sign in sign up
<<
Home , Pokanoket, Stuffing

The SAMS Lyceum of Martial and Societal Antediluvian Chronicles An addendum to The SAMS Sporran November 2020 Veteran’s Day ​ You might ask: Why is an American Holiday found in a Scottish newsletter? That’s a good question and here is the answer. Well, it was proposed by a Scot, President Woody Wilson and that should be a reasonable excuse. The Veteran’s Day commemoration was an outcome of World War One. The fighting ceased with an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, between the Allied nations and Germany on the Eleventh hour of the Eleventh day of the Eleventh month. For that reason, November 11, 1918, is generally regarded as the end of “the war to end all wars.” In 1919, President Wilson proclaimed November 11 as Armistice Day the first commemorating the sacrifices made by the men and women in uniform of with the following words: "To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the ​ heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations…" World War I officially ended when the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919, in the Palace of Versailles. Much like the Congress of today The United States Congress didn’t get around to officially recognizing the end of World War I until June 4, 1926. Even then they didn’t approve it until May 13, 1938. Thus the 11th of November in each year is a legal holiday—a day to be dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be thereafter celebrated and known as "Armistice Day." In 1954 the name was changed to Veteran’s Day to include those who served during World War II and in Korea. On June 28, 1968, the date was changed to the nearest Monday to ensure three day weekends for Federal employees by celebrating four national holidays: Washington's Birthday, Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and Columbus Day on Mondays. Due to the massive and unnecessary confusion this caused, the annual observance of Veterans Day was returned to its original date of November 11, beginning in 1978. November in Scotland: ​ When one mentions the words November and Scotland several events spring immediately​ to mind; The Celtic Football Club's founding in 1817 or the Stone of Destiny being returned to Edinburgh Castle in 1997. Okay, just kidding. But, those events really did happen. th Most of us are probably unaware of Guy Fawkes Day, November 5 .​ It was Guy, who ​ with others, planned to assassinate Scottish born King James I and restore a Catholic monarch to the throne. They were going to blow up Parliament and the king with it. The plotters secured the lease to an undercroft (basement) beneath the House of Lords, and Fawkes was placed in charge of the gunpowder they stockpiled there. The plot failed partly because the plotters “passed the bottle” to fill time, they imbibed a wee bit too much and fell asleep and were subsequently caught. There was also a letter spilling the beans, as it were. Following his arrest when asked by one of the lords what he was doing in possession of so much gunpowder, Fawkes answered that his intention was "to blow you Scotch beggars back to your native mountains." ​ ​ Guy Fawkes is sometimes toasted as "The last man to enter Parliament with honest intentions". Fawkes became synonymous with the Gunpowder Plot, the failure of which has been commemorated in The UK since 5 November 1605. His effigy is traditionally burned on a bonfire, accompanied by a fireworks display. During the day children would go door to door asking for “A penny for the Guy” In addition to The Guy, it became the custom to burn an effigy of anyone who raised the ire of the public. After 1673, it was the pope, when the heir presumptive to the throne, James, Duke of York, made his conversion to