SIR HARRY LAUDER.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 19200, 5 January 1928, Page 12

SIR HARRY LAUDER.

FREEDOM OF EDINBURGH. RETURN TO THE FOOTLIGHTS. (from oua own correspondent.) LONDON, November 26. Sir Harry Lauder defied a civic edie£ by lapsing into song when he received the Freedom of Edinburgh, his native city. He did not sing with his accustomed vigour, but rather crooned a verse and a chorus, which began: Sing us a simple melody, Sing us a. simple tune, Tako us back to Scotland When blue bells are blooming in June. "No, I could not do it," he said turning to the Lord Provost. Afterwards no explained, "I was ordered by the Lord Piovost not to sing, and i told him 1 would keep my promise, although 1 have broken it just a weo bittie." Sir Harry, who was dressed/ in a Highland jacket and a kilt, received from the Lord Provost a casket containing his burgess ticket, which recorded that the honour was in recognition of his valuable services to the Allied cause during the war, his efforts for war charities, his labours to cement ties of kinship with the Dominion/, and his pre-eminence as an exponent of Scottish song and humour. Lord Provost Stevenson said the honour was conferred upon one of Edinburgh's own sons, whose wonderful gift of song and lovable personality, with its humour, geniality, and pawkiness, had endeared him to countless admirers alike in the old world and the new. He also made reference to Sir Harry Lauder's war services, when he the troops by his songs and when he pleaded the Allies' cause in the United States. He had further succeeded in raising £IOO,OOO as a fund to give maimed Scottish soldiers and sailors a fresh start in life. To the "End of the Road.''

"To have one's name enrolled among the illustrious names which represent Scotland's finest heritage is an honour of which I am humbly proud," said Sir Harry. "This is the greatest hour of my life. I have never been so enthralled. ' I have been honoured by many cities, both at Home and abroad, but this is the grand finale. You have given me another inspiration. You are driving me back to the footlights, where I expect to be very soon." (Cheers.) In & brief allusion to the death of Lady Lauder, Sir Harry said that when everything seemed dark to him he turned on his own record of "The End of the Road," and, as he listened to himself singing, he said: "Well, old man, you will have to take your own advice " and so, he exclaimed. "I will go on to the end of the road." At the luncheon which followed, Sir Harrv regaled the company with manv Scottish stories, and concluded his reply to the toast of his health by intimating a gift of a sum sufficient to provide a number of pensions for aged Edinburgh citizens, in order to nerpetuate the name of Lady Lauder.*