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6V «-*v- *£Ncutivvubi*;,'-1«*3a*w’tor ninny a day, burnt on our view. Upon 11rttl DAY, St’TT. I, IMJ.%.Muitemij: of tho (liana.Wo f**oi «'»:r inability to do justice u* :in eventno t'rawcht wiih homo ini*r*ls a ml lln* nnmoryof “lang 5ino, as llio meeting «l 1-M Wediu'5-dav; but wo will do our best; tor our heart#' • *onrliont nllioiions :ilO oottmvlo.l with n l:iml Mandmg out bold and conspiomui? oil i*.;o sw.wd-trneod page* ot history, an tbo birthplace ol ne-gentle Hope, 'Mill a buck ground of abrupt and wooded eminences, and touts and urtitloial bower* in uleuflhe branebos and foliage ot llio fragrant pino arranged very tastefully, are congregated a most romantic-looking crowd whoso atldiilion is mroted by the games jiCr forming. Moving hither and thither are lUgh'ninlei? in llioir picture and warlike oostumo, Ironi the hronil silver !:oe 1 itekle In the d.-li tut eagle's leather in thebonnet. Every great name In Scottish hHtory is repiesented by its colors. Ho*-'. 1 ’microti, Ar-*:\le. Stuml. McKenzie, MeNab, Mcl’herson,1.hearmigltlm i the i(IOldartsKian-r. K:;r»|uh;ir?*m, McKay,; McClellan, Me-roe*. iron* Kanmvkbuin to the blootlv plain* | |McLean, MoAlpin, Campbell, llume, about Sebastopol, and to the relict ot belea :uered Hamilton, ' raw ford, and the tierce tartan of llioLucknow.Never did a town-bred child, promilt;ed a ride in the country, anticipate with more impatient delight than did our semenlul mature self the gratification of seeing ti e sport? of the morrow ; and nl.on no arose and looked out, our heart loll n itli disappointment, lor dark cloud? rested upon the brow and hung heavily on the we* pu g eye* lid.'* ot the morning—in short, as Mr. Macawber savs.it was raining rat? and dogs, ti turativii* sptnki. g. Whe’luT it rained all da\ or not dc-p*: „cd a ;:r*al d*al up, ti how the wind L: : but tins we could not tv 11. as w ithin our ms;., v their was iu itbvf \ano or weather-ceck. ami wa? - any tor the maids to be making their Mv.,t:while we biatmd nature tot taking this pAttvular *i;vy tor a ti: ot crying, alter lavishing her Minus s.ml good nature upon so many days ot iso imp. rtac.ce: but we were soon ivi.v.mvd ct the iijustice we It.id done the good D.iu.c; s.-r cuvl et smoke worn a dtt;»:. chimney Ciow-* d she w ind in r. {.»vo».«bie art, and our t o‘om :eU relicved of its load. The dear o!d i.idy was ro*. we*pug r.t all, tut oniv sending :.bioad lur wau:ing-pac.« to lay liieiius give i.) the gi w-ir g lace ot summer lur finishing Ku.h cl mature frcsi.t eSS and . eauty.We had duet mined lo make the day as !*•: ; asbrave, but once persecuted McGregor. Wo onlyomit other i.lustriou? names from want of mem-* .ory. t htee a peacidul field tronhl not contain so m.iiiy dttl'erent clans; but hero they were in loving brotherhood, bound together by the strong lies of fatherland, and in manly and good humored oomjiotilor?liip tor the prizes at their national games. We kv.cu- that we had a few personal trim Kin Halifax, but until we saw them together upon (hat ground we did not think they were se many, and they were not all there cither. We are proud and thankful to have it lo say.The chioI men there ns spectators were I Its Excel.one*. Sir K. G. McDonnell, Major-General Sii liaslmgs Doyle, Hon. 1‘Jiiet ,lulicc, mid Jlis 11. jut the* Provincial Secretary, who we were glad to see kokirg so well on his ruiunifrom England.When we arrived “ Tossing the Caber ” was the game in hand. This con-kts in shouldering a spar, a iiuls less than a smack’s mast, and alter steadying vt in a no.iily upright position, with the sui.li ei.d resting in tiio palms of the hands, run up to a h:i • and iojs it from yon, making it light upo.i the other en:!, and turn completely over in the direction of its projection. ’This is the most !.:«description w e can give, of a sport which regain# tiie itrv.ngcs: mascH.s and great dexterity.In:‘ms m.stntice wo .tiouirlu the caber uiineoess:*.