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CONTENTS
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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
Highlander and his Books
The Land of the Leal
Pipes of War
Geikie's Etchings
From the Clyde to California
The Highlands and Islands of Scotland (New Book)
Town Council Seals of Scotland (New Book)
Clan Cochrane Newsletters
Glamis Castle
Dorric Poems
Electric Scotland News
----------------------
I note a lot of us have been experiencing hot and humid weather this past week in North America. I'm certainly glad that I have air conditioning both in my home and car. Hope wherever you are you're managing to cope ok.
-----
I did a bit of a deal with the Business Insider Magazine in Scotland. In return for me featuring them in our business section I am hoping to receive some business articles and also an editorial in there magazine which will ask Scottish companies to supply a history of their company for the site.
This is something I've wanted to do for a long time as we have a dearth of information on Scottish business and I would very much like to plug that gap in our knowledge.
As it happens you can sign up to get a free ezine from them so well worth a look. You can get to all this at http://www.electricscotland.com/business
-----
Just a final reminder that I do intend to go to the Fergus Highland Games on Saturday and will mostly be hanging around the clan tents. I'll likely wear my ElectricScotland baseball hat and my Electric Scotland white golf shirt. And so if you spot me do say hello.
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
---------------------------
Just today we've been advised that the new 4.0.6 release is now available for our software so hopefully we'll get this installed over the weekend. Once we know this release is stable then we'll resume our work on the community.
Our community can be viewed at http://www.electricscotland.org/forum.php
THE FLAG IN THE WIND
--------------------
This weeks issue was compiled by Jennifer Dunn. In this issue she is explaining the voting system in the UK and how it might change. She also tells us of a trip she made to the Eilean Mor MacCormick island which certainly sounds like a fun trip. I was amused by her description of her fried breakfast after which as she put it... she waddled away to the car.
You can read this compilation at http://www.scotsindependent.org
Holiday Cottages
----------------
These are wee tourism articles. Got in this week...
Kinross - The place with an impressive history.
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 XIV.—The Fionn Loch and its Dubh Loch, by William Jolly
Chapter XV.—Loch Gruinard, by William Jolly
Chapter XVI.—Angling in Sea Lochs
Chapter XVII.—Angling in Loch Maree
Chapter XVIII.—Angling in Fresh-water Lochs
Chapter XIX.—Salmon Angling
Chapter VIV starts...
THERE is no royal road to learning, and there is no "royal route" to our finest scenery. The common tourist, like the sheep, meekly follows the beaten tracks, missing the better bits, which only the hardier and more adventurous pedestrian finds, like the more independent goat. There are a hundred nooks of rarest beauty and wildest grandeur hidden away in our mountainous land, far from the sheep runs of coaches and hotels, and their mere enumeration would be longer than a Gaelic song or a Highland sermon.
One of these nooks may be found not far from Loch Maree. Immediately to the north of the lake stretches one of the least frequented tracts in broad Scotland,—the region that surrounds the beautiful, many-islanded, salt-water Loch Gruinard. Here, right across the high range which skirts the north shore of Loch Maree from Beinn Aridh Charr to Slioch, lies the Fionn Loch, with its upper chamber, the Dubh Loch. Fionn Loch—that is "the fair lake"—is so called from its contrast to its darker portion, the Dubh or "black" Loch. Its name contains the word that has become classical in the famous name of the heroic Fingal, "the fair stranger" of some interpreters; and in the less known but real name of the equally famous Flora Macdonald, Fionnghal, "the fair one."
The Fionn Loch may be reached by the hardier climber by crossing Loch Maree from Talladale, and dropping down on it through the pass behind Letterewe. But the easier, and in a scenic point of view better, way is to go from Gairloch or Poolewe by the good road which runs to its very shores. From Gairloch the way is unusually fine, commanding one of the best views of the queen of Scottish lakes, from the very spot rendered famous by Horatio Macculloch's great picture; passing the sweet sea gulf of Loch Ewe, and skirting the picturesque banks of the swift-flowing Ewe, which carries the waters of the great lake to the ocean. Leaving this clear stream you enter on a wild heathery region, till lately trodden only by the firm foot of the hunter or the pedestrian in search of game or the picturesque. You soon catch a view of Loch Kemsary, holding its prehistoric artificial island, and of its knots of trees, a pretty picture, with Loch Ewe looking like a lake, and the sea in the distance. You soon leave the Torridon sandstone and enter on the ancient barrenness of the Hebridean gneiss, covered by innumerable erratic blocks, the representatives of the Arctic era when ancient Caledonia was a Greenland and Fionn Loch was swathed in ice. From an eminence on a spur of the Rowan Tree Hill, you at last look down on Loch Fionn. It is a large sheet of fresh water, seven miles in length, enclosed within winding shores, diversified by islands, and surrounded by a magnificent range of mountains, which stand about it on every side but the one next the sea. In fine weather it forms a splendid mirror set in a fretted frame of alpine carving, seldom surpassed for wild and picturesque beauty. In storm it becomes a furious sea of crested waves, under driving rain, rolling mist, and howling winds. These descend with uncommon strength from frowning mountains, which guard a scene then almost as wild, dark, and grand as Coruisk itself. From its character and surroundings the lake assumes either aspect with equal ease.
