Grace Notes Newsletter of the Memphis Scottish Society, Inc.

Vol. 35 No. 4 • April 2019 President’s Letter Just a couple of short items this month. First the Memphis Scottish Society was well represented by the Scottish Country Dancers with MSS banners in front and be- hind and following the Phoenix Pipe Band.

Scottish Society Memphis lining up for the Cooper-Young St. Scottish Patrick’s Day Pa- Society, Inc. rade. Board Don’t forget that Saturday April 6 is Tartan Day. So wear your tartan, or better yet your kilt! President John Schultz John Schultz 901-754-2419 [email protected] Vice President Sammy Rich 901-496-2193 [email protected] Treasurer Debbie Sellmansberger 901-465-4739 [email protected] Secretary Mary Clausi 901-831-3844 [email protected] Members at Large Marcia Hayes 901-871-7565 [email protected] Kathy Schultz 901-754-2419 [email protected] April Meeting Program: Holly Staggs 901-215-4839 Presented by Karen English, Shari Moore, Joe Lyle and others. [email protected] “A Saint, An Immigrant and Songs” See page 2 for further information

Tennessee Tartan. Created by the Heart of Tennessee Scottish Celebration as a State tartan. Passed by Tennessee Public Acts 1999, Chapter No.82, Senate Bill No. 73. The source of the tartan 2526 was: Bill Bickford of the Tennessee Tartan Committee. April Meeting Program “A Saint, An Immigrant and Songs” Karen English will give us a bit on St. Magnus, aka one of the Norse Earls of Orkney. This falls right before St. Magnus day. Next, Shari Moore will talk a bit about Scots-Irish immigrant Rev. John Henry, a Presbyterian minister born in Dublin to Scottish parents, and his Patriot descendant(s). The Henrys are dependants of Clan MacNaughton (Sammy Rich will include a very brief history of the clan as well). And, to end the evening on a good note, Joe Lyle and the rest of the group will lead us in a sing-a-long.

(Notice to Program Presenters) John Schultz requests that if you plan to use his computer equipment for your presentation at the monthly meeting, please contact him at least a week before the meeting so he knows to bring his equipment and can work out any bugs ahead of time. His phone number is 901-754-2419.

Jestein Gibson Makes the News Again Our very own Jestein Gibson made it into the February 3rd edition of The Commercial Appeal. She works for the Pink Palace and was helping to gather items from the old Commercial Appeal building at 495 Union Avenue, including a very weighty printing press, nicknamed “Old Betsy”. The items are destined to be in the “Making Memphis” exhibit at the Pink Palace, which opened March 2nd. Referring to “Old Betsy”, Jestein quipped, “We’ll just clean off the lichen and the bird stuff first.” Quoting from the article, “While ‘Old Betsy’ stood her ground, Jestein looked for other old treasure buried in the building that once housed two daily papers. “She collected framed copies of an 1847 edition and an 1863 edition, and two print room metal carts with letter blocks from the Commercial Appeal and the Memphis Press-Scimitar. They will join other artifacts at the museum, including two typewrit- ers – one used by Capt. William Lafayette Trask, the paper’s managing editor from 1890 to 1908, and a classic black Under- wood used by any number of hands at the old Press-Scimitar.” Jestein with a portrait of Col. By the way, “Old Betsy” finally budged. Henry Van Pelt

Editorial Staff

Melissa Gibson Grace Notes Editor, (901-299-3170) [email protected] Grace Notes is the official publication of the Mem- phis Scottish Society, Inc. It is published monthly. George Malone Like the Society itself, the credo of Grace Notes is Publisher, (901) 385-1938 “to foster education and promote understanding [email protected] of things Scottish.” to foster education If you have something of interest to readers Gavin Anderson and promote understanding of this newsletter, please submit a typewritten Circulation Editor, (901-485-8270) of things Scottish manuscript to the editorial staff. If the article or [email protected] notice is very brief (30 words or fewer), e-mail

or just use the telephone. Grace Notes will accept Karen English and publish good quality photographs. Please address all correspondence to: Circulation Editor, (901-396-9134) The deadline for all submissions is the fourth Grace Notes [email protected] week of each month preceding the month of The Memphis Scottish Society, Inc. publication. Please include a self-addressed [email protected] stamped envelope with each submission, if you Submissions P. O. Box 770028 want the material returned. [email protected] Memphis, TN 38177-0028