Catholicism public. Effigies of other notable figures who have become targets for the public's ire, such as Paul Kruger and Margaret Thatcher, have also found their way onto the bonfires, although most modern effigies are of Fawkes. It is after all Guy Fawkes Day. “The Guy" is normally created by children, from old clothes, newspapers, and a mask. The bon fires, now used for The Guy, were originally part of the festival of Samhain ​ which we know today as Halloween. On the night of Samhain, people would light fires to protect ​ ​ themselves from the evil spirits and guide the good spirits on their way. The fires were then extinguished at bedtime to make the home and hearth, not to mention their bodies, cold and less inviting to the predatory and wandering evil spirits. It was originally referred to as the Festival of th ​ Fire. Over time the festival migrated to November the 5 ​ and became part of the Guy Fawkes ​ ​ festivities. Sadie Hawkins Day* in Scotland There is a tradition in Scotland that allows the lassies to “turn the tables on the laddies” and propose marriage and it wasn’t started in Gretna Green (The marriage capital of Scotland.) The origin of the tradition is said to stem from ancient Celtic history, beginning in the fifth century, in Ireland, and later became popular in Scotland. Since christianity replaced the traditional Celtic religion the position of women in Celtic society diminished. It is believed that a nun named Saint Brigdt complained to Saint Patrick that women had to wait too long for their suitors to propose. Legend has it that Saint Patrick then decreed that women could have the opportunity to pop the question - but only on one particular day in February, and only every four years. It is believed that this Irish tradition permitting women to propose on one day every four years was then taken to Scotland by Irish monks. It was unofficially named Proposal Day. ​ As any man already knows that the failure to honor a woman’s wishes always comes with a penalty, In Scotland, an unmarried Queen Margaret allegedly enacted a law in A.D.1288 allowing women to propose on leap-year day. But there was a catch: For modesty’s sake it is also said that the proposer was expected to wear either breeches or a scarlet petticoat while they were down on one knee. The law also stated that any man who declined the proposal on this day would have to pay a fine. This has also become commonplace in many European countries, with tradition stating men who turn down a woman’s proposal on a leap day should pay a penalty. The fine could consist of a new gown, money, or more unusually, 12 pairs of gloves for the lady. Theories have also suggested that the tradition originates from the time when leap days were not recognised by English law. As such, it was permissible for women to break the convection of a man proposing, and the day technically had no legal status. As we know, Leap Years occur once every four years. It is because the length of a solar year is 365 and ¼ days. Hence the extra day at the end of the year. This was a major improvement over the Roman calendar which had 5 extra days at the end of the year. In Roman times February was the last month of the year, so it was logical to add the extra day onto the end of this month. It was Julias Caesar, who in 45 BC introduced the leap day to the Julian calendar, However, there are exceptions to when leap years occur - the year has to be exactly divisible by four, except for years that are exactly divisible by 400. In these so-called ‘centurial’ years, it is only a leap year if they are exactly divisible by 400. So while the Romans could conquer the world and build magnificent roads they had a hard time counting days. Maybe that’s because there was no ‘zero’ in Roman numerals.

