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Newsletter, December 10th 2010

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  • Newsletter, December 10th 2010

    CONTENTS
    --------
    Electric Scotland News
    Electric Scotland Community
    The Flag in the Wind
    Geikie's Etchings
    Historical Tales of the Wars of Scotland
    Robert Chambers - Songs of Scotland
    Lays of the Covenanters
    Glencreggan: or A Highland Home in Cantire
    Harry Lauder
    Kay's Edinburgh Portraits
    William McTaggart, R.S.A., V.P.R.S.W.
    The Brig of Ayr
    Tales of the Scottish Peasantry
    Holiday Cottages Travel Article
    A History of British Columbia (New Book)
    The First Hundred Years of the Accordion in Scotland. 1830 - 1930
    History of America (New Book)
    Ten Tales (New Book)
    Tartan Spirit
    Tartan Can Be Fun
    Edward McHugh


    Electric Scotland News
    ----------------------
    Totally amazed at all the snow in Scotland and the rest of the UK. Looks like they need more powerful snow removal machines. As it happens we got our first wee fall of snow here in Chatham but it melted away quite quickly. Mind you just an hour down the road in London, Ontario they got some 3 feet of snow.

    -----

    Last week I got in an offer of a special deal to purchase the books of Jack Bode which came in just too late for the newsletter. Here is the background...

    The books would be good for young teenagers, not overt sex and violence, encouraging them to read. The Canadian high schools from 'coast-to-coast' are big buyers for those reasons.

    Special Offer...

    3 different for $11 each.
    5 different for $9 each.
    8 different for $7.50 each.

    plus shipping, pay by credit card through invoice sent from PayPal.

    Until January 10. While quantities last. This Special only available through ElectricScotland.

    For a list of his books go to http://www.electricscotland.com/books/bode where at the foot of the page you can download a pdf file listing all his books and how to place your order. You'll find an email address on the order form and on the web page so you can simply email your order with a list of the books you want and include in it that this is an Electric Scotland Special Promotion Order. You'll then be emailed an invoice with a link to pay through PayPal with your credit card.

    Seeing as I am of course one of those "Young Readers", just coming up to 60 <grin>, I do highly recommend these books and have personally read all of them. These would likely make a good Christmas presents!!!

    -----

    I have done a couple of wee video tutorials and so have added a new forum under our Main Group for "Teaching Videos". I got some new software in which allows you to capture the screen and do a voice over explaining what is going on. The first video is telling you why logging in as a member does offer benefits and the other is about reading messages.

    I also got an email in saying that the site can be a bit intimidating given the amount of information we have. I thus created a wee video of me talking and explaining on how the site might be used. I have posted these in a special Teaching Videos forum which you can see at http://www.electricscotland.org/foru...eaching-Videos

    As time permits I will do a few others and feel free to suggest topics you'd like me to cover.


    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
    ---------------------------
    Well we'll admit our mistake... we had to build a new email server and when we put in the password for emails from our community we obviously mistyped something and that meant no authentication emails went out and thus no new members. We've now fixed that and so if you were pending you should now have got the email and been approved. Sorry about that and it only took us around 3 weeks to notice!

    We've continued to work on our Music forum and added more artists and groups. We have also added a new forum for "Books" under our Lifestyle Group. This forum can be used by authors to tell us about themselves and their books but also for us to profile authors and books we enjoy.

    Our community can be viewed at http://www.electricscotland.org/forum.php


    THE FLAG IN THE WIND
    --------------------
    This weeks issue is now available compiled by Ian Goldie and he has amongst other articles a neat one about the strike going on with our Scottish Football Referees.

    You can get to the Flag at http://www.scotsindependent.org

    Christina McKelvie's weekly diary is available at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...lvie/index.htm


    Geikie's Etchings
    -----------------
    This week we've added more articles...

    The Castle Bank
    Leith Races

    You can read these at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...ikie/index.htm


    Historical Tales of the Wars of Scotland
    ----------------------------------------
    And of the Border Raids, Forays and Conflicts by John Parker Lawson (1839). This is a new publication we're starting on which is in 3 volumes. We intend to post up 2 or 3 stories each week until complete.

    This week we've added...

    Siege Of Innerwick And Thornton Castles - 1547
    Siege Of Haddington - 1548

    You can read these at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/wars/


    Robert Chambers
    ---------------
    John Henderson found his 2 volume "Songs of Scotland" which we both agree is a fabulous resource and so we are going to add this to the site in small chuncks in pdf format for you to enjoy.

