland.com/gatherings/schots.htm
And that's it for now and hope you all have a good weekend :-)
Alastair
http://www.electricscotland.com