*In the popular classic comic strip “Lil Abner” the womenfolk of Dogpatch On Sadie Hawkins Day were allowed to chase any unmarried man and if she caught him he had to marry her. Sadie ​ Hawkins Day races and events grew in popularity during the course of All Capp's long running cartoon. This cartoon made holiday largely died out after 40 years when the cartoon was discontinued. It can occasionally be seen celebrated on college campuses. For you bachelor folk, this year, Sadie Hawkins Day falls on Friday November 13th. So Laddies get out them runnin’ boots.

The Truth About The First The penultimate celebration of Fall has always been Thanksgiving. Tradition has a place of honor on that day. Thanksgiving has tradition out the wazoo. Family members gather from far and near to celebrate the close of the harvest season. Tables are set with a centerpiece of a tissue paper fold out turkey and little ceramic figurines of Pilgrim men and women and if you are really into tradition and Indian figurine or two. The best china and flatware are set and don’t forget the cloth napkins. An extra TV might be set up in another room, of course, for those family members who support That Other Team. Then there is the traditional turkey dinner with , sweet potatoes, , and those homemade (out of a can) biscuits and of course, the ( my favorite - oyster dressing). In some parts of the country you will find acorn or spaghetti squash and even sauerkraut and a pitcher of sweet tea. The Thanksgiving Day parade is always on to welcome the arriving guests. There might even be a traditional morning football game (This year my high school will continue a 151 year old tradition). Then of course the family will settle into comfortable or folding chairs to watch that all important football game or the Thanksgiving parade. After all isn’t that what Thanksgiving and tradition are all about? That is all well and good, but it is also almost completely wrong as far a tradition goes. It’s not really your fault you simply have been misled by writers who haven't done their homework. For starters that be all and end all football game isn’t American- it was imported from the Great White North-Canada. (Oh no Joe, say it isn’t so!) But that’s another story. Let’s get back to those ceramic figurines, you know the ones with the “Pilgrim” wearing a large black hat carrying a blunderbuss. They remind you of A.D. 1620 and the first Thanksgiving in , right? Well, the Real First Thanksgiving was held by the English settlers who arrived in North America A.D. 1607 aboard the ships Susan Constant, Discovery, and Godspeed at a place called ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Jamestown, Virginia. The didn’t make landfall in New England until thirteen years ​ ​ later in A.D. 1620. The first Thanksgiving was also held much earlier in the year. Those settlers in Jamestown had specific instructions as to what to do immediately after arriving. After going through customs,of course. Don’t snicker, don’t you think there were Indians right there on the beach? Anyway, The London Company charter specifically required "that the day of our ships ​ arrival at the place assigned...blah, blah, blah…. in the land of Virginia shall be yearly and perpetually kept holy as a day of thanksgiving to Almighty God." That day was May 4th. ​ ​ ​ ​ On that first Thanksgiving there were Indians present but they were from the Paspahegh ​ tribe of the Powhatan Confederacy, not the of the Tribes of New ​ ​ ​ England. As it was a quasi religious celebration both men and women were present unlike the Pilgrim celebration that was strictly stag ie: men only affair. The first Thanksgiving included women, dancing, feasting, and tobacco ceremonies. What they ate was not recorded, but the diet of the Paspahegh at that time included venison, clams, oysters, , turnips and assorted greens. Not to be outdone another Thanksgiving Day was declared in A.D. 1619 when the ship, Margaret, arrived to establish a second settlement called the Berkeley Hundred, in what today is ​ Charles County, Virginia. They too had a charter from the London Company that stated "the day ​ of our ships arrival - blah , blah blah- shall be yearly and perpetually kept as a day of ​ ​ Thanksgiving." That day was December 4th. Their feast mirrored the one at Jamestown as far as ​ ​ ​ their victuals were concerned. So now we actually had two ‘first’ Thanksgivings! Which leads us to Plimoth Plantation and those little figurines (Strictly speaking the settlers were Puritans- pilgrim simply means traveller.). History is silent on the actual day the Puritans celebrated Thanksgiving. For them Thanksgiving was strictly a religious feast with fasting and prayer. However, we do know that giving thanks for the Great Spirit’s gifts had always been a part of Pokanoket customs.They held a feast to give thanks for successful ​ ​ ​ harvests, for the hope of a good growing season in the