    This week we added...

    Pages 598 to 653

    You can read this at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...ers_robert.htm


    Lays of the Covenanters
    -----------------------
    By James Dodds (1880)

    This week we've added...

    Meeting of General Dalziel and Captain John Paton of Meadowhead

    You can read these at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/covenanters/


    Glencreggan: or A Highland Home in Cantire
    ------------------------------------------
    By Cuthbert Bede (1861)

    This week we put up Chapter XI - A Very Amusing Road


    On the Road. — Chevaux de Poste. — Our Tail. — An engaging Eide.—Varieties in Opinion. — Scenery of the Western Shore. —The Atlantic and Southern Hebrides.—The Impediments of Travelling. —Dr. Kitchener's List of Tourists' Necessaries. — Travelling for Pleasure. —Bealochintie. —Paiten. —Barr. — A Highland Village. —Inn and Shop. — An Emporium.— The Smith of Barr and the Great Plague. — Sketching. — Not to be put in the Window.

    I'm finding this book to be a most enjoyable read with some great wee insights into life in Scotland.

    You can read this at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/glencreggan/


    Harry Lauder
    ------------
    we've added three more songs for you to listen to...

    McGregor's Toast
    The Blarney Stone
    Tobermory

    This page can be found at http://www.electricscotland.com/poet...derson/lauder/


    Kay's Edinburgh Portraits
    -------------------------
    A Series of Anecdotal Biographies chiefly of Scotchmen, Mostly by James Paterson and Edited by James Maidment (1885)

    This week we have added...

    Dr. James Graham, Edinburgh
    Francis Grose, Esq., Antiquary
    Dr. James Hutton, Author of the "Theory of the Earth"
    Dr. John Brown, Author of "The Brunonian System of Medicine"
    Sir James Hunter Blair, Bart., Lord Provost of Edinburgh
    The Rev. Alexander Carlyle, D.D., of Inveresh

    Here is how the account of Dr Carlyle starts...

    Dr. Carlyle (born January 26, 1722, died August 25,1805) is memorable as a member—though an inactive one—of the brilliant fraternity of literary men who attracted attention in Scotland during the latter half of the eighteenth century. His father was the minister of Prestonpans. He received his education at the Universities of Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Leyden. While he attended these schools of learning, his elegant and manly accomplishments gained him admission into the most polished circles, at the same time that the superiority of his understanding, and the refinement of his taste, introduced him to the particular notice of men of science and literature. At the breaking out of the insurrection of 1745, being only twenty-three years of age, he thought proper to enrol himself in a body of volunteers, which was raised at Edinburgh to defend the city. This corps was dissolved on the approach of the Highland army, when he retired to his father's house at Prestonpans, where the tide of war soon followed him. Sir John Cope having pitched his camp in the immediate neighbourhood of Prestonpans, the Highlanders attacked him early on the morning of the 21st of September, and soon gained a decisive victory; Carlyle was awoke by an account that the armies were engaged, when, in order to have a view of the action, he hurried to the top of the village steeple, where he arrived only in time to see the regular soldiers flying in all directions to escape the broadswords of the Highlanders.

    You can read the rest of this account at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/kays/vol117.htm

    The other articles can be read at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/kays/index.htm


    William McTaggart, R.S.A., V.P.R.S.W.
    -------------------------------------
    Painter and Artist and a man of considerable talents.

    More chapters up this week and now have up...

    Book Title and Preface
    Chapter I. Childhood and Youth, 1835-1852
    Chapter II. Student Days, 1852-1859
    Chapter III. Associate, 1859-1870
    Chapter IV. Academician: Part I., 1870-1880

    You can read these at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...rt_william.htm


    The Brig of Ayr
    ---------------
    And something of its History by James A. Morris (1912)

    As I mentioned last week this is a short book and now completed. At the foot of this page you'll find links to...

    Poems
    Ayr and something of its Story
    Appendix

    You can read this at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/ayr/


    Tales of the Scottish Peasantry
    -------------------------------
    By Alexander and John Bethune (1884)

    We have added several more tales...

