The Braemar Gathering.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXIX, Issue 21, 23 November 1907, Page 32

The Braemar Gathering.

The Braemar gathering marks the zenith of the Scotch season, but this year, owing to the absence of the King and Queen, it will again be shorn of some of its brilliancy, writes “A Society Butterfly” in “M.A.P.” The Princess Royal Park, where the sports are now held, is a flat, twelveacre field, and from the players’ point of view may no doubt be better than the wild piece of ground formerly lent by Colonel Farquharson. But we onlookers miss the broad green strath, the rushing waters of the Dee, and the sight of Invercauld Castle—in fact, the whole scene has become -more conventional. The show begins about noon, but smart society does not arrive till two, and Royalty seldom appears before 3.30. As soon as the Royal party are settled in their heather-decked pavilion, the procession is led off by the Balmoral Highlanders. History repeats itself in these feudal gatherings, Michie is in command, the King’s piper, Campbell, leads the fife and drum band, and Charles Macintosh acts as standardbearer. The men are mostly young, strong, strapping fellows, and they wear tiie full-dress kilt and plaid of royal red tartan, with buttons and brooches of solid silver. Amethysts and topazes are profusely used as ornaments, and in the bonnets appear as a badge the oak leaf and thistle. Each man swings a Lochaber axe on his shoulder. A complete uniform is said to cost over £2O. Then follow the Duff men, and the rear is brought up by the Farquliarsons. The Duff Highlanders swing past with their badge, a holly sprig, dressed in red tartans. and with savage-looking pikes in their hands. Their pipes play ‘'The Duke of Fife’s March,” and they carry a green silk banner, with the Duke’s arms, which are supported by two nude figures. Next march the Farquharson men, in dark green tartan, with the spruce badge in their bonnets, and th> claymore, “the great sword of Scotland,” in their hand, led by their chief himself, Colonel Farquharson of Invercauld. Once upon a time Balmoral was the home of the Farquharsons, and the clan’s old motto ran: “We force nae friend, we fear nae foe.” The sports consist of wrestling, running, high leaps, dancing, hammer-throwing, caber-tossing—or “throwing the stick,” as it is described by southern trippers — and also piping, this last presumably first-rate, as tradition declares that each performer must belong to the sixth generation of pipe-players. On these occasions the Prince of Wales usually wears the Balmoral tartan, now rather darker than when it was designed by the Prince Consort. The Princess Royal ajid the Duke of Fife are wont to drive up in fine style, in a big barouche, drawn by four horses, ridden by postillions. and preceded by an outrider, all the servants wearing the dark green ducal liveries. The Royalties present serm always to take keen interest in the proceedings. The Prince of Wales converses with some of the older clansmen, and the Royal children, especially Princess Mary, laugh heartily at the amusing incidents'which seem safe to occur in the course of the competitions. A ball or two is usually held in honour of the Braemar gathering. Then may be seen a brilliant sight, the men wearing fulldressed Highland costume, with gay kilts, richly mounted sporrans, the glimmer of silver on brooch and dirk, and, here and there, an eagle’s feather, which is worn only by the chieftain. The women appear in lovely frocks—often white or black—with perhaps a silk scarf in clan tartan.