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19th November 2009, 21:45
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November 20, 2009
-------- Electric Scotland News The Flag in the Wind Clans and Families Books of John McDougall Book of Scottish Story Oor Mither Tongue John's Scottish Sing-Along Songs of Lowland Scotland "Curdies" a Glasgow Sketch Book Writings of Albert Morris Prelude to the Orpheus More Adventures in Kilt and Khaki The United States of America: A History Johnny Gibb Of Gushetneuk Scotland's Story William Harvey (New Book) Fallbrook Farm Heritage Site Electric Scotland News ---------------------- I got in a url for a similar document for Australia to the Canadian one I mentioned last week and many thanks for letting me know about this. I've added a link to it from our Australia pag at http://www.electricscotland.com/australia/ and the link is Citizenship. ----- I seem to be spending an increasing amount of time talking to people and emailing them about projects these days. This means I am trying to give a vision of what I am after and hoping people will understand it and want to get involved. This can take many hours of work and I'm also conscious of others things that I want to do with the web site. Even finding the right people to talk to can take hours of research. Generally I am looking for someone that has the authority to action a project, providing of course they can be persuaded that the project is a worth while one. I seem to talk to lots of people that think my idea is great but don't have the authority and I'm also amazed at how many of them are not sure who would have the authority. Seems I am moving in directions that are not obvious to many people and thus they don't know who would be the best to speak to. I think this in part is to do with how the media is changing. The traditional media is of course TV, Radio, Newspaper and Magazines. The problem is that all of those are in decline and certainly the advertising revenue is well down in all those media outlets. As you'll have seen in the press and news some quite large newspapers and magazines are closing their doors. We are seeing many more repeats in TV as they don't have the money coming in to fund the new projects. The web is of course the only media that is seeing increased advertising but in many cases the marketing people really don't understand the web and tend to stick with a simple model and in my view that doesn't work all that well. We do need fresh thinking and that's what I am attempting as I believe good content is the at the root of how we market ourselves. It's the content that is lacking. Anyway... onwards and upwards as they say :-) 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. THE FLAG IN THE WIND -------------------- This weeks issue was compiled by Jamie Hepburn in which he only has a single article but there are interesting articles in the Synopsis. Lots more to read in this weeks Flag at http://www.scotsindependent.org The Working Life of Christina McKelvie MSP diary entry for this week can be viewed at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...lvie/index.htm I might add that we haven't heard from Christina in the last couple of weeks although she has been active. There is even a story about her in this weeks Flag. Clans and Families ------------------ Got in the Utley Family Newsletter for Nov/Dec 2009 which you can read at http://www.electricscotland.com/fami...tley/index.htm Also got in "Per Ardua" which is the Fall newsletter of the Clan MacIntyre Association which can be read at http://www.electricscotland.com/fami...2009-10-19.pdf Books of John McDougall ----------------------- We're now onto the next book in the series... In the days of the Red River Rebellion, Life and Adventure in the Far West of Canada (1868-1872). At time of writing we have up the first 7 chapters... Chapter I. Primitive transport??The "buckboard "??New country??Edmonton??A pioneer parsonage??Housebuilding??Fishing??A race for noble game----A birthday feast??A motley company Chapter II. Winter sets in??A visit to Edmonton??The "Ponthira antelope"??I secure a superb train of dogs ??A run to Vlotoria??A Jolly company??Representative Indian types Aristocrats of the plains??Watch-night service An accident?? Home again Chapter III. A trip to Rocky Mountain Fort??A tenderfoots bewilderment??"The hills of God"??Tact of the Hudson's Bay Company??A wolverine's cunning Chapter IV, A big hunt planned??Tragic death of Maskepetoon - District meeting at Victoria??Jacob Bigstoney - Rev. Win. Lacombe??Jacob's skill In tracking?? A strong temptation??Consecrated to the Ministry??Wars and rumors of war Chapter V. We start for the big camp??Varied diet??My first breech-loader??A scare ??A wonderful scene??A "great lone land "??Clerical costumes??Exciting buffalo hunts??Struck by lightning??Charged by two buffalo bulls??A battle royal??Changing conditions??Unerring instinct of Indian guides ??Our camp rushed by a buffalo herd??Loss of our only waggon Chapter VI. The "fall hunt"??A brutal murder??My horse poisoned??"This is the way to do it!"