SCOTLAND, IN SONS AND STORY

Manawatu Times, Volume LIII, Issue 6613, 18 May 1928, Page 8

SCOTLAND, IN SONS AND STORY

Address By Mr R. Hogg Mr. Robert Hogg, of Johnsonvillo, well known us the editor of the New Zealand Scotsman, and an authority on Scottish literature, delivered a very interesting address on Scotch song and story in the Opera House on Wodnes day evening. Mr. D. Buchanan presided over a largo gathering.

At one time, about the end of the 17th century, said Mr. Hogg, in opening his address; Ritson, the famous collector of ancient manuscripts, and rare editions, had declared that the glory of! Scottish literature had passed—novel again would it reach the heights it had attained in the past. Time, however, had shown that, in his forecast, Ritson had erred. In spite of his pessimism, Scotland was on the brink of a literary revival. Ritson had fallen into the common error of believing the past greater than the present. Scotch poets who were about to burst upon the world of literature were the immortal "Robbie" Burns, Lady Anne Barnard, Lady Nairno, Hector M'Ncil, and the Ettrick Shepherd. The latter, who seldom went by his baptismal name of Hogg, was one of the original founders of Blackwood’s Magazine, with William Blackwood.

If one wanted to see tho place Scottish poets had earned for themselves one had only to turn to Palgravc’s Golden Treasury, or any other representative collection of verse, and compare the number of English and Scotch selections included. Allowing for tho smaller population of Scotland, the Scots poets contributed a far larger share than the English.

Mentioning living poets with whom ho was acquainted, Mr. Hogg dealt briefly with the styles of Hamish Henry, John Buchan, Dr. Doric, and James Slimou. Slimon was a schoolmate of the chairman of the meeting. Mr. D. Buchanan. A happy coincidence was that Mr. Hogg read a poem of Slimon dealing with an old mill pond in which the writer and Mr. Buchanan had gone swimming as boys. Others writers in the speaker’s circle of personal acquaintance were Walter Smith, Wingate a great-grandson of Robert Burns—-Charles Murray, and Hugh Robertson .

Throughout the lecture Mr. Hogg illustrated the styles of the . various authors by characteristic excerpts which gave an insight into the minds of the writers. At the conclusion of his address a hearty vote of thanks was carried to the speaker by acclamation. During the evening items were rendered as follow: Song by Miss B. Raleigh; steel guitar selection, Miss Ivy Menhonnet; recitation, Miss T. Green; song, Mr. P. Henderson; song, Air. C. Taylor; Highland fling, Misses C. Cookslcy and P. Edwards; Scotch reel, Misses C. Cooksley, P. Edwards, C. Swan, and Master Scales. The evening was cone 1 ’ml by dancing when an enjoyable fee.arc was the number of old-time dances on the programme. Pipers Roy Smith and A. Bonner contributed excellent music, while Air. R. Rcaburn was M.C.