SHYLOCK “A LIBEL.”

Hokitika Guardian, 28 February 1920, Page 4

SHYLOCK “A LIBEL.”

MACBETH A STAIN ON THE SCOTTISH KILT.”

NEW YORK February 30,

Members of the League of Scottish Veterans of the World War met in solemn conclave in New York last night and after due deliberation passed a formal resolution demanding that Shakespeare’s tragedy “Macbeth” be removed from the curriculum of English literature studies in American schools.

The gallant and patriotic Scotsmen have not taken this drastic course without good reason. Last week the Board of Education at Newark, the New Jersey city just across the Hudson River from New York decided to bar “The Merchant of Venice” from the city schools on tfre ground that the character of Shylock is a libel on the Jewish race. This act came to the notice of the Scottish veterans, nearly all of whom served in the ranks of the Gordons, the Black Watch, and other famous figlit-

ing regiments. Full of pride of flic race and not to be outdone, they foregathered in a New York hotel and passed the above-mentioned resolution which, ‘‘in view of the action of the Newark authorities in regard to the slander of the Jew,” called on the [American people “to extend the same privilege to Scotland.” The Scots further declared “that the glorious clan of the Macbeths and the whole Scottish race had been traduced by the misrepresentations of ShakeIdpoalre in (presenting Macbeth as a murderer and a traitor. Wo consider that if the Jewish gabardine is* to he cleaned by American Boards of Education the stain should likewise be removed from the Scottish kilt.” The resolution is signed, among others by Tan Mactavish, captain, Gordon 'Highlanders; Malcolm Maepherson, captain, Black Watch; and Donald Bailey, lieutenant, Royal Scots Fusiliers.