You can read the rest of this account at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...rloch/g272.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 which now completes the book.
Chapter XXIV.—A teetotal lecture
Chapter XXV.—The burnin' ship
Chapter XXVI.—Wooed an' married an' a'
You can read these at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...bler/index.htm
Book of Scottish Story
----------------------
We've started "The Penny Wedding" and now have up the final part of the story which you can read at http://www.electricscotland.com/book.../story126d.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 have now completed this book with the following chapters...
CHURCH LIFE
Chapter XII - Bazaar Expert
Chapter XIII - 'Great Heart'
CIVIC LIFE.
Chapter XIV - Civic and Social Work
Chapter XV - Homely Philosopher
Chapter XVI - Correspondence
Chapter XVII - The Family at 'Greystones'
Chapter XVIII - Closing Scenes
Chapter XII gives good advice for those trying to raise money for good works...
Mr. Mackintosh's organizing genius naturally fitted him to be a "Bazaar Expert," and he was recognised as such. He gave himself to this work without reserve, and everywhere achieved success but he laid no claim to originality in his methods. "I always work," said he, "on the same lines as my friend Mr. Sherratt of Lytham. It is really his scheme."
But the knowledge of human nature revealed in the carrying out of the scheme was altogether his own, and it is this that 'makes his instructions to bazaar workers of such perennial interest. He also knew the value of personal leadership, and he travelled thousands of miles in order that he might meet the workers face to face and cheer them by his presence. Even when physical weakness made him a prisoner in the sick room, he would write lengthy letters full of wise suggestions, which inspired the church workers and showed them clearly the road to success.
Here is such a letter :-
"You know the old style of working for a bazaar. The ladies of a church band themselves together and begin to sew, making pillow-slips, spending hours stitching and sewing, and at the end selling what they have made for a profit of fourpence each article. That is the good old- fashioned way of raising money; the coppers creep up into shillings, the shillings into pounds, and after months of hard work quite a nice sum of money is got together. I do not suggest that it is not a good way of raising money. I say, if you can only earn fourpence a time, by all means continue to do so ; but if you can get the whole pillow-slip given by adopting this new scheme, that would be better than spending time and energy in earning fourpence."
But how to get the whole pillow-slip given was a difficult proposition to most people. Mr. Mackintosh said that the cause of failure was indefiniteness.
I meet my friend in the street, and after the usual greeting I say, 'Oh, Mr. Brown, we are going to have a bazaar at our school. Will you give me something for my wife's stall? ' Mr. Brown has heard this kind of story so many times before that he is rather sick of it, and before I have well asked my question he is saying, 'Please excuse me this time. You are a worthy lot, and all the rest of it, but, &c., &c., &c.' My mistake is my indefiniteness. Had, I said, 'Will you give me just one article for our bazaar'? 'the probability is that he would have gladly responded. This is the main point of the scheme. Ask every fime for just one article. This makes it easy for the person approached to say, 'Yes.' The appeal is so moderate. Whereas ninety out of a hundred refuse when asked for 'Something,' ninety out of a hundred will readily promise when asked for one article. And you can take it for granted, from the experience gained in connection with two hundred and fifty bazaars already worked by this scheme, that ninety-five persons out of a hundred who are asked for 'just one article' will provide it, and that sixty per cent. of the promises made for ' one article' will at the finish produce a parcel.
You can read the rest of this chapter at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...ckintosh12.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 "Richard Cameron: a Dream of the Covenanters" 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, "A Sketch of Art in Glasgow, 1600-1932." By T. C. F. Brotchie.
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 Lomond" which you can read at http://www.electricscotland.com/pictures/lochs11.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, Walter Wingate, which you can read at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...ther/index.htm
This in fact completes the main part of this book but there is a final small section about "Poems Suitable for School Competitions" which we'll start on next week.