2 Ancient Origins of Tartan -or- Was Tartan Always Around? Campbell Newsletter, January 2019 It would be a mistake to believe that “the stripes in both warp and weft, as in the woolen garb of Auld Gaul”—the tartan—was a particu- twill material of a Scottish kilt.” lar Scottish invention—or even that what we call A little sealstone just 1.4 inches long, once used “tartan”* today is the same as that worn by the to press a seal into a gob of wax, was found in a ancient Celts. The word “tartane” is French and warrior’s tomb outside the city of Pylos in Greece (according to Brian Wilton, MBE, writing in THE in 2015. Brian Wilton—who is a past director of the HIGHLANDER July/Aug 2018) was used to de- Scottish Tartans Authority and a world expert on scribe a type of cloth (linsey-woolsey**) and not the subject—rejoices that this thumb-sized piece necessarily the design into which it was woven.” of agate, carved with “skill and finesse” depicts a A document of 1355 that speaks of unus caligarum battling Mycenaean warrior who, having already braccatarum de tiretatana (which is usually translat- slain one (Celtic) warrior, is plunging his sword ed “one pair of tartan trews”) does not necessarily into the neck of another. Under a microscope the mean a multi-colored article of clothing. It is only warrior’s enemies are wearing tartan! This is pri- in the 16th century, in court reports of 1561 and ma facie evidence that Celts were wearing what 1568, respectively, that we can be safe that “tar- we would call tartan as early as the Bronze Age, tan” means what it means to us today: ane tartane around 3000 B.C. blew and greyn and an tartan blak and quhet. Wilton adds: “Who these unlucky tartan-clad An ancient fabric found in the neck of a bottle warriors were can only be guessed at. I would like of Roman coins dated c. 230 A.D. (“the Falkirk tar- to think that they were Celts, for whom the weav- tan”) was “merely a simple two-colored check of ing of tartan-like fabrics was an established uni- undyed white and brown wool” while the “Ulster form and whose central European origin was only tartan” dug from a peat bog in 1956 and dated to 400 miles the 1590s is the earliest woven scrap of what we north of moderns call tartan. (It was attached to the body of Pylos.” a young Scottish mercenary—a Galloglass—who For sure, was apparently involuntarily settled in .) we trace the Celtic migra- tion from around the Cas- pian Sea Ancient classic writers spoke of the Celts’ to north- brightly colored and embroidered shirts with west Eu- trousers called “bracae” (breeks) and cloaks fas- rope; in tened at the shoulder with a brooch, heavy in fact it winter but light in sum-mer. The Greek Diodorus was the Celtic Migration Siculus, c. 100 B.C., also wrote that “the cloaks are Celts that formed a common theme for all the EU striped or checkered in design, with the separate countries, to Denmark, Ireland, Spain and Portu- checks close together and in various colors.” That gal, France, Italy, Greece, and even Turkey. And does sound very “tartan”-like. And later, c. 50 B.C. although it was only concerning around the Roman Marcus Terentius Varro spoke of Celtic 1100 A.D. that people spoke of “diversis coloribus clothing as “woven of divers colors.” vestes,” Wilton suspects that the skill and practice Archaeologists working in Qizilchoqa in Cen- of weaving tartan did not wholly disappear in tral Asia have examined mummies of the long- other Celtic areas. His theory is that because the nosed, light-haired, and round-eyed persons who Romans never conquered the Highlands, their may well be relatives of the Celts. Elizabeth Way- “civilized” forms of dress never superseded the land Barber is one of the world’s leading experts on “quaint costumes” of the wild Caledones and De- ancient textiles, and cantae north of the Wall. of the textiles found with the mummies of *Tartan: Variant of tertane - Middle French tertaine Urumchi (dated 1200- (Old French tiretaine ) 750 B.C.); she says the **Linsey-woolsey: A woolen or worsted cloth wo- chief decoration was ven with stripes of different colors and widths crossing “plaid—that is, wide at right angles, worn chiefly by Scottish Highlanders, and narrow color each clan having its own distinctive “plaid.” 3 Dinnie Stones Aloft: Emmajane Smith Makes Historic Lift by Francis Brebner President, International Highland Games Federation (IHGF) Scottish strongwoman Emmajane Smith made was put ‘the wind beneath the stones,’ and I man- history by becoming the first woman in history to aged to do just that! lift the Dinnie Stones barehanded. “I really wanted to get the full lock-out on the Saturday, 19 January 2019, was an historic unassisted lift, so I actually attempted it more than day in the pages of Scottish cultural stonelifting once to be the first woman to do this, and it felt as strongwoman Emmajane Smith of Ayrshire, like the most epic feat of strength that I have done Scotland, became the first woman to lift the Din- to date and has left me feeling so proud to be Scot- nie stones barehanded. Many have made the pil- tish.” grimage from all over the world to the Potarch Hotel in Royal Deeside where the Dinnie Stones have resided for over 150 years to take up the challenge—with successes and failures. Just six months ago, Leigh Holland-Keen lifted the colos- sal Dinnie Stones, a total of 735 lb., assisted with hand straps—the first woman captured live on film succeeding in this tremendous feat. Asking Emmajane Smith about her experi- ence, she replied