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LOCAL SCOTS FOREGATHER.
CENTENARY OF SIR WALTER SCOTT CELEBRATED.
MR. W. KAY'S VIVID PICTURE OF THE MAN.
AND HIS
WORK.
The scene of the annual Sir Walter Scott Centenary Dinner, under the auspices of the Hong Kong St. Andrew's Society, which was held at Lano, Crawford's Restaurant last night, presented a brilliant spectacle, when about one hundred Scots of Hong Kong and their guests assembled to. pay honour to the memory of the illustrious Sir Walter Scott.
The decorations were carried out in the Scots thistle motif, and olustered, on the walls, pillars and on the Chieftain's table were illuminated groups of Scotland's floral emblem. On the wall above. the President's chair was A decomted framed painting of Sir Walter Scott, carried out by. Mr. G. Dunean, "0. B, E., of Hong Kong.
Appropriate music was rendered throughout the evening by pipere under the leadership of Pipe-Major W. C. K. Mackie.
Mr. A. Stevenson, Chieftain of the Hong Kong St. Andrew's Society, occupied the chair.
In proposing the immortal memory of Sir Walter Scott, Mr William Kay drew a vivid and attractive picture both of the man and of his work. He described how Scott became a successful past, the greatest novelist and in his own way the greatest figure in English literature of his time. Mr. Kay went on to outline the life of the Laird of Abbotsford, his lavish hospitality and his popularity among friends of all types and classes. Finally the story was told of the great novelist's last years, and of his mighty struggle against misfortune and ill-health.
STRUGGLE AGAINST MISFORTUNE AND
ILL-HEALTH.
Before calling on. Mr. Kay to
but the acquaintaneeship of many
HONG KÔNG. DAILY PRESS, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 1932.
ley, which had been published into the heart of the fog and con- anonymously, had taken the worldquering but dying in the attempt. by storm. It is a landmark in Let us go to Journal to see how M
"I feel neither dishonoured. nor broken down
bat, I feel my eyes moistening, and that will not do. I will not yield, without a fight for it
MURDER CHARGE.
FATAL QUARREL ON DUTCH
STEAMER.
literary history for not only had he took the blow. There he writes: THREE FUKIENESE IN DOCK Scott with one masterstroko creat- od the historical novel (it had Been tried unsuccessfully by many before) but he had mised the novel, at that time the Cinderella of literary forms, to a new level enjoying for the first time in estrem equal to that of the drama.
I
will involve no friend, either rich
Three Fukieness appeared before or poor. My own right hand Mr. J. A. Fraser at the Kowloon shall do it. O, invention, Magistracy yesterday ou a charge. rouse thyself!
I want to uf murder. The men charged are: inish my task, and then Good. Li Po, Po Ho, and So Ming Sui, night. I will never relax my who are alleged to have murdered labour in these affairs, either for Ho Gin Shan on board the Dutch fear of pain or love of life, steamer Tjidane an August. 94 will dio a tree man if hard 'work-Inst. ing will do it".
In rapid succession camo "Guy Mannering,"
"The Antiquary," "The Black Dwarf," "Old Morta lity," Rob Roy," "The Bride of Lammermoor" and "* The Heart of Midlothian." These made Scott n rich man, and although he had, not ncknowledged their authorship moat knowing critics realised that only Scott could be their creator. He those dark days, friends rallied was lauded and feted everywhere, round and showed their love and by the Prince of Wales, by foreign sympathy. His daughter's music. Ambassadors, by statesmen, by mastor offered all this savings to erifies at home and abroad, and help: Sir William Forbes, the
Frienda.
It is pleasing to know that in
Mr. Peter Sin appeared for the second defendant,
The case for the Crown was con-
ducted by Mr. T. S. Whyte-Smith, who, in outlining the case said:
The .. Tjisidane arrived in port on August 23 from the Dutch East Indies with about 1,500 Chin- by the man in the street. But he successful rival in Scott's first love use on board. The Chinese concern. was unmoved. His simplicity of affair settled secretly a demand for ed in this caso are Fakienese. Oa nature prevented success from spoil-2,000 which might have involved August 24, while the ship was tied ing him. As he said, he had too arrest: the coachman became up at a buoy at about 8 m., two much respect for his dignity ever ploughman; the butler halved his ships' officers heard scuffing and to stand upon it.
wages and doubled his work and shouting on the upper 'tween deck, there was scarcely-former depen-They rushed down and found a dant who did not show similar man lying on the deck covared in
But no human frame or brain beating him with poles. tokens of loyal affection.
blood, while numbers of people were
could endure such usage and in 1830 Scott had a paralytic stroke. Nevertheless he struggled on, obey- ing all the orders of the doctor but one-the command to stop working. Then came 4 second
The Laird of abbotsford,
Scott was a tremendous enter- tainer so that his wife complained
that her home was more like a hotel than a house. He was ho loved by all and even cynics like Byron had nothing but praise for the Laird of Abbotsford.