early spring, and for other good fortunes. Their feast lasted three days. The Pokanoket, like the Puritans, were a male dominated society, ​ ​ so that third “first” Thanksgiving in A.D. 1621 was restricted to men only and held sometime in autumn. Winter comes early in New England so my money goes on someday in October. So, the Puritans’s third, “first” Thanksgiving featured Turkey. Nope. When the Pokanoket held a sobaheg,( a thanksgiving feast) it typically included a stew of corn, roots, ​ ​ beans, squash and various foods like; venison, swan, clams, lobsters, cod, eels, onions, turnips and greens from spinach to chard. They might have had but it would have been made from . The Puritans probably brought ducks, geese, passenger pigeons and any other migrating they were able to shoot. The only written account of that Thanksgiving is as follows;“And God be praised we had ​ a good increase… Our harvest being gotten in, our governor sent four men on fowling, that so we might after a special manner rejoice together after we had gathered the fruit of our labors. They four in one day killed as much fowl as, with a little help beside, served the company almost a week. At which time, amongst other recreations, we exercised our arms, many of the Indians coming amongst us, and among the rest their greatest king , with some ninety men, whom for three days we entertained and feasted, and they went out and killed five deer, which they brought to the plantation and bestowed on our governor, and upon the captain and others. And although it be not always so plentiful as it was at this time with us, yet by the goodness of God, we are so far from want that we often wish you partakers of our plenty.” Editor’s note: did ​ you see the word -plantation- there? (Yes, Virginia there were plantations north of the Mason Dixon Line.) So to summarize so far; there were three “First Thanksgivings” on May 4th, December 4th and ???. If all of this isn’t enough, turkeys didn’t arrive on the scene until, well, it depends on who you want to believe. Now before we delve deeply into turkey lore, let me point out that we are talking about domesticated ‘wild’ turkeys which bear little resemblance to modern turkeys. For starters these could fly so their feathers had to be trimmed regularly. Some writers have confused Benjamin Franklin’s A.D.1784 endorsement of the Turkey as a more respectable bird than the Bald Eagle and surmised that it was a more fitting entree for the holiday. In A.D.1789, Alexander Hamilton proclaimed that no "Citizen of the United States should refrain from turkey on Thanksgiving Day,"While others claim in A.D.1863, Abraham Lincoln cited the New England tradition of serving turkey as a model for festivities. One origin story that has a distant ring of truth and makes for a very good yarn comes from a book - The Great Turkey Walk by Kathleen Karr. She claims they walked there. Okay, ​ ​ that is a bit of a stretch. However, she claims that in antebellum America a parade of thousands of turkeys gobbling their way down country roads to urban markets was a regular sight in the weeks before Thanksgiving (turkeys back then walked at about 1mph. Today's turkeys barely can walk) She cites that Vermont turkeys hiked their way to Boston,while Kentucky and Tennessee turkeys marched proudly into Richmond, and some Western birds even found themselves driven the thousands of miles between Missouri and Colorado. So we had turkey drives. Take that you cowboys and cattle! So, from where did she get this idea? First, the bird was rather plentiful. One expert estimated that there were at least 10 million turkeys in America at the time of European contact. Second, turkeys on a family farm were almost always available for slaughter. While live cows and hens were useful as long as they were producing and eggs, respectively.Turkeys were generally raised only for their meat and thus could be readily killed. Third, a single turkey was usually big enough to feed a family. While we're on the subject of menus a 19th century , The Buckeye Cookerie, ​ suggested the appropriate Thanksgiving meal should include: oyster soup, boiled cod, corned beef, and roasted goose accompanied by , pork and beans, 'delicate ,' doughnuts, 'superior biscuits,' ginger cakes, and an array of fruits. pies were a particular favorite and seem to have been served nearly as often as turkey pies but they were side dishes as opposed to a main event. Outside of New England turkey wasn’t common as a Thanksgiving centerpiece until after A.D.1800, most folks preferred goose. Why goose? It was plentiful. For example in Connecticut in A.D.1817 50,000 geese were served as opposed to 5,500 turkeys. So, why goose? To begin with it is much easier to cook. The skin was crispy. The dark meat was flavorful and rich, with just the right amount of gaminess. Most importantly, the meat wasn’t dry; it can be flaked off the bone a lot like pulled pork.