Poems of William Dixon Cocker
-----------------------------
We've been adding a few pages from this book each week and have now arrived at his English poems Pages 174 - 186 which you can read at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist.../cocker_wd.htm
Highlander and his Books
------------------------
By Frank Shaw
Several years ago while visiting the Thomas Cooper Library at the University of South Carolina, I was going through two huge volumes entitled A Series of ORIGINAL PORTRAITS And CHARACTER ETCHINGS by John Kay which were published posthumously in 1837 and 1838 respectively. At the head of the list of subscribers is HER MOST GRACIOUS MAJESTY THE QUEEN followed by 15 pages of others who thought the two volumes were worthy of subscription. Thanks to the excellent library staff at USC, and Dr. Patrick Scott in particular, I have sought out many rare books and articles at the library, but I do not recall the thrill of seeing another Scottish book that excited me like these two books.
You can read the rest of this review and article at
http://www.electricscotland.com/fami...aricatures.htm
The Land of the Leal
--------------------
By A Chrichton (1919) (pdf).
As there is much contraversy about who wrote this poem... was it Robert Burns or Barronesse Nairn... we thought we'd make this book available which you can read at http://www.electricscotland.com/burn...dLandOLeal.pdf
Pipes of War
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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 have added lots more pages...
ntroduction
A History of the Pipes
The Pipes in the War, 1914-1918
Pipers on the March
Pipe Tunes
Individual Achievements
Foreigners and the Pipes
The Pipes in Captivity
Military Pipe Bands and Reform
Regimental Records
The Scots Guards
The Royal Scots
The Royal Scots Fusiliers
The King's Own Scottish Borderers
The Cameronians (The Scottish Rifles)
The Royal Highlanders (The Black Watch)
The Highland Light Infantry
The Seaforth Highlanders
The Gordon Highlanders
The Cameron Highlanders
The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
The London Scottish
The Tyneside Scottish
The Middlesex Regiment
The Liverpool Scottish
The Royal Fusiliers
The Argyllshire Mountain Battery
The Ross and Cromarty Battery
Miscellaneous
The Pipe Band of the 52nd (Lowland) Division
Prisoners of War Band
Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry
The Royal Highlanders of Canada
The 48th Highlanders of Canada
The Canadian Scottish
The Cameron Highlanders of Canada
The 21st Canadians
The 25th Canadians
The 29th Canadians
The 236th Canadians
The Canadian Pioneers
The 2nd Auckland Regiment
The 42nd Australians
The South African Scottish
Roll of Honour, 1914 - 1918
You can read these chapters at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...esofwarndx.htm
Geikie's Etchings
-----------------
This week we've added more articles...
Libberton Wynd
Working a Stocking
New Lairds made new Laws
I might add that I was particularly impressed with the Libberton Wynd article and the engraving is superb.
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)
we've made some good progress with this book and now have up the following chapters...
Chapter I.—Queenstown—Sandy Hook—Montreal---Quebec
Chapter II.—Toronto—Niagara Falls—Buffalo
Chapter IIl—Akron —Chicago —Ogden —Salt Lake City
Chapter IV.—Corinne—The Great American Desert
Chapter V.—Sacramento—Omaha—San Francisco
Chapter VI.—China Town—Oakland
Chapter VII.—Car Life—The Duke of Sutherland's Opinion of American Railroads— Chicago
Chapter VIII.—The Union Stock-Yards—Water Works on a Gigantic Scale—Boston
Here is an account of car life from Chapter VII...
THE distance from San Francisco to Omaha is 1920 miles time occupied, four-and-a-half days. The ordinary fare is £20, with £2 16s extra if you take the palace car and sleeping accommodation. Anyone who undertakes this journey will find the latter sum very profitably spent. The ordinary cars are the property of the Railway Company, but the palace cars belong to Mr Pullman, who gets permission from the Company to place them on the line with two attendants on each car, and the £2 16s is the remuneration he gets for giving the Railway Company the use of the cars and attendants.
Each car is about seventy feet in length, and has accommodation for twenty-five passengers. There is a platform at each end of the car, with a stair on the side of each platform. On entering from one end you pass between the gentlemen's smoking-room and lavatory. In the lavatory you find all toilet requisites, including towels, soap, brushes and combs; also a drinking fount with an abundant supply of iced water. Attached to the lavatory is a W.C., &c. Passing into the car, there are ten seats on each side and a passage UI) the centre; toward the end is a private state-room for the accommodation of a family or private party. Beyond this state-room, and at the extreme end, there is the ladies' lavatory. Each car is provided with a stove, which is indispensable in the winter season.