??Father's abbreviated musket??Samson's dash and skill as a buffalo runner??Bob and I do some scouting?? The silence of Nature's solitude??A hair-raising adventure ??I make new acquaintances Chapter VII. Visiting Hudson's Bay posts??A lonely journey??I encounter a solitary traveller??Importation of liquor??circulating a petition??An Irish priest's objections??Governor Archibald's proclamation ??Prohibition In the Territories The first chapter starts... DURING the autumn of 1868, and on the last page of "Pathfinding on Plain and Prairie," I bade my kind reader adieu, with the promise that if opportunity came I would sometime resume my narrative of life and adventure in the far West. As yet but little change had come upon the scene; primeval conditions still largely obtained throughout that great region. The party I had guided into the beautiful valley of the Saskatchewan (as related in the closing chapters of my last volume) had left the banks of the Mississippi several months before, and by dint of continuous travel and many weeks of camping on the trail, had succeeded in reaching this distant spot. These people had left railway transport far to the south-east of this big upland country. Away under the Stars and Stripes they had said farewell for long years to what might fittingly be called civilized modes of travel. The ox-cart, the heavily burdened waggon, the prairie schooner, were slow in pace, and when one took into consideration the great wilderness, with its bridgeless and ferryless rivers and its thousands of miles of ungraded trails and utter solitude, so far as man was concerned, the enterprise of those few who ventured into this distant field seemed sublime. This little party brought with them the first buckboards to come into Manitoba and the North-West. Hitherto the Red River cart had reigned supreme??the aristocracy of the land had nothing better; but now the light and easy- riding buckboard came to conquer, and with base ingratitude the cart was relegated to the plebeian work of freighting only. No more of the dangling of one's legs over the front bar of this wooden coach; good-bye forever to the dulcet tones of squeaking axles and the shrieking of unbushed hubs! No, gentlemen, we are making history, we are entering on an epoch of development with the arrival of the springless buckboard. God bless the man whose brain caught the glorious idea and who thus became a benefactor to all who ventured upon the great continents beyond the limits of steam. Even as a palace Pullman coach is to a loaded flat-car, so is the buckboard to an honest Red River cart. We can speak feelingly, if not regretfully. Forward the Star of Empire takes her course, and we on a glorious day in September of 1868, with but a portion of the original party, move onward and westward. Up along the north bank of the big Saskatchewan we ride and roll; across lovely bits of prairie, through dense woods where the road as yet has been barely cut out and countless stumps are in omnipresent evidence; the heavens above a sea of glory, and the earth beneath full of autumn grass and herbage and foliage colored and tinted and gorgeous. Ever and anon the graceful and majestic bends and stretches of this mighty river are at our feet. Over thousands of acres of rich soil, down into and across numerous streams and creeks??the three "Was-uh-huh-de-nows," the Sucker, the Vermilion, the Deep, the Sturgeon, and many others??all arteries feeding the giant river. The stream is the father of the river, even as the child is the father of the man, and the individual the progenitor of the nation. This is why we are camping and rolling and straining and working up the slopes of a great continent. We are here to preach and live loyalty to God and country, to make men strong and true; therefore we worry along. What matters an upset, and serious loss in consequence? Who cares for breaking axles and snapping dowelpins, and splitting felloes and ripping harness, dew and rain and mud and cold and storm, and sometimes hunger, and always danger? Behold, to the true pioneer these are counted as nothing in order that the making of the man, the building of the citizen, may go on and the world be made better. You can read the rest of this chapter at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...ugall/red1.htm and the other chapters at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...all/redndx.htm