A Dinner of Note

[JSFMACLJR]

I came across this programme for a dinner given by my great-grandfather William Archibald MacLean, for Major Ian Hay Beith, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, in 1918. Major Beith was a very well-known author, playwright, and decorated war hero, having won the Military Cross in the Great War ( see the Wikipedia entry for more info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Hay_Beith ). He was one of my father's godfathers.

While having absolutely nothing to do with the kilt, other than the fact that Major Beith wore one ( as did some other guests ), I am posting this for its historical interest, and for the delightful poem written for the occasion!

Kentucky Scots to Ian Hay

When Moses scaled old Sinai's mount'
To take the Tablets of the Law,
There by a purling highland fount
He heard a voice say, "Mon, 'tis braw!
"These Hebrew hills are like Ben-Daig.
"Pass me thot sup of Haig and Haig."

When Julius bridged the lordly Rhine--
Those early Huns, I'll bet it galled them--
His legions crossed in battle-line
To find a stranger had forestalled them,
Crying, "Wull, lads, semper sum magis,
"Has onybuddy got a haggis?"

You get the point. Through all earth's story
The Scot precedes the rest ten paces.
In every field of work his glory
Shines out the brightest of the races:
Wallace and Bruce--Burns and Sir Walter--
And pious John Knox with his Psalter.

So, Ian Hay, with fond elation
Kentucky Scots hail what you've done.
Major of Argylls though your station,
We toast the laureate of "K-One,"
And, if our accent proves disturbin',
We're one part Scotch but three parts Bourbon.