The ordinary car tickets and the palace car tickets are purchased at separate offices. If two are travelling together and starting from the extreme end, it is well to purchase them the day previous, so as to secure a section —that is, that you get the seats looking face to face during the day, which can be transformed into an upper and lower berth during the night. Having secured this, the attendant will fit up or remove, just as you may desire, a neat little table between the seats, at which you can either read, write, play cards, or dine. This section is exclusively your own to the end of the journey, and is sufficiently large to accommodate other two seated at the table, should you meet with agreeable companions, and desire to have a chat or a game with them by the way. If you wish, you can break the journey at any station by applying to the guard, who will supply you with a layover ticket for any length of time you may desire. You can always get a train at the same time and place any day, but you forfeit your claim to your section of the car, and have to take any berth that may be vacant at the time you resume your journey.
The attendant, who is generally a darkey, is ever ready to assist and take charge of any little thing you may have, and prepare your bed whenever you desire it. This he does very neatly and expeditiously by removing the table and placing two bearers between the seats, pulling the seats on to the bearers, then the backs slide down into the place of the seats, and form the bottom of the lower berth. He then pulls down a part of the ceiling which is hinged and forms the bottom of the top berth, on top of which is stored the cross divisions, bed, bed clothes, and curtains. These are put into their places and the curtains hung up—all is ready for you to retire; as for myself, I never before enjoyed more refreshing sleep.
You can read the rest of this chapter at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...ica/clyde7.htm
You can read the other chapters at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...a/clydendx.htm
The Highlands and Islands of Scotland
-------------------------------------
Painted by W Smith Junior, Described by A R Hope Moncrieff
A couple of years ago we did the book "Bonnie Scotland" and we noted at the time that they looked to do another book of a similar nature for The Highlands and Islands of Scotland. I am pleased to say that we found this book and are now adding it to the site.
The Preface tells us...
IN Bonnie Scotland was promised a further volume that should be devoted to the sterner and wilder aspects of Caledonia. That book dealt with the main body of Highlands and Lowlands, more familiar to the gentle tourist for whose patronage it was a candidate. This one, whose title might have been qualified as West Highlands, deals with the less visited side that is still Highland indeed, both in ruder natural features and in a life holding out longer against the trimming and taming of Sassenach intromissions. The author, as before, has tried to weave a pattern of entertaining stripes and checks upon a groundwork of information. all making a darker-hued tartan than is worn in the centre of Bonnie Scotland. Another metaphor would put it that he has prepared a brisk, perhaps frothy, but, it is hoped, not unpalatable, brew of "heather-ale," which contains in solution more solid ingredients than may be manifest to every reader.
I might add that the book we got had Univ of California stamped on each of the paintings. Should we ever find another copy of the book that doesn't have this stamp then we'll replace these paintings. Should anyone out there find this book without those stamps we'd certainly appreciate you sending us scan of them.
The chapters we have up include...
Chapter I - To The Highlands Bound
Chapter II - Tartans
Chapter III - The Land of Lorne
Chapter IV - The Holy Isles
You can read the chapters we have up already at http://www.electricscotland.com/art/bonnie/index.htm
Town Council Seals of Scotland
------------------------------
Historical, Legendery and Heraldic by Alexander Posteous
We thought it would be interesting to see the Council seals of Scotland with information on how they were created. We'll be posting up pdf's of the various towns and already have up...
Aberchirder to Ayr
Ballater to Burntisland
Callendar to Cupar
We decided to add this book to our Council page which you can get to at http://www.electricscotland.com/council/
Clan Cochrane Newsletters
-------------------------
We've been sent in some of Clan Cochrane's old newsletters which you can read at http://www.electricscotland.com/fami...rane/index.htm
Glamis Castle
-------------
John Henderson found this little book which he kindly sent in and you can read it at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...les/glamis.htm
Dorric Poems
------------
Gargunnock Braw
A new poem in the Dorric language by John Henderson which you can read at http://www.electricscotland.com/poetry/doggerel364.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
Highlander and his Books
The Land of the Leal
Pipes of War
Geikie's Etchings
From the Clyde to California
The Highlands and Islands of Scotland (New Book)
Town Council Seals of Scotland (New Book)
Clan Cochrane Newsletters
Glamis Castle
Dorric Poems
Electric Scotland News
----------------------
I note a lot of us have been experiencing hot and humid weather this past week in North America. I'm certainly glad that I have air conditioning both in my home and car. Hope wherever you are you're managing to cope ok.