In 1817 Scott had his first attack
Slab Wound.
He had a stab wound in his breast and was evidently seriously wounded. He was removed to the
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ship's hospital. Enquiries made by New Address-9, Queen's Road Central
deliver the address of the evening. men of letters among whom were of serious illness, a form of craPatroke and with it the merciful ill the officers led to the detainment the Chairman proposed the toast Wordsworth and Coleridge, and the stomach (probably gall sion that his debts were paid and of thees thres men, who were taken
from then he became more anxious stones). This caused violent pain he was again a free man.
of "The King."
THE IMMORTAL MEMORY.
Proposing "the Immortal Me- mory of Sir Walter Scott, Mr. Win, Kay said:--
to the Water Police station. The Only
Be voyage recommended by the Government Civil Hospital at 9.40 am. on the 24th and at 12.40 p.m. physicians.
considered so serious that his dying the same day his condition was depositions were taken.
to shine as an author. In 1805 his and would have deterred anyone of then did he consent to take the wounded mag was admitted to the first great original work, "The Layless buoyant temperament and re- of the Last Minstrel," appeared, solute will from writing. While and for the next twenty-seven dictating-
"The Bride of Lammer-
For several months be cruised years Scott as poet, essayist, moor," the must trhgio of his viewer, novelist and historian was navels, he twisted in agony on the about the Mediterranean. But it the most conspicuous literary figure sofa and ordered the windows and
was too late, and feeling that the door of the room to be closed lestend was near he insisted on being athers should hear his groans. And carried heross Europe to die where ho had lived and was loved, at later, when he read that novel în
4
The Last of the Old Minstrels.
Abbotsford. The Lay of the Last Minstrel "printed form, he could not recol-
Chigftion, Brither Scots and Guests, First of all let me thank the Hong Kong St. Andrew's Soin Europe. ciety for the great honour it has conferred
pon
I me.
cannot imagine a greater compliment which the Society has in its power to pay than to invite one to propose this tonyt, and I admit unblushingly that when your energetic secretary, Mr. Bryden, approached me I cast aside any modesty I may possess had accepted with much hesitation.
To-night, gentlemen, we are RS- sembled to honour the memory of a very great and noble character- one whose nume comes down the years untarnished by infamy, and
unspotted by the breath of scandal
- Scot of whom every Scot, nay a Briton of whom every Brilon has cause to be proud.
jest a single incident, character or
weli s
The Last Phase.
Greatness.
In his depositions the deceased said that at 3 a.m., while ascend- ing the steps to the upper deck, he accidentally knocked against the first accused who struck him with
pole. He then said that the se cond and third accused hit him with a pale and first accused took out a knife and stabbed him. He knew these three men, as he had played cards with them.
was a happy title, for in many senses Scott was the last of the conversation it contained.
Scott was doubly great-great old minstrels. He came at the end
when the sun blazed and greater Otherwise fortune acemed
to when
the storm attacked with of old world and fortunately had aile on Scott Noyel after novel, spil and Adversity could not sub. had been taken, he appeared to typhoon force. Prosperity failed to After the deceased's depositions the genius to enshrine it immortally numerous articles and reviews as in his writings. "The Lay of the
duc him. Even the animals sensed make a rapid recovery, and was a ponderous "Life of his goodness. Never was there a discharged from hospital on August Last Minstrel," which, for a poem, Napoleon" came from his tireless grchter lover of dogs and horses, 30. By mutual consent, he stayed had an unprecedented sale, was followed
pon. He entertained more lavishly relates how he and others enjoyed on the 31st he collapsed. He was and Washington Irving laughingly at the Water Police Station and by "Marmion" and than ever and in bis healthy in- Scott's embarrassment when on sent to the Kowloon Hospital but "The Lady of the Lake." Among tervals fubed and hunted. He was going to the hunt Scott had great died on the way. many notable passages in "Mar-
difficulty in dissuading a frisky In answer to a charge of marder, a reckless rider with a great fancy young pig from accompanying him. we have the famous fifth for fording swollen rivers. Mungo
the three defendants denied taking mion " canto, regarded by most critics AB Park's brother, himself & daring his own work as literature and Shan.