that it was a freezing cold day and there was snow on the ground, perfectly set- ting the scene. “I had never seen the actual Din- nie Stones before, so I spent a bit of time getting to know the stones and making a connection. In training leading up to my attempt with the Din- nie Stones, I had lifted more than the combined weight of the Dinnie Stones (using straps) with the killer strength-training handles at Ardblair Castle in December. I knew I could move a combined to- Emmajane Smith and her tal of 334 kg (736.5 lb.) quite easily, but the lift feels Dinnies quite different with the real stones. “I had the most knowledgeable Dinnie Stones lifters around me, so I listened their advice and focused on the bigger stone, and the smaller stone felt as if it levitated off the ground all by itself! “I was introduced to this type of stonelifting by Charlie Blair Oliphant when he invited me to be the first lady to lift the Ardblair Stones. It was after I lifted these stones in December that he en- couraged me to go to Potarch and lift the world-fa- Eye Halve a Spelling Chequer mous Dinnie Stones. I have been following a pow- Eye halve a spelling chequer erlifting training program by Delroy McQueen, so It came with my pea sea I just added in a few lifts with the Dinnie handles It plainly marques four my revue in the short time I had to prepare. Miss steaks eye kin knot sea. “The week before I was due to attempt the Eye strike a key and type a word Dinnies, it was suggested that I try without straps. And weight four it two say A successful unassisted lift had never been done Weather eye am wrong oar write before by a woman, and I got quite excited at the It shows me strait a weigh. possibility of being the first woman ever to do so. As soon as a mist ache is maid However, I felt it was rather ambitious for me as It nose bee fore two long I hadn’t trained without using straps, but it was a And eye can put the error rite challenge, and this keeps me motivated in setting Its rarely ever wrong. goals. Eye have run this poem threw it “After lifting the Dinnies using my straps and I am shore your pleased two no feeling very powerful, I felt confident attempting Its letter perfect in it’s weigh a second lift unassisted, without straps. It was a My chequer tolled me sew. huge test of grip strength! I knew if I could keep my grip, the weight would move. All I had to do -- Sauce unknown 4 The Story of the Boar’s Head on the Campbell Crest and the Hero Diarmaid From The Campbell News Letter, Sept 2018; As retold by David McNicoll and amplified Nearly two thousand years ago, the Gaelic opposite direction. This was against the lie of the world of Ireland and the Scottish Highlands were bristles; and one of them pierced Diarmaid’s heel, protected by a band of mercenaries known as the and inflicted a poisoned and mortal wound. Fianna; a sort of Celtic Jedi knights. The stories of – “Celtic Myths and Legends” by Charles Squire, this band of warriors are brought down to us by p. 221. way of various Irish sagas like the Fenian and Ul- ster Cycles. They are a mixture of probably 80% VERSION #2 pure fiction and 20% fact, but as a folk memory the strong parts of the story may have a resonance The boar of Ben Bulben was actually Diar- in actual events. The Fianna probably actually ex- maid’s monstrous half-brother. He learned this isted in the 280s AD, but more like warrior brig- just as the fight began. He lunged at the boar ands for hire than the romantic, quasi-Homeric which disemboweled him even as he dealt it a fa- stories depicted in the Fenian and Ulster Cycles. tal blow. –”Heroes of the Dawn: Celtic Myth” (Barnes and The Story of Diarmaid Noble, 2003), p. 67. Diarmaid was famous for his beauty, and for his “love spot”, VERSION #3: which made him irresist- Fionn, who had the power to heal the wound ible to women. with water from his hands, twice cupped the water, While hunting then reflected on his hurt pride and let the water one night he run between his fingers; by the third hand full, it met a woman was too late. So honor was satisfied for the venge- named Grainne ful Fionn, and his nephew’s corpse was burnt on a who was the traditional pyre. In legend, he is buried under the personification mound of Newgrange in County Meath, Ireland. of youth. After sleeping with As Diarmaid was a ladies’ man, he had lots of him she put a children – and in Gaelic the word for son is “Mac”, magical love a common prefix to many Highland names. Thus, spot on his fore- his children and their children after them were head that caused any woman who looked at it to known as MacDiarmaid—the sons of Diarmaid. fall in love with him. According to tradition, one MacDiarmaid Chief They eloped from Ireland to Scotland, and had a twisted mouth, and was nick-named “Caim- disappeared into the depths of the wild Forest beul”, a name that stuck. The Campbell lords of Caledonia. Yet, even here they were not safe, would retain a boar’s head in their crest. (This is and the vengeful Fionn caught up with them. As the legendary origin of the belted badge worn in a warrior, he challenged his adversary to prove bonnets or carried on flags by Campbell clans- himself fit of the wrong he’d committed: He had men, official “MacDiarmaid” or Clann Diarmaid). to catch and kill the infamously dangerous Wild Boar of Caledonia, which lurked deep in the for- ested mountains of Breadalbane. Despite a proph- ecy that a boar would be his death, Diarmaid set out, and the boar was killed. But so was Diarmaid! False Fact

