SCOTTISH SONG.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2314, 17 August 1880, Page 2

SCOTTISH SONG.

Professor Blackie, of the Edinburgh University, recently presided at one of the series of weekly concerts given in the City Hall of Glasgow under the auspices of the Abstainers’ Union. The programme was wholly devoted to Scottish music. The learned and humorous Professor concluded some remarks which he addressed to the audience as follows :—“ Scottish nationality consisted mainly of two things—the Scottish Presbyterian religion and Scottish national song, Don’t let these thihgs be dribbled out of them by any conspiracy of school inspectors or anybody else. —(Laughter.) Don’t run after foreign idols.- don’t send their daughters to fashionable boarding-

schools, to sing only German or Italian songs—that was a matter for the exercise of the throat and the amusement of the car; hut to stir the heart and cultivate the feelings sing a good Scotch song. —(Cheers) If an angel wore to come down, from heaven and say to him, ‘ Blackie —(laughter) — for the many faults you have committed during your septuagenarian march in this sublunary world —(great laughter) —we mean to take away from you all your accomplishments and all your virtues, except one; now think, Blackie.’ (Hoars of laughter.) He would answer take away ray Greek, take away my Latin, take my German, take away niy Gaelic, hut leave me the good Scottish song.’—(Great laughter.) —Ho could only say that if any of the dozen or two or three score of songs he had written, while other people were smoking their cigars, should happen to live in the hearts and throats of his countrymen, ho should esteem it the greatest honour that could bo done to the memory of Blackie when he died. —(Cheers.)”