-i o:Llc; t ut the EngiiMt jiv.uuer must . i * m lt;v ju. Vv. I he sum?tul eamvetitor was a• I • •i:#c irt\icu^ r.\$lu so licit vro ivuM ran kMiv tic Un u'clcck boat I Hi.il uc » *• •woik tor dear .ilo to bo ready at twelve. »•* ■ ever we were in a great measure icp.ud tor t..c delay; ter on *ur fOing h*-«i. the iju*cn s NV h itt. the n agi.iti».cnt Land ol tl-c 17:h kegb 'ruci* up,** Tbv Car.-pbvii? arc cc:u;ng. b e w..i no; ?ay that the ceiiip;lUici-t p..nt cxciu?i*v*y i** ^ni ujproacli; bat we beg :o assure our itiuum-zr.'b.c riders. lortl.iy ere w.thout uumncr. if we include our bLckau-.-riii: mg irnnds, a:-.i U.ey are ltgiun. a coL*.ra:y as-* r.ion r.oiwi»hsi.»nuing. c leg to assure cur rcaccrs ih.it cadi n.;- * •Use warlike sir in? v:traUvi c-n cv*ry .:. -id : our heart. There i r.o t.-: gue can i*i; tr.^ j owtr «.! ti.u?*c over the sc-ul ot in.n. ’• We can liutdiy ssy wbcti.CT it U n» t a nus: a- mig!;iy a? woman# u-iiuvJ.vc; tut we *.a:i appreci..;e t:o?e lines wl.kl; c*s*ni-.* the i. irativti c-l U;« toneswhich the *• .Mi6b.y Master d.vw trcm m? fyit,whcu“ Transported cnv.'.-f lt;ii steed round And men grew us.hoL# a; ue sotmc. ’“lcflcn.ca with glen's chatxns,Eai'n Ct.ie: his s*-vci:-:lt; .c #h:c;*i dispsytJ,Ar.d half linshcathU 1. * d.iah g l-Lac,While »ess, jlu rccU and »kiva tvS^und,• ioarmsl to arnisl tOwri..s!Jxion rests upon his whed, and Sysiphus sus-rends Li# denial lut iiicflectual tflorts to roil his huge 5'onc up the “ internal sleep. 'liic-strains ol the great musician are cvcu tiuploytd to rescue an abducted lady (the lair Euryd.co), lrotu the dark cchfit.es *.-* the ancient Erebus.•* hf sir.g, and Hell coLStuted To hear the poet's prayer;Stein rroser;ine rekntcd.And gave Lim back the fair.Thus a song could prevail O'er death and e'er tell A conquest how hard and hew glorious 1 Though late had fast bound hir With ttjx nine time# round her Vet music acu iovc were victorious 1Ar.d here we are in imagination, Hying Uycr.d the “ uttermost parts of the earth,” while our £ob-:r-m:cdcd readers are waiting our u-turn to toll them o: the- ‘•gathering. We have no nivrc than time to do it, tLeD, for here conies the boat with li her steam up and bunting firing.What a crowd! what lovely face# and wart forms are crowding upon the versti's d*ck. There are gentle and simple, handsome and i kin, and rich and poor, and soldier and -suh:; indeed every and condition atTiCi.g men uie favorably reprinted i.eie. And the noble band is there, and our old friend McKenzie, who isalways associated in our mind with the far-famed 41 pip-r ol Mull.*'Ofl' we go, ar.d away goes the band into such a charming medley — “ '1 h«j Campbells are cumniL,' “Koyal Charlie,” then they nearly draw ones tear® by that heait-louching wail “Annie Laurie,” end then lit up “I: a body meet a body,” and the “Highland Laddie,” aod cease for n eeeson. But the lull is soon broken by the “ skirl ” of the pipes, which pierces the air like the screams of amoun:»ia eagle. Never was there such music, and never a happier company enjoying it!Onward we speed, at we will not say how many knots, round Point Pleasant (it would be no pleasant pciut for a foe to attempt a landii g) up the Arm, past the house of retirement br convicted felony, which is silent and uolitary-lcrking;and i'.b we proceed new beauties appear on each aide, which cannot bo easily surpamd. Our interest was quite new, lor we never