-----
I did a bit of a deal with the Business Insider Magazine in Scotland. In return for me featuring them in our business section I am hoping to receive some business articles and also an editorial in there magazine which will ask Scottish companies to supply a history of their company for the site.
This is something I've wanted to do for a long time as we have a dearth of information on Scottish business and I would very much like to plug that gap in our knowledge.
As it happens you can sign up to get a free ezine from them so well worth a look. You can get to all this at http://www.electricscotland.com/business
-----
Just a final reminder that I do intend to go to the Fergus Highland Games on Saturday and will mostly be hanging around the clan tents. I'll likely wear my ElectricScotland baseball hat and my Electric Scotland white golf shirt. And so if you spot me do say hello.
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
---------------------------
Just today we've been advised that the new 4.0.6 release is now available for our software so hopefully we'll get this installed over the weekend. Once we know this release is stable then we'll resume our work on the community.
Our community can be viewed at http://www.electricscotland.org/forum.php
THE FLAG IN THE WIND
--------------------
This weeks issue was compiled by Jennifer Dunn. In this issue she is explaining the voting system in the UK and how it might change. She also tells us of a trip she made to the Eilean Mor MacCormick island which certainly sounds like a fun trip. I was amused by her description of her fried breakfast after which as she put it... she waddled away to the car.
You can read this compilation at http://www.scotsindependent.org
Holiday Cottages
----------------
These are wee tourism articles. Got in this week...
Kinross - The place with an impressive history.
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 XIV.—The Fionn Loch and its Dubh Loch, by William Jolly
Chapter XV.—Loch Gruinard, by William Jolly
Chapter XVI.—Angling in Sea Lochs
Chapter XVII.—Angling in Loch Maree
Chapter XVIII.—Angling in Fresh-water Lochs
Chapter XIX.—Salmon Angling
Chapter VIV starts...
THERE is no royal road to learning, and there is no "royal route" to our finest scenery. The common tourist, like the sheep, meekly follows the beaten tracks, missing the better bits, which only the hardier and more adventurous pedestrian finds, like the more independent goat. There are a hundred nooks of rarest beauty and wildest grandeur hidden away in our mountainous land, far from the sheep runs of coaches and hotels, and their mere enumeration would be longer than a Gaelic song or a Highland sermon.
One of these nooks may be found not far from Loch Maree. Immediately to the north of the lake stretches one of the least frequented tracts in broad Scotland,—the region that surrounds the beautiful, many-islanded, salt-water Loch Gruinard. Here, right across the high range which skirts the north shore of Loch Maree from Beinn Aridh Charr to Slioch, lies the Fionn Loch, with its upper chamber, the Dubh Loch. Fionn Loch—that is "the fair lake"—is so called from its contrast to its darker portion, the Dubh or "black" Loch. Its name contains the word that has become classical in the famous name of the heroic Fingal, "the fair stranger" of some interpreters; and in the less known but real name of the equally famous Flora Macdonald, Fionnghal, "the fair one."
The Fionn Loch may be reached by the hardier climber by crossing Loch Maree from Talladale, and dropping down on it through the pass behind Letterewe. But the easier, and in a scenic point of view better, way is to go from Gairloch or Poolewe by the good road which runs to its very shores. From Gairloch the way is unusually fine, commanding one of the best views of the queen of Scottish lakes, from the very spot rendered famous by Horatio Macculloch's great picture; passing the sweet sea gulf of Loch Ewe, and skirting the picturesque banks of the swift-flowing Ewe, which carries the waters of the great lake to the ocean. Leaving this clear stream you enter on a wild heathery region, till lately trodden only by the firm foot of the hunter or the pedestrian in search of game or the picturesque. You soon catch a view of Loch Kemsary, holding its prehistoric artificial island, and of its knots of trees, a pretty picture, with Loch Ewe looking like a lake, and the sea in the distance. You soon leave the Torridon sandstone and enter on the ancient barrenness of the Hebridean gneiss, covered by innumerable erratic blocks, the representatives of the Arctic era when ancient Caledonia was a Greenland and Fionn Loch was swathed in ice. From an eminence on a spur of the Rowan Tree Hill, you at last look down on Loch Fionn. It is a large sheet of fresh water, seven miles in length, enclosed within winding shores, diversified by islands, and surrounded by a magnificent range of mountains, which stand about it on every side but the one next the sea. In fine weather it forms a splendid mirror set in a fretted frame of alpine carving, seldom surpassed for wild and picturesque beauty. In storm it becomes a furious sea of crested waves, under driving rain, rolling mist, and howling winds. These descend with uncommon strength from frowning mountains, which guard a scene then almost as wild, dark, and grand as Coruisk itself. From its character and surroundings the lake assumes either aspect with equal ease.