He had no very high opinion of any part in the death of Ho Gin h greatest battle description in hersenian, would remonstrate with when an admirer compared him to
Medical Evidence, modern literature The Lady of "The dail's in ye, Shirra! Shakespeare he declared he wasn't The first witness called was Dr. the Lake is the best advertise-hame wi' your feet foremost." gues
Yo'll never halt till they bring yo worthy to tie Shakespeare's bro. II. Thomas, of the Government But he underestimated his Civil Hospital, who said that at Scott's Life Story.
ment, the Highlands ever had and The Abbotsford Hunt was one of own genius and his place among the 3.40 a.m. a man named Ho Gin
inmortals is secure. Mont of you bro familiar with Scott is by far Scotland's greatest the events of the Border season,
Shan was brought to the hospital, and if the hunting was 'none too Scott's life-story: how as an ailing publicity agent. As Bomeone
good the guests could always find Scotsmen Are Deeply In His Debt.ead at 10.30 am, he examined him and found that he had a inch child attacked by lameness he was shrewdly remarked: "Scott's most consolation in the good cheer and sent to the farm of Sandyknow significant monument is not Kemp's the day. It is related how one helped to fuse Highlands and Low-on his right cheek. The stab wound As Scotsman we are deeply in stab wound on the left side of his lavish entertainment that wound up his debt. More than any other ho cheat, also a small superacial cut where be developed a life-long masterpiece in Princes Street but farmer on being roused by his wife lands and make Scotland a unity. passion for the Borderland and be the Trossachs Hotel,"
This may
on the morning hfter the Abbots-la also produced in England and
was bleeding profusely,
At 12.40 p.m. on the samo day, pame saturated with the ballads sound like exaggeration or
ford, Hunt groaned as he clasped even on the Continent a Scottish deceased's dying depositions were even
his throbbing hend: "Oh Ailie, cult at a time when Scottish loyalty takon. Towards evening the pati and history of that romantic coun-flippancy but remember that in the inss, dinna wauken me. I wish
was not aboro suspicion. Who but ent's condition improved and by try. At the High School, Edin- year 1800 low Scotsmen, and fewer I could slepp Д twelvemonth Scott could have arrayed George the 27th of the month, he appeared burgh, he was noted nut as a Englishmen, werd aware of the till the next Abbotsford Hunt IV in a deilt and what magic but his normal again. On the application scholar but as a story-teller and beauty and charm of the High-the only thing I ken worth could have caused the grand-nephew of the polies, he permitted the of the Duke of Cumberland, the patient to be discharged on August fighter lad with a marvellous lands. To most Britons the land
Butcher of Culloden, to propose the 30, He did not suspect there was memory who read all sorts of beyond the Highland line was a
toast: The Chieftains and Clans anything wrong with his heart, In 1825 during a great trade de of Scotland!” text-books. waste peopled by kilted savages pression the Ballantyne and Con- Scott's romances that the tartan Ho), witness said that Do Gin books
except school
It was through In answer to Mr. Sin (for Po On leaving school he studied law who, sixty years before, had given stable firma with which Scott was became Scotland's emblem and the Shan was to all intents and pur at the University and worked in John Bull a nasty fright when they connected failed, and Scott, aged pipes her musto. When he visited poses ♫ healthy XOLU There his father's office, and, as a law tried to place Prince Charlie's ful malady, refusing to go bankrupt welcomed by Wellington and, to his disease. The stab wound might
fifty-five and suffering from a pain- Brussels after Waterloo and was
were no symptoms to suggest heart ya's apprentice, had sometimes to father on the throne. With a low took upon his now drooping shout- confusion, kissed by a foreign gen- have been inflicted by a sharp make journeys into the then almost strokes of the pen Scoto destroyedders the whole debt of £120,000 eral, a bevy of Russian Princesses pointed instrument like a knife,
themselves unknown Highlands
his for ever that misconception. His and pledged himself to pay off arrayed
tartan but not with a pole or stick. every creditor in full. Then, gen-specially in his honour. greatest joy was to take with some genius realised the grandeur of the tlemen, began the most heroic
After further evidenc, had been of Prince Charlie's veterans. In Trossachs, the poetry and glamour effort in all literary history For his power to creato ordinary people.