By A.D.1857, turkey had become part of the traditional dinner. The​ White House Cook ​ Book, A.D.1887, by Mrs. F.L. Gillette, et al., had the following menu: oysters on half shell, ​ cream of chicken soup, fried smelts, sauce tartare, roast turkey, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, baked squash, boiled onions, parsnip fritters, olives, chicken salad, venison pastry, pumpkin pie, , Charlotte russe, almond ice cream, lemon jelly, hickory cake, cheese, fruits and coffee. Now that sounds like a feast! Now let’s take a gander, no pun intended, at the entertainment. The Thanksgiving Day Parade does include a large inflated turkey. But where did it (the parade not the turkey) originate? Well, let's’ get one thing out of the way. The first modern Thanksgiving Day Parade was staged by Philadelphia's Gimbel Brothers Department Store, in A.D. 1920. (And parade is actually a very old French word that means To Prepare which has absolutely nothing to do with large inflated balloons or this missive either.) We can trace parades way back to cavemen returning from their hunt carrying their kills to the praise and adulation of their wives and children. So, parades have been around for ages. Of course there are military parades. They have been around probably since the first war. Religious parades have been around for a long time also.Then there are Fourth of July Parades. Probably, the first parade in what was to become The United States was held by homesick Irish soldiers serving in the English military. They marched in Boston in A.D.1737 in honor of St.Patrick. So, Thanksgiving is a big day for celebrations so why not have a parade? Thank You, Adam and Benard ( see above paragraph). One can trace the origins of what Americans refer to as football to early Scottish Handball, again that’s another story- a long one but fun. The rest of the known world calls it “American” Football as opposed to the most popular game in the world, Football, where the players actually use their feet to move the ball, hence foot-ball. The first Thanksgiving Day American football game took place in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on Thanksgiving Day of A.D.1869. The Evening Telegraph newspaper of Philadelphia published the following announcement: "Foot Ball: A foot-ball match between twenty-two players of the Young America ​ Cricket Club and the Germantown Cricket Club will take place on Thanksgiving Day at 12 1/2 o'clock, on the grounds of the Germantown Club." The game was played by 44 guys. Now that’s ​ a big game. Finally, we come to the last of our Thanksgiving traditions. The holiday itself. Just when did it become a national holiday? Hold onto your hats, please. In A.D.1789, President George Washington proclaimed November 26, a Thursday, as a day of national thanksgiving. Then following much deliberation he changed his mind and in A.D.1795, President George Washington proclaimed a Thanksgiving Day to be observed on Thursday, February 19, not November 26th. So now we have May 4th, December 4th, someday in the fall, November 26th, and February 19th! Thankfully, in A.D. 1863, President Abraham Lincoln declared that Thanksgiving should officially fall on the last Thursday of November. And that was that, right? Nope this is America and everyone is entitled to their own opinion. So in A.D.1939, Franklin D. Roosevelt departed from tradition by declaring November 23, the next to last Thursday that year, as Thanksgiving ​ ​ Day! So, now we had six Thanksgiving Days! Then, following in his predecessor’s footsteps, ole G.W., he changed his mind again and A.D.1941 we went back to the last Thursday in November.Whew! Just one more little note. Contrary to popular belief none of those guys mentioned in the above paragraph could claim to be the first president to proclaim a Thanksgiving Day. That honor goes to The real first President of The United States in Congress Assembled, John Hanson* of Frederick Maryland, who declared that the “first national day of prayer, humiliation, ​ and thanksgiving be observed on 28, November A.D. 1782. His declaration was issued on 1 ​ October A.D.1782. So, now after all that - let us give thanks - we finally have just one Thanksgiving Day.