You can read the rest of this account at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...rloch/g272.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 which now completes the book.
Chapter XXIV.—A teetotal lecture
Chapter XXV.—The burnin' ship
Chapter XXVI.—Wooed an' married an' a'
You can read these at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...bler/index.htm
Book of Scottish Story
----------------------
We've started "The Penny Wedding" and now have up the final part of the story which you can read at http://www.electricscotland.com/book.../story126d.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 have now completed this book with the following chapters...
CHURCH LIFE
Chapter XII - Bazaar Expert
Chapter XIII - 'Great Heart'
CIVIC LIFE.
Chapter XIV - Civic and Social Work
Chapter XV - Homely Philosopher
Chapter XVI - Correspondence
Chapter XVII - The Family at 'Greystones'
Chapter XVIII - Closing Scenes
Chapter XII gives good advice for those trying to raise money for good works...
Mr. Mackintosh's organizing genius naturally fitted him to be a "Bazaar Expert," and he was recognised as such. He gave himself to this work without reserve, and everywhere achieved success but he laid no claim to originality in his methods. "I always work," said he, "on the same lines as my friend Mr. Sherratt of Lytham. It is really his scheme."
But the knowledge of human nature revealed in the carrying out of the scheme was altogether his own, and it is this that 'makes his instructions to bazaar workers of such perennial interest. He also knew the value of personal leadership, and he travelled thousands of miles in order that he might meet the workers face to face and cheer them by his presence. Even when physical weakness made him a prisoner in the sick room, he would write lengthy letters full of wise suggestions, which inspired the church workers and showed them clearly the road to success.
Here is such a letter :-
"You know the old style of working for a bazaar. The ladies of a church band themselves together and begin to sew, making pillow-slips, spending hours stitching and sewing, and at the end selling what they have made for a profit of fourpence each article. That is the good old- fashioned way of raising money; the coppers creep up into shillings, the shillings into pounds, and after months of hard work quite a nice sum of money is got together. I do not suggest that it is not a good way of raising money. I say, if you can only earn fourpence a time, by all means continue to do so ; but if you can get the whole pillow-slip given by adopting this new scheme, that would be better than spending time and energy in earning fourpence."
But how to get the whole pillow-slip given was a difficult proposition to most people. Mr. Mackintosh said that the cause of failure was indefiniteness.
I meet my friend in the street, and after the usual greeting I say, 'Oh, Mr. Brown, we are going to have a bazaar at our school. Will you give me something for my wife's stall? ' Mr. Brown has heard this kind of story so many times before that he is rather sick of it, and before I have well asked my question he is saying, 'Please excuse me this time. You are a worthy lot, and all the rest of it, but, &c., &c., &c.' My mistake is my indefiniteness. Had, I said, 'Will you give me just one article for our bazaar'? 'the probability is that he would have gladly responded. This is the main point of the scheme. Ask every fime for just one article. This makes it easy for the person approached to say, 'Yes.' The appeal is so moderate. Whereas ninety out of a hundred refuse when asked for 'Something,' ninety out of a hundred will readily promise when asked for one article. And you can take it for granted, from the experience gained in connection with two hundred and fifty bazaars already worked by this scheme, that ninety-five persons out of a hundred who are asked for 'just one article' will provide it, and that sixty per cent. of the promises made for ' one article' will at the finish produce a parcel.
You can read the rest of this chapter at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...ckintosh12.htm
The other chapters can be read at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...kintoshndx.htm
Scottish Notes and Queries
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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
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Its Ballads and Legends by Robert Boucher, Jun (1899)
This week we added another chapter called "Richard Cameron: a Dream of the Covenanters" which can be read at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/fife/
Glasgow
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By the British Medical Association (1922)
We've added another chapter to this book, "A Sketch of Art in Glasgow, 1600-1932." By T. C. F. Brotchie.