hud been to far up this piece of water before ; and, we muss acknowledge, never had been to Down#’.At length wc landed. It cannot bo disputed that tby pressure of a light, boot upon a corn i# not conducivu to the enjoy ment of a pleasant and somewhat ltcglhy walk ; hut even this drawback was insufficient to make us consider it otherwise than delightful. To see far on upoy that lovely, undulating road, tbo long string of happy people, who, with a school-boy-like abandonment of care, laughed, and joked, and chatted at) they straggled uiong, wua enough to muke one doubt the bypocondmical assertion that all is sorrow on this tide the grave. ' It is no eutli thing. Man makes a great iuaI of his own grief,aod of: en lays a claige open iiaaven which, \vi;limore justice, might be brought borne to lii:ns%*lf. Wo are not without a pi.udu of experience, a I-though our wife ui»y think diUcreritly, Butthere’s no use telling the women eveiytbing.; — • 9At length we reach the entrance, present our» * 1 / itickets and cuter the grounde, which uro. not too highly spoken of. Varied and beautiful arc their features, presenting every variety of hill andvalley, and forest aod glade which charni thelsudtcape paiuter and admirer.. At some future day we intend a more general exploration; but at present we mutt hurry up to the sceuo ot the sports which are now pretty well on; and soon ap-'Wcrtui y^ung a'.hivtiu trom C.ma 11, by the uatno ot AicLoauan, who coiuliincd great strength with the agility *1 a deer, lie was warmly congratulated by an admiring crowd..vtter tin? came the trial of skill on the pipes. .Kiim McKenzie, of Halifax, Donald McKenzie, of 1’iccou. and Jonn I’.itu-rson, i f Halifax, were llio c inpctitofi. Art never supplied such appropriate scenery as nature did to this Hi.bland tournament mi the national insl.umeut—it was us High-ian 11. character a? were Lie tic Lira, ilow hearts, .ttivl woods, and t.-cks, echoed with the strains, usmat!ami11Holicanmys4I on:r»•• tl i snJ ui^h the Oaiu:;-.-o‘s gathotiag roie, j ho w,»r ucte ot L oaie!.”a.» i.i the duvs wl.c i ti.o rcti-crosj flashed across tin a:ou#ed iand.Alter a il-?ni.iy ot skill t.veeedingly creditable lo vie.i, the tir?t prize was given ;o John McKenzie. the m.-xt to Duiuid M. K.nzie, and the ttiird to Jo:.:: l’atters-.m—tiiere were no blanks.Then came tbo “Sword Dance,” which was cred;..« iy won by Charles Edtuouston, who must he vtry ; rou J o! t.is victory over #uJi oppoueuts as i.e had to contend with. Afterwards cntnet!:e ,,lligh!«n l Fling.” This wild and picturesque dance cou.d only be conceived by a people overl' - witu: w ills ; l»y#ieal vigor, ftuiuial spirits and a warlike nature, as a mcus of getting r»d of a superabundance of vitality. It is inbred in theScotch character, a lad proved by an oid Gael, Itudcriiig on seventy, and wearing his bonnet r»;..11 laid, giving the heel and toe and a respectable thug too, when the electric tune of “Tullocb-g»rauf was started.We have already lengthened this narrative, wc lear, Uvoml the patience of our readers, and wo iuu*t hasten to the end. W. K. Anderson, tlio Knight ot the Green Jacket, was tbo fortunate win her of li.e *• Fling.”A tier this the* ring of spectators broke up,and the d inciug commenced all over the ground. Tbo 17ili supplied music for all bands. One set, ar-t'.llcrymen and their ladies, attracted our particular attention, for one reason. A young girl, the sweetheart ol a bombardier, was not accustomed to the figure, only when she came to the part of the exercise where the arm ot the male partner cncircUa the waist of his compauion. Then flic sernrd perfectly at home, and it was evident thataaidlea'fortelmand0nns the nro to I cbo(— .