THE GAELIC SOCIETY.

Evening Star, Issue 9749, 4 July 1895, Page 2

THE GAELIC SOCIETY.

The ordinary monthly meeting of this society was held last night in the Stuart street Hall. There was a large attendance, and Mr Laehlan M'Donald (president) occupied the chair. Mr Dugald M'Lachlan delivered an interesting address in Gaelic. He said the meeting would no doubt be pleased to hear that he had just received a telegram from the chief conveying his best wishec to the meeting, and , mentioning that his health had very much improved. He (the speaker) had also met Mr J. F. M. Fraser during the afternoon, and was glad to learn that that valued member of the society had recovered from his recent severe illness. Mr Fraser, during his illness, had a wish, in case he should not get over it, that the society's pipers should be present at his funeral and play his funeral dirge. He (Mr M'Lachlan) hoped their services in that connect ion would not be put into requisition for many long years "to oome ; but he would say of the bagpipes that either at wedding or funeral there was no instrument to be compared with them for stirring the emotions. It was an instrument into which the living breath was blown' in at one end and came out in melifluous music under the fingers of the chanter—not like those dead, mechanical instruments with keyboards, which had not even a Gaelic name, and into which soul could not be put. The greatest pipers who had ever been in the Highlands were the M'Crimmons, and they acquired their preeminence through supernatural gifts conferred on one of their ancestors by the fairies, and that followed in the family ever afterwards. Mr M'Lachlan gave a vivid account of how this happened, as he had heard the tale in his early days, and on concluding was warmly cheered. An excellent concert followed, every item of which received its due share of applause. The singers vrtre Miss Jane Cameron, Mrs J. M'Donald, Miss C. M'Donald, Miss Annie M'Donald, and Messrs John M'Neill, James M'Donald, D. Mathesou, and J. Turner. Mr J. Gillies gave a Scotch recitation, 'The Auld Sark Sleeve,' in excellent style. The pipes were played by Pipe - imjor M'Kechnie, Mr J. Murray, and Master Alexander Murray. Ths playing of the latter, for one so young, was much admired. Mr Oeorge Ritchie in closing the meeting, referred to the forthcoming annual gathering, which he hoped ail present and absent wi u'.d endeavor to make as great a success as usual. Messrs J. Stevenson and J. M'L. M'Kenzie were elected members.