HAIL CALEDONIA

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 4, Issue 145, 22 August 1941, Page 4

HAIL CALEDONIA

Sir, —You will have noted with approval that both your learned correspondents "Caledonia 1 "' and my humble self join forces in urging that our local Caledonian Society's newfy-acquired hall in King Street be appropriately christened, and the name painted up in bold letters with suitable Scottish emblems. No doubt , the officials of the Caledonian Society will take this as an indication of goodwill on behalf , of at least tlie members of the public, anil will chopse the name and e'hgage. a signwriter without delay. There arises the question of "what's in a name?" I suggested "Scots Hall" be- ; cause it was brief. "Caledonia" prefers the ancient Roman name for Scotland, and would have "Caledonian Hall" painted up. Very weltthen, we can leave it to the officials of the Caledonian Society. Just as Well to remember that. signwriterS, charge according to the number of words or letters (so I am told), so it will cost the Society a few more "saxpences" or "baubees" to get the longer name "Caledonian Hali" painted up. As "Caledonia" 'has told us, the name "Caledonia" is beloved ,by poets (like Sir Walter), because it has five syllables, and so fills up a line of poetiyi well. Ota. the other hand "Scots" is a short word, and popular with men of action. Thus Bobbie Burns puts into the mouth of King Robert Bruce the stirring words "Scots wi Wallace bled." Notice the effect of so many short words in one line. Probably what Bruce really said was "Soldiers of Ancient Caledonia, who have experienced the slings and arrows of outrageous future in company with our late lamented Wallace." I don't what he said. I was not • there, and neither was Bobbie Burns. However you can see* Mr Editor, how effective short words qan be. Bruce was a man of action. Why, did he not spoil his good axe while chopping in the head of an Englishman just prior to exclaiming "Scots wha hae?" So I, had better be careful, lest I discover (at the cost of my head) that the local Caledonians are also men of action. So I shall wait and see when the hall improvements are carried out by our "stern and wild Caledonians (to misquote Sir Walter). What a pity I am not Scotch, or half Scotch, but only

HOP SCOTCH.