VERSION #1 Eskimos have more words for snow than any other culture. The Canadian Inuit in the Nunavik region do have more than 50 words for it, and the Diarmaid killed the boar of Benn Gulban with- Central Siberian Yupik have 40. out getting any hurt, for, like Achilles, he was invulnerable save in his heel alone. Fionn, who But the true fact is that the Scots have the big- knew this, told him to measure out the length of gest snow vocabulary – 421 words! the boar’s pelt with his bare feet. Diarmaid did so. Then Fionn, declaring that he had measured Readers Digest, February, 2019 it wrongly, ordered him to tread it again in the 5 Saint Patrick’s Day, 2019 The Flying Scotsman Memories of the Cooper-Young Parade Returns Thanks to Gavin Anderson Rampantscotland.com

The Scots turned out in force to march in the The Flying Scotsman returned for a second Cooper-Young Saint Patrick’s Day parade. Of year of Scottish excursions with a pledge to course, there were some Irish there too, but we let make them annual events. them parade too. Mary Ann Lucas did a fine job The 94-year-old express locomotive steamed of lining up the participants in their proper spots. across the Forth Bridge on two trips from Edin- Our very own Scottish Country Dancers burgh - cheered on at Dalmeny Station by doz- danced their way through the entire parade route. ens of well-wishers. Nearly 800 passengers were Here are some memories of the day: due to be carried on the runs round the Fife Cir- cle, and later up the Forth via Alloa and Stirling. Chairman Marcus Robertson, boss of opera- tor Steam Dreams, said future trips were likely to be over the Forth Bridge again rather than on the Borders Railway, which had proved less popular last year. He said, “Going over the bridge is the piece de resistance of the whole thing - it’s hard to think of anywhere better. Borders has been steamed to death now” — a reference to ScotRail excur- sions following the line’s opening in 2015, and last year. A spokesman said there had been no reports of fans straying onto the line to get a closer look or reports of drones flying illegally above rail lines, which were being patrolled by its helicop- ter.

