SCOTCHMEN AND SCOTCH MUSIC. (From the Dumfries Herald )

New Zealander, Volume 5, Issue 317, 13 June 1849, Page 3

SCOTCHMEN AND SCOTCH MUSIC. (Fr om the Dumfries Herald )

TriK following initance show 3 tint Scotch muaio w>i 3 make a Scotchman do anything when oue of his ow i cou"try: — A gentleman who wan afh->t-iaie peiforner of Scotch music on the violin spent a wm f er in kxeter. and of course soon became acquainted with the muoical dilletanti of the place. Dining one day with a Professor, the conveisation turned upon Scotch music, and a strong argument aro c a> to its bearing competition with foicign oiu*>ic; thp Scotchman, whom wa shall for the pie*fiit designate tin Fiddler, insisting that, when .propeil) played, nothing could excel it; the Professor, on theo'litr haad, ins'Stmg that it was only fit for the bain yaid. •» I'll teil you what?' Bi}S the FidJler : " I'll lay you a bet of £b t tuai if a ( a.ty of Scotchmen <an be got together, I'll make them shed teais one minute, sing the next, and dance the thin." '• Done," says the Trofessor : " a 1 d if your music i 3 capable of that, I 'will not only pay you the £b vviib. pleasure, but will be convinced that it is the most eiilivenin?, pathetic n .wl bast mu^ic in the woild " The difficulty a-o-. as to ge t'ntt «n oppoirunity for atr a. But thii was soon obviated by a third party informing them that a number of young Scotchmen dned annually at rhe Old London Hoiel on the anniversary of Burns' biith-day. This was a capital opportunity for the Fiddler; lbi these youn? mco, being 1 principally raw-boned, ovdr urown Scotch lads, who bad recently left their own country to carry tea m tha neighbourhood, were the very onei upoa whom he was suie to make a hit. All being now arranged, and the utmost secrecy being a. reed u^.on, the eventful day wai anxiously looKed for. At length it came ; and the Fiddler and Professor, by an intiodui'tion to one of the party, got an invitation to the d nner. Ihere we.c twelv* altogether hat d jwn, and a right merry party they soon, became; for the whisky toddy wae notspaied when the m-'moiy ot any ol ScH'a's bsrds was proposed. Tha Fiddler was not long in peicriv'mg tint he had got among a light musical set, and he waited patiently til they were in that hippy state when they were fit for anything. Ac length he gave a wink to the Professor, who at onrc puposed that his fiiend should favour them with a S otch tine on the violin. • Capia), capi al !" cried the whole party. The violin was brought, a. id all were in breathless anxiety. T.ie fiddler chose for bis first tune " Here's .1 hcaiih to them thut'o »wa," and played it in the most solemn and pathetic manner. 4< That s a wtelu' tune," said a great, big, raw-boned you h to h's next neighbour. "It is tint, Sandy. There's meik'o in that tune, man. It reminds me o'ane dint's ;.ane ;" J«mie at the s^me vine t,ivin,j a Jeep sigh and drawing his hand ver h s long gajnt (ace to hi \m thd te A^ s which were t icklin,' down his chfeko. T e Fiddler, with his k en eye, s o n perceived that bdtore he i;ot through the pun ot his tune he w uld havd tiiem all in the same m jod. lie therefore wicw hi-, whoce sou, into the instinrreit, played the tui.e as he had tievtr dove before ; and as the last four burs of the tune died u«?»y, lil c the distant echo, thrie was not ad y cheek among the com, a>iy. Now is the time, thought the Fiidlei ; and without stopping a moment -t uck up, in n bold, vigoroiio st>le, ' Willie biew'd a Peck o' Mint." (Jut went the h<udkei chiefs, aw >y Wiiit the tear-. " Ch-u'rts Il'I 1 ' ciicd die Fiddler ; and in an instant all struck up, •' For we are nae fou\ we're na that fou', Bn* j<isi. a chappie in nut tV ! Thj cjck may ciaw, and tne day may daw, JJut a c ac'il la->ie t ic birle> biec!" The 80114 endcid, uo struck the Fiidlir, *n his best style, the i eel ot " J»nny «laiig the Weaver." " tlt-y, yi dueuls 1" cried baniiy. '* Srotldiid for ever !'' n ieJ Jamie: ; nnd in an instant tibles, d.uiis, and fduss i wwd bcattcreJ in all directions, aoJ tlu wiule pirty duncmg a.ul ju nping like madmen. Out inn t he pffn^liti'd I n fes^or, (lot he dirl not know what tni»ht come netr,) up ranie the landlhdy with hei te nfied tiaiu ot mmuu.s. But none durst enter the room, the huirasaid thumps on the floor being so bois croui ; and H was cnly upon the entry of a ? catch travel er, who had ju^t arrived, anJ who ciied lo the l''i«ld er Jor any sake to stop, that oilier wa« riistortd. Ii is needless to say that the professor paid his bel; cheerfully, and was tully convjneed ol the effect of Scotch music when properly pi 'yed ; and that the landlady took cure that the Fidiller luver came iU'" hes house ttga:ii on lkuiu' tinnui ls.ny ditne..