Blair Collection > Celtic monthly > Volume 8, No.5 (February, 1900)

90
THE CELTIC MONTHLY.
TO CORRKSPONDBNTS
All CommutUcationa, on literary and buslnean
mattert, should be addresned to the Editor, Mr. .lOHti
MACKAT, 1 Hlylhawood Drive, Ulaagou:
-«-
TERMS OP SUBSCRIPTION.— The CELTIC
MONTHLY wUl be aent, post free, to any part 0/ the
United Kingdom, Canada, the United Statet, and all
countries in the Postal Union — for one year, it.
The
Celtic Month ly.
FEBRUARY, J900
CoLONKL John Stswart, C I.E , of Ardvorlich,
Flora M \cddnalii in Amkricv (illustrated).
Maighstir Alasdair's Family (illustrated), ■
MA.10R Ciiarlks Stewakt, ok Ixvbrnamylk -
Ddnvegan Castle (illustrated),
Uni'L'blishei) Sonos of the Reay Country (illustrated).
To OUR Readers,
Coh'CBRNiNO LouHiEL AND Glp.ngarry (illustrated).
The Charge of thk Highland Brigade (poem), -
Antiquarian Notes on the Mackay Country,
The Mad Laird's Will, .--...-
Nokthward (poemA .....--
Musical Page,
Volume VII. can now be had, taetefuUy bound,
6s. 6d., post free, from John Mackay, 1 Blythswood
Drive, Glasgow. Vohimes V. and VI. also in stock.
Many of our readers will be glad to learn that
Mr. John Mackay, of Hereford, is rapidly
recovering from his recent severe illness. He has
just forwarded parcels of Gaelic Class and Music
Books for the use of the classes formed in Strath-
Halladale, Strathy, Melvich, and other places in
Sutherland.
llKiiii.AND Societies' Wais Fund. — The various
Societii's are still busily engaged collecting subscrip-
tions for this deserving object, the sum realised by
several of the Societies being very handsome. The
Clan Campbell have just issued a first list of
subscriptions, and the Clans Cameron and Colquhoun
have i.ssued an appeal to their members. Since our
last issue, the following additional subscriptions
have been received by us for the
Clan Mackay Fund.- -Per Donald Mackay,
Helmsdale (collected by JSliss Mackay Bruce),
£7 14s ; James H. Mackay, £8, Mrs James H.
Mackay, £1, and Miss Hose Mackay, London, £1 ;
Donald Mackay, Bromley, Kent, £2 2s ; Charles
Fraser-Mackintosh, LL.D., London, £2 2s ; James
K. Mackay, Edinburgh, £1 ; Ben Davidson. New
York, £1 ; Dr. Ian D. Mackay, 10s 6d ; Peter
M'Kie, Wigtown (per Dr. N. J. M'Kie, Newton
Stewart), 10s 6d ; Donald Mackay, J.P., Braemore,
10s 6d ; W. D. Mackay, R.S.A., 5s ; Hugh Mackay,
Coleraine, os. Total to date, £6-4 8s.
Clan Campuell. — Major-General P. J. Campbell,
London, £5 ; Ronald Campbell of Craignish, £3 3s;
John Campbell, Pollokshields, £2 2s ; Duncan
Campbell, Luchearnhead, £2 ; Andrew Campbell,
Gourock, £1 Is ; Colin Campbell, Glasgow, £1 Is ;
Major-General F. Lome Campbell, £1 ; Campbell
of Duustaffuage, £1 ; Paul Campbell, £1 ; Alex.
Campbell, 10s ; etc.
" One Hour and the Next," by the Duchess of
Sutherland — There seems no limit to the vereatility
of the young and gifted Duchess of Sutherland.
Ten years ago she made her ddifit as an authoress in,
"How I Spent My Twentieth Year," and the
promise of that delightful record of a tour round the
world has been more than justified during the
intervening years. And now Her Grace surprises us
with a novel! We have perused the volume with
particular interest, and are pleased to say that our
impressions of the work are entirely favourable. It
cannot fail to increase her great reputation as a
litterateur, and a practical worker in the difficult
paths of social reform. It is not a book intended to
provide a half-hour's light reading; it is really a
serious exposition of a problem which is attracting
the attention of our greatest statesmen and thinkers.
It is a study of Socialism, in its sensible and
extravagant forms, worked out in the .form of a
story. We cannot imagine any subject more difficult
of treatment, in the shape of fiction ; and yet those
who have carefully read " One Hour and the Next"
must admit that the noble authoress has performed
her self-imposed task most successfully. Our space
is too limited to permit of an exhaustive analysis of
the novel, but, briefly, we may say that the plot
is associated with a Dyers' strike in an English
town. Contending for mastery in controlling the
strike are the two almost opposite forms of Socialism
— the sensible and Christian attitude, which is well
represented in its leader, PhiUp Assheton ; while the
professional agitator, the inciter of outrage, Robert
Lester, illustrates a phase of Socialism the d.angers
of which we have too often had experience. The
heroine, Agnes Stainer, affords a character sketch
showing how women may be attracted by a false
ideal. To weave these different elements into an
interesting volume was a task requiring no ordinary
literary gift, and we heartilj congratulate Her Grace
in achieving a distinct success. From a literary
point of view, the work is of exceptional merit.
We might quote many beautiful examples of word
painting not often found in novels, which in them-
selves, to the student of literature, make the volume
a sincere pleasure to read. We hope that the
gifted authoress will be encouraged to write another
work ; if we might presume to indicate a subject,
where could she find a more congenial or delightful
theme for a story than the romantic land of
Sutherland, and the home life of its people, with its
joys and sorrow.s, its romances and thrilling
episodes.
F0KTHC0.MING Social Gathekinos. — The Ross
and Cromarty Re-Union takes place in the Queen's
Rooms, on 8th February, and on the same evening
the Natives of Cowal meet in the Waterloo Rooms ;
on the 9th the Clan Mackinnon gather in the
Waterloo Rooms — Major F. A. Mackinnon in the
chair ; 14th, Natives of Islay in the Waterloo
Rooms — Mr. D. T. Martin, of Dunlossit, presiding ;
28th, the Inverness-Shire Re-Union takes place in
the Queen's Rooms — Mr. Neil J. D. Kennedy in
the chair. The celebrated Inverness Select Choir
are to take part. The Clan Mackay have decided
not to hold a Social Gathering this winter, owing
to so many of the Clan Buttering bereavements
through the war, but an Excursion will take place
in the summer.