THE PASSING OF A CLANSMAN.

Otago Witness, Issue 2808, 8 January 1908, Page 13

THE PASSING OF A CLANSMAN.

-..->. . By G,. M. , / 'Tis a far cry to Inverness, vet Dunedin witnessed a Claehnacuden ceremony on December 29. The late Simon M"Donald was an Invernessian, and he was -on Sunday" buried in the .Northern Cemetery. Being a loyal and generous Gelt the Gaels of Dunedin decided to pay their last respects to him in the old Highland fashion. The chief was there, the chieftains' were 'there, the Gaelic minister was there, the pipers were there, the heather was there, .and numbers of clansmen from, bal, -ben, . glen, and cory. It was- a gathering, of the clans in sorrowful conclave ; all' l".i Scottish societies were represented, a; well as all sections of the general public A service in Gaelic and in English was' held at his home. The-'- last" intelligible words he uttered were spoken fin -'the mother tongue. In English' it was an appeal to the great Father of Mankind to be merciful to him. -."Such was the force of early habit, and such a characteristic of his life and belief. Foui- sturdy chieftains acted a-s pall-bearers, and one of their mtmbar as master of ceremonies. The_ pipers, in Highland costume, led the procession ; then followed the chief and his clansmen, then the carriage with its precious burden, then the relatives; also the president, vice-presidents, and members of the Burns r Clubj of^ which he, was , an original member^ 'and" "after them the general public on foot, on horseback, and in carriages. 'At the -order " March'" . pipers struck up the sad strains of " The Land of the.. Leal," alternating with ." The scattering of the " elans.'* '" Thfe scene" 1 was an unusual one, „ and • attracted much attention from all sorts and conditions along the route. >At the gates of the cemetery the pipers stood in pairs on either side, the ranks of the Gaels opened with uncovered heads, and the coffin was carried to the grave. As it passed through the gates the pipers ceased the wail, the uncovered clansmen followed, and carried the body to ite last resting . place. At the grave a short prayer in Gaelic and in -English was again engaged in, and then Mother Earth claimed all that remained of the departed clansman. This finished, each clansman came forward and gently deposited his sprig of heather in- the graye — a sure symbol of lo.?altv and good fellowship. To ihe general reader all this may seem sentimental and uncalled for in this advanced age. Quite so; but show me the man or woman without a spark of sentiment in his or her nature, and I_wiU..t*>in£ybu'..thl;i man or woman devoid of human heart and feeling.

Said a bystander: "The snuff-box and the oheery smile are gone." - Many a vote was gained, and many, an enemy mollified by that box and that smile. "Do you mind what he told xis about that all conquering box."/ "No." ' v 'Well, you mind when he was Home lately, he was on the Caledonian Canal, and seeing a • verydistant and self-important man on board, he went up to him and saidi 'Will ye hae a sneeshen?' This was said in such irresistibly bland tones that the* ice" melted, and • Simon - and the prince < became fast friends." "What will the municipal and Governmental politicians of North Dunedin do now?" said another.- "Well, I don't know, was the reply. ' "It is impossible to replace him." "Wherein lay his strength?" asked a -third. "In peace i and goodwill," was the' instants rex^lyThat is enough ; it reveals the character of the man. And what better epitaph could be inscribed on . a_ tombstone^ttian— "Here lies peace J an^'^bodjvijl ?