*The presidents prior to George Washington (he was the big cheese in A.D. 1789; 13 years after A.D.1776.) Hey, somebody had to run the country before him. Those somebodies were : John Hanson, Elias Boudinot, Thomas Mifflin, Richard Henry Lee, Nathan Gorham, Arthur Saint Clair and Cyrus Griffin. These distinguished gentlemen were ALL Presidents of the United States. They served a one-year term under the terms of the Articles of Confederation. The Articles were amended, not discarded, at the conclusion of the revolution. There is a statue of John Hanson in The Statuary Hall in the US Capitol. It proclaims him the "first President of the United States". This is fact, not opinion. From the Mess Deck

Thanksgiving is loaded with tradition, How about trying to cook the bird the way our ​ forefathers did? It’s pretty easy.

Old Fashioned Roast Turkey Ingredients: 1 turkey Brined is best pepper seasoned salt ​ Method:Place brined (optional) turkey into a large roasting pan. Add as much filtered water as ​ the pan can hold (leave some space, the turkey will settle & you don't want broth all over your ). Salt and pepper the entire bird and the surface of the water. Do the same with the Lawry's. Do not under season. Cover tightly with foil. Cover with lid. Bake 350 degrees for 20 mins per pound. Remove lid and foil for the last 20-30 minutes of time so the top of the turkey can brown. When the turkey is done, allow to rest for 30 minutes before slicing.

If you really want to be traditional this is the recipe for you. ​ Traditional ​ Ingredients: 1 fresh or frozen (12-pound) goose, giblets reserve ​ Salt and freshly ground black pepper 3 medium , scrubbed and cut in half 3 stalks , cut in half 1 head garlic, cut in half crosswise 1 bunch fresh thyme sprigs 1 bunch fresh sage 1/2 cup dry white wine 1 medium , cut in half 1 teaspoon whole black peppercorns 8 sprigs flat-leaf fresh parsley 1 dried bay leaf 1 tablespoon unsalted butter Method: If goose is frozen, place it in the refrigerator overnight to thaw. Remove goose from the ​ refrigerator, and let it stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. Heat oven to 400 degrees. Rinse goose inside and out with cold running water, and pat it dry with paper towels. Trim as much of the excess as possible from the opening of the cavity. Remove the first and second joints of the wings, and set them aside for use in making the stock. With the point of a sharp knife, prick the entire surface of the goose skin, being careful not to cut into the flesh. Fold the neck flap under the body of the goose, and pin the flap down with a wooden toothpick. Generously sprinkle the cavity with salt and pepper, and insert 2 halves, 2 celery-stalk halves, garlic, thyme, and sage. Using a piece of kitchen twine, tie the legs together. Generously sprinkle the outside of the goose with salt and pepper, and place it, breast-side up on a wire rack set in a large roasting pan. Roast goose in the oven until it turns a golden brown, about 1 hour. With a baster, remove as much fat as possible from the roasting pan every 30 minutes. Reduce the heat to 325 degrees, and roast until the goose is very well browned all over and an instant-read thermometer inserted into a breast, not touching a bone, registers 180 degrees, about 1 hour after reducing the temperature. Meanwhile, prepare goose stock, which will be used when making the and the dressing. Trim and discard any excess fat from the wing tips, neck, and giblets, and place them in a small stockpot. Add 4 carrot halves, 4 celery-stalk halves, both onion halves, parsley, bay leaf, peppercorns, and enough water to cover the bones and by 1 inch (about 2 1/2 quarts water). Place the stockpot over high heat, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium low, and simmer stock, skimming the scum as it forms, for 2 hours. Strain stock through a cheesecloth-lined strainer. Remove and discard the fat floating on the surface of the stock, and set the stockpot aside. Remove goose from the oven, and transfer it to a cutting board that has a well. Let the goose stand 15 to 20 minutes. Meanwhile, prepare the gravy. Pour off all the fat from the roasting pan, and place the pan over high heat. Pour in wine, and cook, stirring up any brown bits with a wooden spoon until the cooking liquid is reduced by three-quarters. Add 2 cups goose stock, and cook, stirring until the liquid is again reduced by three-quarters. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Stir in butter, and cook until slightly thickened. Pass the gravy through a cheesecloth-lined strainer into a gravy boat, and serve with the goose. In general, plan for: 8-10 lb goose for 5-6 people 11-12 lb goose for 6-8 people

You can’t get much more traditional than Tommy Jefferson; So here goes- ​ Thomas Jefferson’s Simple Ingredients: 1 cup 2 cups milk, scalded 1/4 cup brandy 1/2 cup ​ 1 tablespoon butter, melted 2 eggs beaten 1//2 teaspoon nutmeg 1/2 teaspoon lemon , grated Method: Add the bread crumbs to the scalded milk in a large wooden mixing bowl. Then stir in ​ the brandy, sugar and melted butter. Set aside and allow to cool. When cold, add the beaten eggs. Lastly, stir in the nutmeg and lemon peel. Pour into custard cups and place in a pan half full of water. Bake in moderate oven (350 degrees) for 45 minutes or until a knife inserted comes out dry.