Book of Scottish Story ---------------------- Thanks to John Henderson for sending this book into us. This week he's sent in "The Minister's Beat" chapter 1 which starts... "I am just about to make a round of friendly visits," said the minister; "and as far as our roads lie together, you will perhaps go with me. You are a bad visitor, I know, Mr Frank; but most of my calls will be where forms are unknown, and etiquette dispensed with." I am indeed a bad visitor, which, in the ordinary acceptation of the term, means no visitor at all; but I own the temptation of seeing my worthy friend??s reception, and the hope of coming in for a share of the cordial welcome he was sure to call forth, overcame my scruples; especially as in cottages and farm-steadings there is generally something to be learned even during a morning call; ??some trait of unsophisticated nature to be smiled at, or some sturdy lesson of practical wisdom to be treasured for future use. We had not ridden far when my companion, turning up a pretty rough cart-road leading to a large farmhouse on the right, said, with an arch smile,??"I love what our superstitious forefathers would esteem a lucky beginning even to a morning??s ride, and am glad ours commences with a wedding visit. Peter Bandster has taken a wife in my absence, and I must go and call him to account for defrauding me of the ploy. Have you heard anything, Mr Francis, about the bride ?" More than I could, wish, thinks I to myself; for my old duenna, who indemnifies herself for my lack of hospitality by assiduous frequentation of all marriages, christenings, and gossipings abroad, had deaved me for the last three weeks with philippics about this unlucky wedding. The folly of Peter in marrying above his own line; the ignorance of the bride, who scarce knew lint-yarn from tow, or bere from barley; her unpardonable accomplishments of netting purses and playing on the spinnet; above all, her plated candlesticks, flounced gown, and fashionable bonnet, had furnished Hannah with inexhaustible matter for that exercise of the tongue, which the Scots call "rhyming,? and the English "ringing the changes;" to which, as to all other noises, custom can alone render one insensible. I had no mind to damp the minister??s benevolent feelings towards the couple, and contented myself with answering, that I heard the bride was both bonnie and braw. The good man shook his head. "We have an old proverb, and a true one," said he, ??a bonnie bride is sune buskit;?? but I have known gawdy butterflies cast their painted wings, and become excellent housewives in the end.? You can read the rest of this chapter at http://www.electricscotland.com/book.../story101a.htm All the other stories can be read at http://www.electricscotland.com/books/story/ Oor Mither Tongue ----------------- An Anthology of Scots Vernacular Verse by Ninian Macwhannell (1938) and our thanks to John Henderson for sending this into us. We have new poems up this week by... FISHER. W. D.: Jealousy GEDDES, JAMES Y.: A Tale o' Kirrie which you can read at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/mither/ John's Scottish Sing-Along -------------------------- Provided by John Henderson This week we've added... Will Ye No Come Back Again The Barras You can find these songs at http://www.electricscotland.com/poet...long/index.htm John Henderson has added a new song with Doric lyrics called "Tryst In The Hedder" which you can read at http://www.electricscotland.com/poetry/doggerel329.htm He has also sent in an article about "Doric Dialects and Doric Poets of North-East Scotland", an article detailing the significant Doric poets. This can be read at http://www.electricscotland.com/poetry/doric.htm Songs of Lowland Scotland ------------------------- From the times of James V, King of Scots, A book of c. 600 pages of songs published in Scotland in 1870, and arranged in episodic form by John Henderson. We've added a further 30 or so pages this week, Pages 451 - 476, as a pdf file which are songs from a variety of poets which you can get to at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/songs/index.htm "Curdies" a Glasgow Sketch Book ------------------------------- By Hugh S. Roberton We've added another chapter this week... Chapter XXII - A Cup-Tie Reprisal You can read these at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/curdies/ Writings of Albert Morris ------------------------- A five-days-a-week column to be grave but gay (in the old sense), pungent but subtle, learned but light. Articles by the Scotsman's legendary feature writer, Albert Morris, from 29 December, 2001 to 8th April, 2005. Our thanks to John Henderson for pulling all this together for us. Have added the following articles this week... Article 59 - Patient service on the way, courtesy of roller-coasting Dr Kildares Article 60 - Nectar fit for the gods that helped to glue the family together Article 61 - Voyages of surgical discovery in the holiday medication market Article 62 - Dancing the war away at the fabled frontier's Imperial-Splendide Article 63 - Lining up with Lenin Article 64 - Slim chance of a waistline melt-down Article 65 - Travellers doomed to roam the earth in bug-filled cruise ships Here is Article 65 for you to read here... EVEN now, deep and crisp and even, holiday brochures drop through my letter-box with a premonitory thud, bringing me a feeling of leaden dread and, causing me to reach for my passport, sometimes to compare its photograph with earlier ones Look upon this picture (circa 1963). See what a grace was seated on this brow - Hyperion??s curls, an eye like Mars undimmed by high-ranking officers at a cruise captain??s cocktail party and a determined chin like the prow of a Victorian gunboat ready to resist blandishments from bogus guides and gypsy beggars and set to bargain brusquely with money-grubbing twisters in bazaars. Look at me now - travel-blasted features resembling a weather-eroded sundial with pale, staring eyes that have visit-ed scores of native village workshops turning out typical tourist tripe, uncounted, gloomy, Gothic cathedrals and a plethora of Byzantine frescoes, watched, in time-dragging torpor, African fertility dances that resembled spastic shuffles and have seen myself, obviously in a sun-baked stupor, buy souvenirs that in-cluded a 15-inch plastic statue of Zeus for the mantelpiece and a wooden head of Tutankhamen with attached egg-timer. I undergo holidays. I believe we are not here for pleasure alone and that I and millions of others are doomed for a certain term to roam the earth in bug-filled cruise ships, crammed aircraft in which we sit with our knees up to our chin and suffer torments including mosquitoes and Montezuma??s Revenge until the sins of our non-holidaying life are purged away. On the other hand, there are people who, perversely, not only like holidays but also regard them as indicators of social status and believe that a high TQ (travel quotient) - indicating the exotic quality of their holidays, such as, perhaps, locust counting in Liberia, vampire bat watching in Venezuela, cruising on an ice floe propelled by the Gulf Stream or bungee-jumping from rope bridges in Bolivia rather than tonic-wine-tasting in Totnes or getting legless in Lanzarote - could secure them good jobs and enhance their conversational prestige in pubs and at dinner parties. Research commissioned by the travel company, Expedia, revealed that as many as 15 per cent of Scots found being well-travelled a more attractive quality than usual indicators of success - luxurious home, large income, trendy car and design-er clothes. With more Britons spending increasing amounts of cash to holiday in countries such as Australia, New Zealand and Japan, with activities including white-water rafting and caring for orphaned chimpanzees, some vacations could assume Indiana Jones?? film aspects with tourists subjected to program-med pursuits by colourfully-hostile natives or, in some Live With the Locals leisure break, finding themselves the centre of attraction among women-ogling tribal chiefs, insolent mendicants and foaming and snarling pariah dogs - good grist for conversational mills back home. All that could result in growing numbers of people flaunting their one-up holiday adventures at social functions, thus making people who merely partied all night and flung furniture into their hotel swimming pool at Magaluf feel socially inferior and in need of a prestige-boosting spell such as surfing Pacific breakers pursued by heel-snapping sharks. I plan to start a counter school of post-holiday conversation called the Vacation Veterans?? Voice. It will be open to all tourists who have endured rather than enjoyed holidays, who have doggedly chalked up at least six Romanesque churches before lunch, eight local museums before dinner, tried to sleep in hotels where the room-above occupants persistently shifted furniture around 3.15am and who climbed 400-odd steps for the view at the top of some church spire that they wouldn??t have taken a lift to see back home. VVV will comprise old holiday hands who have legged it through a wilderness of folklore centres and bought leather wallets into which no bank-notes would fit except Albanian leks, trekked miles, carrying picnic baskets and Lilos, along precipitous, crumbling cliff paths to reach the absolutely unspoiled beach only to find it filled with hornets, razor-like rocks and nude Germans occupying the shady spots. The motto of our holiday-hardened group will be, "We