One of Scott's greatest gifts was submitted, the case was adjourned. spite of his lameness he grew into of the Western Isles and the the remainder of his days Scott Lawyer, sheriff, Innded proprietor, romantic loveliness of that Border toiled unceasingly displaying 2 a strong and active young man to
the friend of princes and nobleg he determination and op whom a walk of thirty miles a day land whose greatest and most de courage,
never exceeded by the describing the characters and con-
Was greatest as an author when drink to his Immortal Memory, was nothing unusual. Whenever he voted son he is; and he showed timism
The Chairman, Chieftain Steven could escape from the drudgery of that the Gael, living under the old boldest of his Border ancestors or versations of such children of the son, aptly thanked the speaker for law he was off to Liddesdale, barbarian had a culture and chivalry fictitious. He lud six years to live elan system, far from being a by any of his characters mal or
soil as Jeanie Detas, Edie Ochil his interesting and brilliant handling Yarrow, or Ettrick collecting ballads
--years of sickness, domestic afflic- tree, Mog Dods, Dandie Dinmont, of the subject. which were in danger of extinc-of his own.
Evening's Entertainment.A. tion, gossiping with airds, old He brought back the past, and tion, agonising pain and incessant Nanty Ewart, eto,
The members and guests were He was buried, as he desired, played in to dinner to the strains wives, beggars and salmon-poach with his wide and sympathetic work. focal celby Buring experience and anecdote was able to people the him. He gave up his house in Edin- and son in law, Lockhart, sleeps at pipers under the leadership of Fine- ers thereby gaining experience and knowledge of local legend and his good humour never deserted in Dryburght Abbey. His biographer of Domhnall Dabh," rendered by work. Those excursions did not hills and glens with life-like figures burgh, fought ill-health, worked his feet and a fow yards off lie the Major C. K. Mackie, please the strid old lawyer, his meditative mood by Loch Katrine partially paralysed and with little In his sixty-one strenuous years Mr. R. M. Keown and Mr. J. B. so that, to-day, a lover a Scott in fourteen hours a day with a body mortal remains of Sir Douglas Haig. During the course of the evening father, who would remark: "I
I would scarcely be astonished were more than half a brain. He was Scott got through a prodigious Macdonald delighted the gathering greatly doubt, sir, you were born he to see Ellen Douglas in her skiff almost constantly tired, and there
amount of work. The sword was with splendidly rendered. Bcottish to bo nae better than gangrelor Roderick Dhu with, bis targe and are few more pathetic pictures
worn out by use not by rust and songs. Two sota of pips selections
· scrape-gut." (Allow me to "införin my Sassonuch friends that a gun-
claymore.
than the old grey head of the weary
he had been faithful to his own were also played; the fint set com- Waverley.
Titan bowed on the desk in utter creed: grel scrape gut is
astrolling
prising" Shores of Argyll, Mac- fiddler),
fatigue. In five years he paid off Twice before he wan "Marmion," was not so well re- £70,000--DEL
"One crowded hour of glorious nab's March," "London's Bonnie
He thirty he published translations ceived as the previous poems had money hundred years ego-and
Woods and Braca," "Piper of from the German. At that time he been, and it was then that Scott, after his death, when his copy-
Is worth an age without a Drummond," and "Back of Benz regarded writing as a more recren while looking in a drawer for some rights were finally disposed of,
die” The second set comprised tion, remarking that literature was fishing tackle, came across the un-hie uttermost penny of any in characters and heroic deeds, but Marquis of Huntly," Tail
Ho gloried in describing noble "Luchleven Castla," Bugle Horn," good staff but a bad crutch. Bub finished manuscript of "Waver debtedness was discharged. It is none of the deeds he recorda is. Taddle and Highland Laddie." no mun with such stories of romance ley" begun ten years previously. the greatest epic of literary heroism Tobler than bis own amazing effort Both seats were enthusiastically re- and poetry in his head could long Ho completed the manuscript, Bent on record, the enemy an over and he portrays no charactor, more ceived." refrain from writing, and in 1802, it to the publishers, and then went whelming debt; the weapon of at-worthy of our respect and admira At the President's table were the in his thirty second year, ha pro- off on a trip round the Northern tack a quill pea; the fighter a wenry tien than himself. duced The Border: Minstrelsy:"Lighthouses. When he returned he might-errant with failing body and I now ask you, gentlemen, to W. Kay, the Rev. Mr, Powell, and Hon. Mr. WE L. Shenton, Mr. This brought to Scott not only fame- learned to his surprise that Waver brain driving the pen remorselessly (Continued on next Column.) Mr. J. W. C. Bonnar.
where
But his courage and oven
enormous
of
Dame.
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