You can read this at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...glasgowndx.htm
Scottish Loch Scenery
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From drawings by A F Lydon with descriptive notes by Thomas A Croal (1882)
This week we added "Loch Lomond" which you can read at http://www.electricscotland.com/pictures/lochs11.htm
The other entries can be read at http://www.electricscotland.com/pictures/lochs.htm
Oor Mither Tongue
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An Anthology of Scots Vernacular Verse by Ninian Macwhannell (1938)
We have another poet up for you, Walter Wingate, which you can read at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...ther/index.htm
This in fact completes the main part of this book but there is a final small section about "Poems Suitable for School Competitions" which we'll start on next week.
Poems of William Dixon Cocker
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We've been adding a few pages from this book each week and have now arrived at his English poems Pages 174 - 186 which you can read at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist.../cocker_wd.htm
Highlander and his Books
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By Frank Shaw
Several years ago while visiting the Thomas Cooper Library at the University of South Carolina, I was going through two huge volumes entitled A Series of ORIGINAL PORTRAITS And CHARACTER ETCHINGS by John Kay which were published posthumously in 1837 and 1838 respectively. At the head of the list of subscribers is HER MOST GRACIOUS MAJESTY THE QUEEN followed by 15 pages of others who thought the two volumes were worthy of subscription. Thanks to the excellent library staff at USC, and Dr. Patrick Scott in particular, I have sought out many rare books and articles at the library, but I do not recall the thrill of seeing another Scottish book that excited me like these two books.
You can read the rest of this review and article at
http://www.electricscotland.com/fami...aricatures.htm
The Land of the Leal
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By A Chrichton (1919) (pdf).
As there is much contraversy about who wrote this poem... was it Robert Burns or Barronesse Nairn... we thought we'd make this book available which you can read at http://www.electricscotland.com/burn...dLandOLeal.pdf
Pipes of War
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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 have added lots more pages...
ntroduction
A History of the Pipes
The Pipes in the War, 1914-1918
Pipers on the March
Pipe Tunes
Individual Achievements
Foreigners and the Pipes
The Pipes in Captivity
Military Pipe Bands and Reform
Regimental Records
The Scots Guards
The Royal Scots
The Royal Scots Fusiliers
The King's Own Scottish Borderers
The Cameronians (The Scottish Rifles)
The Royal Highlanders (The Black Watch)
The Highland Light Infantry
The Seaforth Highlanders
The Gordon Highlanders
The Cameron Highlanders
The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
The London Scottish
The Tyneside Scottish
The Middlesex Regiment
The Liverpool Scottish
The Royal Fusiliers
The Argyllshire Mountain Battery
The Ross and Cromarty Battery
Miscellaneous
The Pipe Band of the 52nd (Lowland) Division
Prisoners of War Band
Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry
The Royal Highlanders of Canada
The 48th Highlanders of Canada
The Canadian Scottish
The Cameron Highlanders of Canada
The 21st Canadians
The 25th Canadians
The 29th Canadians
The 236th Canadians
The Canadian Pioneers
The 2nd Auckland Regiment
The 42nd Australians
The South African Scottish
Roll of Honour, 1914 - 1918
You can read these chapters at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...esofwarndx.htm
Geikie's Etchings
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This week we've added more articles...
Libberton Wynd
Working a Stocking
New Lairds made new Laws
I might add that I was particularly impressed with the Libberton Wynd article and the engraving is superb.
You can read these at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...ikie/index.htm
From the Clyde to California
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With jottings by the way by James Airken (1882)
we've made some good progress with this book and now have up the following chapters...
Chapter I.—Queenstown—Sandy Hook—Montreal---Quebec
Chapter II.—Toronto—Niagara Falls—Buffalo
Chapter IIl—Akron —Chicago —Ogden —Salt Lake City
Chapter IV.—Corinne—The Great American Desert
Chapter V.—Sacramento—Omaha—San Francisco
Chapter VI.—China Town—Oakland
Chapter VII.—Car Life—The Duke of Sutherland's Opinion of American Railroads— Chicago
Chapter VIII.—The Union Stock-Yards—Water Works on a Gigantic Scale—Boston
Here is an account of car life from Chapter VII...
THE distance from San Francisco to Omaha is 1920 miles time occupied, four-and-a-half days. The ordinary fare is £20, with £2 16s extra if you take the palace car and sleeping accommodation. Anyone who undertakes this journey will find the latter sum very profitably spent. The ordinary cars are the property of the Railway Company, but the palace cars belong to Mr Pullman, who gets permission from the Company to place them on the line with two attendants on each car, and the £2 16s is the remuneration he gets for giving the Railway Company the use of the cars and attendants.