came, we saw, we suffered." Like 12th century flagellants, we will continue to subject ourselves to punishment - in holiday shape. Our greatest joy will be returning home and discussing our expensive torments with horror-struck friends. It??s a tough life; see you at the airport check-in desk. These can all be read at http://www.electricscotland.com/life...rris/index.htm Prelude to the Orpheus ---------------------- We've now completed this book by adding the final appendix entries... Willie Jackson The Origin of the Orpheus and List of Original Members These can be read at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...heus/index.htm More Adventures in Kilt and Khaki --------------------------------- Sketches of the Glasgow Highlanders and others in France by Thomas M. Lyon (1917) and our thanks to John Henderson for sending this in to us. Have added another two chapters from this book... A Billet in Arcady The Double Turn These are stories of the first world war and you can read them at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...g/khakindx.htm The United States of America: A History --------------------------------------- By Robert MacKenzie (1870) We have added several chapters this week including... CHAPTER IX. PENNSYLVANIA CHAPTER X. GEORGIA CHAPTER XI. SLAVERY CHAPTER XII. EARLY GOVERNMENT BOOK II. CHAPTER I. GEORGE WASHINGTON CHAPTER II. BENJAMIN FRANKLIN CHAPTER III. THE VALLEY OF THE OHIO The chapter on George Washington starts... IN the year 1740 there fell out a great European war. There was some doubt who should fill the Austrian throne. The Emperor had just died, leaving no son or brother to inherit his dignities. His daughter, Maria Theresa, stepped into her father's place, and soon made it apparent that she was strong enough to maintain what she had done. Two or three Kings thought they had a better right than she to the throne. The other Kings ranged themselves on this side or on that. The idea of looking on while foolish neighbours destroyed themselves by senseless war, had not yet been suggested. Every King took part in a great war, and sent his people forth to slay and be slain, quite as a matter of course. So they raised great armies, fought great battles, burned cities, wasted countries, inflicted and endured unutterable miseries, all to settle the question about this lady's throne. But the lady was of a heroic spirit, well worthy to govern, and she held her own, and lived and died an Empress. During these busy years, a Virginian mother, widowed in early life, was training up her eldest son in the fear of God ?? all unaware, as she infused the love of goodness and duty into his mind, that she was giving a colour to the history of her country throughout all its coming ages. That boy's name was George Washington. He was born in 1732. His father ?? a gentleman of good fortune, with a pedigree which can be traced beyond the Norman Conquest ??died when his son was eleven years of age. Upon George's mother devolved the care of his upbringing. She was a devout woman, of excellent sense and deep affections; but a strict disciplinarian, and of a temper which could brook no shadow of insubordination. Under her rule ?? gentle, and yet strong ?? George learned obedience and self-control. In boyhood he gave remarkable promise of those excellences which distinguished his mature years. His schoolmates recognized the calm judicial character of his mind, and he became in all their disputes the arbiter from whose decision there was no appeal. He inherited his mother's love of command, happily tempered by a lofty disinterestedness and a love of justice, which seemed to render it impossible that he should do or permit aught that was unfair. His person was large and powerful. His face expressed the thoughtfulness and serene strength of his character, he excelled in all athletic exercises. His youthful delight in such pursuits developed his physical capabilities to the utmost, and gave him endurance to bear the hardships which lay before him. You can read the rest of this chapter at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/usa/book2c1.htm You can read this book as we post it up a chapter per day at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/usa/index.htm Johnny Gibb Of Gushetneuk ------------------------- By William Alexander 1881 This is a book that really needs to be done in adobe reader format as the Scots language in this book would give any ocr software a nervous breakdown! :-) we've added Chapter V - Life at the Wells and Chapter VI - Mrs. Birse of Clinkstyle You can read these at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/gibb/index.htm Scotland's Story ---------------- A History of Scotland for Boys and Girls By H. E. Marshall. We've now