THE COCK O' THE NORTH.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10024, 21 April 1910, Page 4

THE COCK O' THE NORTH.

The kilts of the Highlanders, no less than their bagpipes, have ever been a prolific source of amusement to the Southerner, but the Scotsmen's pride in their national garb has never abated. When the camps come round the Scottish Rifles march as proudly to the pipes and drum as did ever the Pretorian Guard or the British Grenadiers. But the other day at the Liverpool camp, says the I "Sydney Morning Herald," some humorists of the St George's Kifles tucked up their trousers, donned blankets for kilts, and blew penny trumpets for bagpipes, and marched up and down in imitation of their northern friends. The Highlanders J were somewhat amused, and tried. hard to regard the pantomime as a poor Englisn joke., But, emboldened by the applause of the crowd, the masqueraders encroached on the Scottish lines and repealed the perform-

ancsj. This was too much for the | Highlanders. The hot Celtic blood | was roused. With a wild yell the pipers da«hed from their tents, followed by the men of the regiment. In one fierce Highland charge they scattered their adversaries, tore from thtir backs the blankets and trappings, dipped a few southerners in buckets, and stood exultantly on the well-fought field. Then the real bagpipes were brought out, the pipres struck up "Cock o' the I North," and, escorted by hundreds jof cheering Highlanders, marched round the campa in honour of their vir.tnrv.