The Flying Scotsman The Celtic Cure Scottish Life, Spring 2019 Newly released figures from the National Health Service show that dozens of patients in Scotland have been given mistletoe extract as part of their cancer treatments. It is believed that the plant boosts the body’s immune system to fight the disease and also reduces the side effects of radiotherapy and chemotherapy. The word “mistletoe” in old Celtic means “all heal”, and the Celts believed it could cure the sick. Editor’s comment: I guess mistletoe isn’t just good for kissing anymore! 6 Calendar of Events Mondays Thursdays Wolf River Pipes & Drums, MSSI Scottish Country Dancers 6:00-9:30 Contact: Band Mgr, 7:00 pm at Riveroaks Reformed Presbyterian Church Kenny Hiner: 494-4902 for info. 1665 S. Germantown Road [email protected] Monday, April 8 Saturdays MSSI Monthly Meeting Memphis Phoenix Pipe Band 7:00 pm, at Jason’s Deli, 9:00-12:00 - St. Luke Lutheran Church Poplar/Highland. Program: 2000 Germantown Pkwy “A Saint, An Immigrant and Rick Clausi: 831-3843 for info. Songs” presented by Karen Eng- lish, Shari Moore, and Joe Lyle. Monday, April 8 Board Meeting Scottish - Celtic Jason’s Deli, after the regular Radio Shows membership meeting.

Sundays, 6-7 p.m. “The Thistle and Shamrock” WKNO-FM 91.1

Sat, 10 a.m.-1p.m. “Strands of the Celtic Knot” Robert Campbell, host WEVL–FM 89.9

Sun and Mon, 6 p.m. and Fridays, 7 p.m. “The Thistle & Shamrock,” WMAV–FM 90.3 March 17: Best of the Best March 31: World Beat We explore some of the finest Circumnavigate the globe with “best of” compilations from art- the sounds of Afro-Balkan-Lat- ists whose collected works will in-Urban-Country- enhance any music library. from Eileen Ivers and other mas- ter blenders! March 24: Migrations - The Making of America with Karine Polwart Fiona Ritchie celebrates Carn- egie Hall’s citywide Migrations festival with Karine Polwart. The Scottish songwriter, spoken- word performer, and essayist performs as part of the festival on March 23 at Carnegie Hall. We enjoy music from Karine’s new album Laws of Motion as Karine talks to Fiona about the lasting impact of 18th-and 19th- century Scots and Irish migra- tions in North America, and more. (Fiona Ritchie Produc- tions is a partner organization of the Migrations festival.) Fiona Ritchie 7 Saints Preserve Us! From rampantscotland.com

Legend tells us that a Scottish queen was given a ring by her husband. But she gave it to a handsome soldier and the king found out. The king came across the soldier asleep by a river bank, took the ring, threw it into the water and challenged his wife to produce the ring. St. Mungo, who was to become the patron saint of Glasgow, miraculously returned the ring by catching the right salmon and finding it in its stomach. The arms of the City of Glasgow now in- clude a salmon with a ring in its mouth.

Next Monthly Meeting - Monday, April 8, 2019 at 7:00 pm Jason’s Deli - Poplar and Highland — Program: Karen English, Shari Moore, & Joe Lyle present: “A Saint, An Immigrant, and Songs”.

MSSI Board Meeting - April 8, 2019 Jason’s Deli - Immediately after the monthly membership meeting.

GraceNotes

The Memphis Scottish Society, Inc. P. O. Box 770028 Memphis, TN 38177-0028

www.memphisscots.com