    Three Hansel Mondays
    Margaret Clinton
    The Covenanter`s Grave
    The Stranger
    Disinterestedness
    The Drunkard

    And you can read these at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/tales/index.htm


    Holiday Cottages Travel Article
    -------------------------------
    Short Break Holiday Cottages. You can read this article at http://www.electricscotland.com/travel/holiday35.htm


    A History of British Columbia
    -----------------------------
    By R E Gosnell (1906)

    Writing history is a serious undertaking, and not to be thought of without long preparation and minute and scrupulous investigation. If a person qualified for the task should devote ten or fifteen years exclusively to it he might produce a work that would deserve to stand for the West as Parkman stands for the East. What follows, therefore, does not partake of the dignity of history. It is merely an outline of events and conditions prominent in the past of British Columbia from the very outset. Lack of time, if there were no other considerations, would have prevented me from going so deeply, and in detail, into the circumstances connected with the history of the province as would have been desirable for the purpose and otherwise have been possible. As it is, with the assistance of friends, I have been enabled to present to the reader a certain chain of facts which have never before been presented in the same connected form. These have been grouped so as to leave a more distinct impression of their order .and importance. There is not much that is new to the student, except, perhaps, the arrangement. Regarding a country about which so much has been written in a desultory way, it is difficult to more than collate and summarize, without, as I have intimated, delving for years among the original sources of our information. Hubert Howe Bancroft's History of British Columbia, though characterized by many imperfections, performed a splendid service, and indicated by innumerable references much that will be exceedingly useful for the real historian when he appears upon the scene. With a wealth of original material at his disposal, however, his own use and treatment of it were not historical in that sense in which the great Bancroft excelled. The late Alexander Begg, with his conspicuous industry, compiled a history of this province that is valuable in many respects, but obviously lacking in workmanship, analytical skill and insight.

    To avoid comparisons, I make no pretensions to have done more than is set out in the foregoing, and that, I am aware, imperfectly. It is simply a narrative, or succession of narratives, that a journalist familiar with an outline of the events described, might have contributed to a magazine in order to convey a general impression of the past, and prepare the reader for a keener appreciation of a more pretentious work with the details faithfully and artistically filled in.

    R. E. GOSNELL,

    We now have up the first 5 chapters...

    Chapter I
    Early Explorations
    Chapter II
    English Buccaneers
    Chapter III
    Later Explorers
    Chapter IV
    Land Expeditions and their Outcome
    Chapter V
    International Questions

    You can read this book at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...a/bc/index.htm


    The First Hundred Years of the Accordion in Scotland. 1830 - 1930
    -----------------------------------------------------------------
    by Stuart Eydmann

    we found this article and thought we'd share it with and it can be read at http://www.electricscotland.com/music/accordion.htm


    History of America
    ------------------
    by William Robertson

    Having just completed his History of Scotland we thought we'd also bring you his History of America. You'll find this at the foot of his page at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...on_william.htm


    Ten Tales
    ---------
    By Sir Harry Lauder (1908)

    We found this charming wee book and thought we'd add it to the site. We have the first two tales up now...

    "A Hamely Crack"
    The Old Philosopher

    and you can view these at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...entalesndx.htm


    Tartan Spirit
    -------------
    This is the story of a Fashion House in Scotland and the owner has kindly provided us with some background information on her company and provided us with some photographs of her collections.

    The Tartan Spirit Collection brings tartan for women into the 21st Century. Colourful and fun to wear this is an innovative concept of embroidered and beaded silk tartan and pure wool tartan accessories coordinating with cashmere jumpers and skirts. Tartan Spirit is Modern, Stylish and Scottish with International Appeal. A fashion concept that transcends age.

    You can read more about her company and see some of her fashions at http://www.electricscotland.com/busi...tan_spirit.htm

    And guys... there is a great dressing grown that you can purchase for your better half for Christmas!




    Tartan Can Be Fun
    -----------------
    I put up a wee collection of pictures of various ways tartan can be used which you can see at http://www.electricscotland.com/tartans/fun.htm




    Edward McHugh
    -------------
    Our thanks to John Henderson for finding this for us.

    Edward McHugh/MacHugh was a Scottish gospel singer of the early 20th century who found fame in the USA. His singing career started off in 1927 at a Boston radio station and he became a major radio star across the USA. His fans referred to him as, 'The Gospel Singer'.

    You can read about him and listen to a couple of his songs at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...ugh_edward.htm


    And to finish...

    High Hopes!

    Did you hear about the teacher who always says to her Higher Maths class how clever they are, and how high her expectations are for them in future exams?

    When a pupil asked why she said that, she told them that there was evidence that if you say these encouraging things to people often enough, it becomes a reality.

    One of the class immediately exclaimed: “Miss, you’re a great teacher.”


    And that's it for now and hope you all have a good weekend :-)

    Alastair
    http://www.electricscotland.com
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