\ 7him3?r.Kmo no I v*-r giv. t ha i whiyjwc1waihi?Iwhnov1aitin aa? igatIInsev.Jwhspicrtpu:he.ui:iisllisiHithaicoihopnsotintotilsoshe had received a lew c-xtra lessons about lliat IraDcli ot the drill.We were now invited to pirtikc of “ Highland hospitality, in what form it does uot fignify at present. Afterwards we went to sec the Zoological wonders of the gardtus. There was nothing to astonish us there. Mr. Downs has just iuiport-haaranheneielt;heiheuvtla01icnitlHIWWlw.ofcd a line epecimrn of the Ursa Major. His I U keeper and wediflered as totlie kind—lietaid it | was a young Grizzly, wo said Polar. We couldn’t agree, but as he said they ted him on fish, we con-ciuthd wo were right, it his make aud color badnot determined it before.YiTivr. wc got back to the playground, tlic running leaps were iu progress, both which were won by McLennan, the young Canadian.At a dLtuutc we eaw the throwing of the hammer and other exercises, hut did not go near,We now thought that w« would wend our way home, us our pace was slow, and we had a good way to go, anil wc determined to walk home nt our leisure, a feat which we accomplished through much tribulation, for our hoot and corn had renewed their leud, and we got once upon the wrong road. Yet such vexsmions were hut a small drop of b tiers in the eupol enjoyment wo qua/led that day.Bef-.re we conclude wc beg to return o ir thanks tor tne kindness which we experienced while on too ground; and we think it also our duty to bear witness to the excellent arrangements of the Committee, an;J the decorations displayed on tho eceoo of this national pie-nic.Wo think that every Scotchman io the province is deeply indebted to D. ltois, Ksq-, the President, and one who niuvt bo considered the• Father of the Club, in which the Sons of Shetland, from ull purls, may annually .meet to (x-YLjiite the games of the dear old country, and p^rp. iu::to her memory. In this “ labor of love” s.e.is uoiy and cordially seconded by llio other msmhers of the Committee.Even though we never again be a spectator of ia Scotch Gathering below the itars, we hope il.oro will b.’ many here, and each ooo happier llnin the lust.• I1 he following ib q list of .the games and prizes:Tutting the Hc tvy .stone (22 lln.)—1st prize :3;IK I.. McLennan, 36 feel 8 in. 2nd (Jolia I’itbla-dc,2o h tt 8 In. . . ’• ■fulling the Light Stone—1st. prize Si; R. 11. Mc-Lcjmaii, 35 Kit *J in. 2n: J; Cu)in Pitblado,30 fe*tInt'n2s:IciHS'tlAtlV0 ih.Vs’ohrtr8 of l»cr,t Highland Costume—Colin Pithla-doja?; H. Patterson, JJ. * .4hrowinj: lXc..vy Hammer, (IG lbn.) U. It. McLennan, $3’ - 7b feet 5 ih. Walter Lair , $2—55 ltd.. Tlir-w.ng Light Hammer, (12 lbs.) It. 11. McLennan, £3—lt/O fed S'in. Walter Laird, $1—ti8 ft. d in. .. ‘loaning toe caber—K. lti MoLthnan, i3; James Thoiiipsvii, j»I. • .flignlaiid Pipe. Mcsic—John McKenzie, Halifax, 310; Donald McKenzie, Pictou, 6; John Paterson, 3r.Jp izc. , .Baiicii g Sword Da .ce-r:ChaB. Edmonstone, $.5. Foot iiace—John Hnrilhgton, J3.Dancing Highland Fling— \\\ it. Anderson, $4.Kuniiiijg High Leap—It. K. McLenmiu, ($5j 6 feet6 in. ...... /■ .:.i •KunningLong Leap—R'. R! McLennan, (52) 17 ft. 8 io.*•*wheelbarrow Race—Henry Smith, $2,Wiii.Ca-intxoii, $1. •• A:x •*- 1 - * •’.Sack Jtacc—Oeo. Purcell, $3; Jm Thomps. n, $2 . ... , , Buya'.Sack Race—Tinfcs I’noiupson, jr., 52; if. J.scone, the most ravishing we liavo witnessed I Smalt, $1.IiIliuVC!d
Newspaper Details
Halifax Sun And Advertizer
Halifax, Nova Scotia, CA
Fri, Sep 01, 1865
Page 2
Full Page
Clipped by
Robin G.
USA 16 Apr 2018
Other Publications Near Halifax, Nova Scotia
Halifax Sun And Advertizer
Halifax Gazette
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