"AULD REEKIE"

Evening Star, Issue 16991, 13 March 1919, Page 2

"AULD REEKIE"

ETONBURCH'S PET NAME. Discussion ha« 'been taking place in the ‘Weekly Scotsman’ as to the origin of “ Auld Reekie ” as a name for Edinburgh. The following is quoted IVom 'Traditions of Edinburgh, by R. I erE Chambers :- • “Mr Schetky dame to Edinburgh in the beginning of King George Ill’s reign. Ho used to tell how, when alighting at Ramsey's Inn, opposite the Cowgate Port, his first impression of the city was so very unfavorable that he was on the point of leaving it without further acquaintance, and was only prevented from doing so by the solicitations of his fellow-traveller, who was not too much alarmed by the dingy am! squalid appearance of this part of ‘ Aukl Reekie.’ This highly appropriate popular sobriquet cannot be traced beyond the reign of Charles 11. Tradition assigns the following as the origin of the phrase:—An old gentleman in Fife, designated Durham of Largo, was in tL? habit at the period mentioned of regulating the time of evening worship by the appearance of the smoke of Edinburgh, which he could easily see from his own door. When he observed the smoko increase in density, in consequence of the good folk of the city preparing their suppers, he would call all the family into the house, saying: 4 It’s time iw>o, bairns, tae talc’ the batiks and gang tao oor bode, for yoivdcr’s “ Auld Reekie,’’ I see, pittia’ on her nieht-cap.’ ” Alan Ramsay defines the phrase : —Auld Becky,’ a name given by the country people to Edinburgh, from the cloud of smoke or reek that seems always hanging over her.’’ There is also a poem of the name, by Robert Fergusson.