Each car is about seventy feet in length, and has accommodation for twenty-five passengers. There is a platform at each end of the car, with a stair on the side of each platform. On entering from one end you pass between the gentlemen's smoking-room and lavatory. In the lavatory you find all toilet requisites, including towels, soap, brushes and combs; also a drinking fount with an abundant supply of iced water. Attached to the lavatory is a W.C., &c. Passing into the car, there are ten seats on each side and a passage UI) the centre; toward the end is a private state-room for the accommodation of a family or private party. Beyond this state-room, and at the extreme end, there is the ladies' lavatory. Each car is provided with a stove, which is indispensable in the winter season.
The ordinary car tickets and the palace car tickets are purchased at separate offices. If two are travelling together and starting from the extreme end, it is well to purchase them the day previous, so as to secure a section —that is, that you get the seats looking face to face during the day, which can be transformed into an upper and lower berth during the night. Having secured this, the attendant will fit up or remove, just as you may desire, a neat little table between the seats, at which you can either read, write, play cards, or dine. This section is exclusively your own to the end of the journey, and is sufficiently large to accommodate other two seated at the table, should you meet with agreeable companions, and desire to have a chat or a game with them by the way. If you wish, you can break the journey at any station by applying to the guard, who will supply you with a layover ticket for any length of time you may desire. You can always get a train at the same time and place any day, but you forfeit your claim to your section of the car, and have to take any berth that may be vacant at the time you resume your journey.
The attendant, who is generally a darkey, is ever ready to assist and take charge of any little thing you may have, and prepare your bed whenever you desire it. This he does very neatly and expeditiously by removing the table and placing two bearers between the seats, pulling the seats on to the bearers, then the backs slide down into the place of the seats, and form the bottom of the lower berth. He then pulls down a part of the ceiling which is hinged and forms the bottom of the top berth, on top of which is stored the cross divisions, bed, bed clothes, and curtains. These are put into their places and the curtains hung up—all is ready for you to retire; as for myself, I never before enjoyed more refreshing sleep.
You can read the rest of this chapter at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...ica/clyde7.htm
You can read the other chapters at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...a/clydendx.htm
The Highlands and Islands of Scotland
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Painted by W Smith Junior, Described by A R Hope Moncrieff
A couple of years ago we did the book "Bonnie Scotland" and we noted at the time that they looked to do another book of a similar nature for The Highlands and Islands of Scotland. I am pleased to say that we found this book and are now adding it to the site.
The Preface tells us...
IN Bonnie Scotland was promised a further volume that should be devoted to the sterner and wilder aspects of Caledonia. That book dealt with the main body of Highlands and Lowlands, more familiar to the gentle tourist for whose patronage it was a candidate. This one, whose title might have been qualified as West Highlands, deals with the less visited side that is still Highland indeed, both in ruder natural features and in a life holding out longer against the trimming and taming of Sassenach intromissions. The author, as before, has tried to weave a pattern of entertaining stripes and checks upon a groundwork of information. all making a darker-hued tartan than is worn in the centre of Bonnie Scotland. Another metaphor would put it that he has prepared a brisk, perhaps frothy, but, it is hoped, not unpalatable, brew of "heather-ale," which contains in solution more solid ingredients than may be manifest to every reader.
I might add that the book we got had Univ of California stamped on each of the paintings. Should we ever find another copy of the book that doesn't have this stamp then we'll replace these paintings. Should anyone out there find this book without those stamps we'd certainly appreciate you sending us scan of them.
The chapters we have up include...
Chapter I - To The Highlands Bound
Chapter II - Tartans
Chapter III - The Land of Lorne
Chapter IV - The Holy Isles
You can read the chapters we have up already at http://www.electricscotland.com/art/bonnie/index.htm
Town Council Seals of Scotland
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Historical, Legendery and Heraldic by Alexander Posteous
We thought it would be interesting to see the Council seals of Scotland with information on how they were created. We'll be posting up pdf's of the various towns and already have up...
Aberchirder to Ayr
Ballater to Burntisland
Callendar to Cupar
We decided to add this book to our Council page which you can get to at http://www.electricscotland.com/council/
Clan Cochrane Newsletters
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We've been sent in some of Clan Cochrane's old newsletters which you can read at http://www.electricscotland.com/fami...rane/index.htm
Glamis Castle
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John Henderson found this little book which he kindly sent in and you can read it at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...les/glamis.htm
Dorric Poems
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Gargunnock Braw
A new poem in the Dorric language by John Henderson which you can read at http://www.electricscotland.com/poetry/doggerel364.htm
And that's it for now and hope you all have a good weekend :-)
Alastair
http://www.electricscotland.com