Thomas Jefferson especially enjoyed this pudding with a chocolate sauce. ​ ​ ​ He made it as follows: Ingredients: 3/4 cup sugar 1 tablespoon 1 square chocolate melted 1/2 cup water ​ Method: Blend the sugar with the flour. Then add the melted chocolate and the water. Stir while ​ boiling for 5 minutes and serve. Thomas Jefferson’s A.D. 1791 Recipe for Ice Cream ​ Ingredients: 2 bottles of good cream 6 yolks of eggs ½ lbs sugar 1 vanilla stick 1 towel ​ NB: You will need an ice cream making machine -- for the true colonial experience get one with the hand crank. Method: (In his own words) Mix the yolks & sugar; first putting in a stick of Vanilla. ​ ​ ​ When near boiling point take it off & pour it gently into the mixture of eggs & sugar. Stir it well. Put it on the fire again stirring it thoroughly with a spoon. When near boiling take it off and strainit thro’ a towel. Put it in a Sabottiere (The canister within the ice pail) then let it sit in ice an hour before it is served, Put into the ice a handful of salt put salt on the coverlid of the Sabottiere & cover the whole with ice. Leave it still half a quarter of an hour. Turn the Sabottiere in the ice 10 minutes:open it from time to time to detach the ice from the sides. Stir it well with a Spatula. Put it in moulds, justling it well down on the knee; then put the mould into the same bucket of ice. Leave it there to the moment of serving it Scottish Crackers ​

A Wee Bit O’Scottish Wisdom Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the you plant. . ​

Was’ Like Us? ​ The average Englishman in the home he calls his castle, slips into his national costume ~ a shabby raincoat ~ patented by chemist Charles Macintosh from Glasgow, Scotland.

En route to his office he strides along the English lane, surfaced by John Macadam of Ayr, Scotland.

He drives an English car fitted with tyres invented by John Boyd Dunlop of Dreghorn, Scotland. At the office he receives the mail bearing adhesive stamps invented by John Chalmers of Dundee, Scotland.

During the day he uses the telephone invented by Alexander Graham Bell, born in Edinburgh, Scotland.

At home in the evening his daughter pedals her bicycle invented by Kirkpatrick Macmillan, Blacksmith of Dumfries, Scotland.

He watches the news on the ‘Telly’ (TV), an invention of John Logie Baird of Helensburgh, Scotland and hears an item about the U.S. Navy, founded by John Paul Jones of Kirkbean, Scotland. He has by now been reminded too much of Scotland and in desperation he picks up the Bible, only to find that the first man mentioned in the good book is a Scot ~ King James VI ~ who authorised its translation. Nowhere can an Englishman turn to escape the ingenuity of the Scots.

He could take to drink but the Scots make the best in the world.

He could take a rifle and end it all but the breech~loading rifle was invented by Captain Patrick Ferguson of Pitfours, Scotland.

If he escaped death, he could find himself on an operating table injected with penicillin, discovered by Alexander Fleming of Darvel, Scotland, and given an anaesthetic, discovered by Sir James Young Simpson of Bathgate, Scotland.

Out of the anaesthetic he would find no comfort in learning that he was as safe as the Bank of England, founded by William Paterson of Dumfries, Scotland.

Perhaps his only remaining hope would be to get a transfusion of guid Scottish blood which would entitle him to ask

"WHA'S LIKE US"

Anyone wishing to contribute an article, a joke or humorous anecdote or other contributions, news, suggestions for articles or genteel comments can send them to: [email protected]

Have a Happy and Fruitful Thanksgiving

nd Do a BUDDY CHECK on the 22 ​ of Every Month. ​