added the following chapters... Chapter I. The Story of Prince Gathelus Chapter II. A Fight with the Romans Chapter III. The March of the Romans Chapter IV. The Story of Saint Columba Chapter V. How the French and Scots became Friends Chapter VI. The Last of the Picts Chapter VII. How a Ploughman won a Battle Chapter VIII. MacBeth and the Three Weird Sisters Here's the story of "How the French and Scots became friends"... YEARS passed on and many kings ruled in Scotland. They were years of war and bloodshed, for the country was still divided into different kingdoms, and besides the Picts and Scots and Britons, there were Saxons, who, although they could not succeed in conquering Scotland as they had conquered England, had settled in the part south of tile Forth. Sometimes the Picts and Scots fought against each other; sometimes they joined and fought against the Britons; or again they would join with the Britons and fight against the Saxons. But always and always the story is of war. At last there arose a good and wise king called Achaius. He tried to rule well and bring peace to his land. In the time of Achaius the greatest ruler in Europe was Charlemagne, King of France and Roman Emperor. He was very powerful, but even he dreaded the wild Saxons, for they invaded France as they invaded Briton, and did many wicked and cruel deeds. When Charlemagne heard how the Picts and the Scots resisted the Saxons and remained free, he resolved to make a league with them against their common enemy. He wanted too, to make his people love learning, and in all the world he could hear of no people so learned as the Scots. He resolved therefore to send to them and ask them to come to teach his people. So he called some of his greatest nobles and sent them with a message to Achaius, King of Scots. These nobles stepped into a beautiful ship with purple sails and gilded prow and sailed away to Scotland. As soon as they landed they were led to the court of King Achaius, who greeted them kindly and treated them with great honour. 'Noble King,' said the messengers, bowing low before Achaius, 'our master, the most Christian Prince Charlemagne, sends you greeting. The fame of your good name and of the love you bear to the Christian faith has come to him. He has heard too of the learning and the bravery of your people, and of how they have resisted the heathen Saxons who have invaded Britain and done many evil and cruel deeds there. Our noble King desires therefore to be in fellowship with you and with your people, so that Scotsmen shall help Frenchmen and Frenchmen shall help Scotsmen. To this end let it be sworn between us that whenever the Saxons come with an army to France the Scots shall invade England. Arid if the Saxons come with an army to Scotland then the French shall take their ships and invade England.' When the messengers had made this long speech they again bowed low and waited for King Achaius to answer. 'I thank your noble King for the love he shows towards me,' he replied, 'and when I have taken counsel with my lords and nobles you shall have my answer to carry back to him.' Then the messengers were led to splendid rooms in the King's palace. Everything was done to please and amuse them. There were great banquets and hunting parties in which some of the nobles took part, but the greatest and wisest gathered round the King to give advice. Long they talked, for the lords and nobles could not agree. 'Why should we make friends with a people from over the sea?' said one noble. 'Would it not be far more sensible to make friends with the Saxons who live in the same island as we do?' 'No,' said another, 'we can never be sure of the Saxons, they are full of falseness and treason. What misery and trouble have fallen upon the Britons through the deceit of the Saxons. Do not mistake, they do not wish to be our friends. They have conquered Britain, they also desire to conquer our land. Therefore if we intend to avoid the hatred of our most fearful enemies; if we intend to honour the faith of Christ for whose defence the French now bear arms; if we have more respect for truth than falsehood ; if we labour for the fame and honour of our nation; if we will defend our country and bring it to peace; if we will defend our liberty and our lives, which are most dear to man, let us join with France, and let this bond be a defence to our country in all times to come. Then all the lords and nobles shouted, ' It is well said. Let it be done.' King Achaius then sent to the messengers, commanding them to come to court the next day to hear his answer. That night there was great feasting and rejoicing in the palace, and next day the King in his royal robes, surrounded by his nobles, waited to receive the messengers of the French King. 