ST. ANDREW'S DAY

Evening Star, Issue 23438, 1 December 1939, Page 3

ST. ANDREW'S DAY

LOCAL SOCIETY CELEBRATES St. Andrew’s Day was celebrated by the St. Andrew Society of Otago by a traditional programme in the evening, beginning with the customary piping of the official party, headed by the president (Mr A. Robb), to the head table, which was suitably decorated with the cross of St. Andrew. In his opening remarks Mr Hob hi welcomed representatives of kindred societies. He referred to the shadow; of war under.which they met, but was sur that in the fight for democracy and freedom the flag of which St. Andrew’s Cross was an integral parfj would prevail. “ It is to our kith and kin in th* Homeland that we look to to defendl these shores,” .Mr Robb concluded. Guest of honour was Mr D. Miunock (the club’s patron). His contribution to the proceedings of tha evening was an informative address on the Scottish men and women of letters of the eighteenth century, which! took the form of a series of pen pictures - of the personalities of-that’ distinct period of Scottish literature, music, art, and culture. First he dealt with Allan Ramsay, author of ‘ Tha Gentle Ship ’ and founder of the first circulating library in the world. Then followed outlines of the careers of David Hume, philosopher and Scotland’s first notable free-thinker; Adam’ Smith, economist, who, in 1753, first* laid down the principles of free trade; Robert Burns, Scotland’s finest poet, who was born in poverty, died in poverty, but enriched the world: Jean Elliott, the “ single song lady,” who achieved immortality with ‘ Tha Flowers of the Forest ’; Mrs Cockburn, inveterate correspondent; and, finally,Lady Nairne, a Jacobite of Jacobites. During the evening a selection of Scottish songs was rendered by Miss M. Pratt and Mr I. Hanna. A Sc'ots comedy, ‘ The New Provost,’ was also presented, the capable cast including the following:—Mrs MacFarlane, Mrs Dagger; Baillie MacFarlane, Mr H. Bell: Cr Colinton, Mr A. Robb; Baillie Peebles, Mr James Brown. Messrs- H. T. Bell and D. Minnock were in charge of production.