'My lords,' said the King, 'I desire you to take to your master, the most Christian King Charlemagne, my greeting and thanks. Say to him that my people and I desire above all things to enter into a bond with him, which shall last for all time, and be for ever a joy to both nations. To make the bond more sure, I send back with you my own brother, who is a true and trusty knight, and with him shall go a company of soldiers and four wise men. The soldiers shall fight for the Emperor whenever he goes against the enemy, and the wise men shall teach his people.' Then the messengers rejoiced greatly, and thanking the King they departed to their own land. The Scottish soldiers who went with them formed the beginning of a French Scots guard which afterwards became famous, and the four wise men founded schools and colleges in France, and so added honour to the name of Scotsman. King Achaius had taken for his standard a red lion rampant (that is, standing upon his hind legs) upon a yellow ground. Now, in order that the nobles might never forget his bond with France, lie surrounded the red lion with a double row of fleurs-de-lis, the emblem of France. This was meant to show that the fierce lion of Scotland was armed with the gentleness of the lilies of France, and that the two peoples were friends for ever. Wise people say that the story of Achaius and Charlemagne can only be a fairy tale, for that at the time when Charlemagne ruled, the people of Scotland were still a poor, half-savage, ignorant people, and that a great king like Charlemagne could have learned nothing from them, and that he would not have wished to make a bond with them. However that may be, you will find as this story goes on that the French and the Scots were friends through many ages, and if you look at the Scottish Standard you will see that the lion is surrounded by the lilies of France. It is said that King Achaius founded the Order of the Knights of the Thistle. This is the great order of knighthood in Scotland, just as the order of the Garter is the great order of England. When King Achaius founded the Order of the Thistle, he made only thirteen knights??himself and twelve others. This was in imitation of Christ and his twelve apostles. So it was considered a very great honour to be made a Knight of the Thistle. There were never more than thirteen Knights of the Thistle until hundreds of years later, when King George iv. made a law that there should be more. The ornament worn by the Knights of the Thistle is a picture of St. Andrew with his cross surrounded by thistles and rue. The thistle was the badge of the Scots. Rue was the badge of the Picts. Thistles prick and hurt you if you do not touch them carefully; rue soothes and heals, and was supposed to cure people who had been poisoned. Some people say, however, that this Order was not founded in the time of King Achaius but in the time of King James V., a King who lived many, many years later. You can read the rest of these chapters at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/story/ William Harvey -------------- John Henderson was doing some research on this journlist and author and provided us with a short biography on him. He's also providing one of his books for us to read which you can get to on the same page and we've added the first two chapters already. The book is "Kennethcrook: Some sketches of village life" and was published in 1896. These can be read at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...ey_william.htm Fallbrook Farm Heritage Site ---------------------------- Got in another update of this heritage project which you can read at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...llingbrook.htm They are doing more on the historical significance of the site and you can read that in Update 28. And finally I got in this wee "crack"... An old man, who had been away for mony a day, paid a flying visit one New Year to his native glen. The first person he foregathered with was an old school mate, and naturally they entered on a crack about auld times an' acquaintances. In the course of their conversation the visitor inquired about a certain Sandy M'Nab. "Oh! he's deid lang syne", answered his worthy friend with a significant head-shake, "an' I'll ne'er cease regrettin' him as lang as I leeve." "Losh me! Did ye respect him as muckle as that, Jock?" "Naw, man, Archie, it wasna only profound respeck I had for himsel', but, fegs, I mairrit his widow!" And that's it for now and hope you all have a good weekend :-) Alastair http://www.electricscotland.com OUR NEWSLETTER ARCHIVES ----------------------- You can see old issues of this newsletter at http://www.electricscotland.com/newsletter/index.htm 
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