An Comunn Gàidhealach Publications > Gaidheal > Volume 33, October 1937--September 1938

106
AN GAIDHEAL.
An Giblein, 1938.
Augustus, which, notably in 15 B.c., under
the command of Drusus and Tiberius,
brought the Roman peace to the Eastern
Swiss Alps and laid the foundations of the
Roman Province of Raetia.
It was mainly owing to these by no means
easy campaigns in what is now the Engadine
that the Imperial frontier assumed what is for
us the familiar contours of the Rhine and the
Danube.
The “ push,” which was accompanied
by merciless massacres of the male population
was continued by successive Roman armies
until the line of the Danube was at last and
for centuries the frontier of the Roman Empire.
Of what was once Roman Raetia, and of
the peoples which spoke the Raeto-Romance
of the Roman legions, a bare fragment remains
in what is now Switzerland.
In mountain valleys stretching roughly
from Disentis in the West to Schuls-Tarasp
and the Samnaunthal on the Swiss-Austrian
frontier, some 44,000 persons, the remnant of
a greater population, stretching South-East
and North-East, in the Dolomite valleys and
in the Province of Udine and the territories of
Gorizia and Gradisca, continue to speak the
Latin they learned from the legionaries of
Drusus and Tiberius.
They have preserved their language for
nearly 2,000 years and have boasted a literature
since the early sixteenth century.
Without entering into details on the “ Latin,”
as opposed to the “ Italian ” origin of the Raeto-
Romance, it is enough to note the fact that all
students of the language have had to recognise
its Latin rather than its Italian origin.
The Raeto-Romans have had to resist,
especially during the last century, both German
and Italian influence.
0
LANGUAGES IN SOUTH AFRICA.
We find that the same demand is made for
Africaans in the Union of South Africa, where there
are two official languages—English and Africaans.
According to the Band Daily Mail representations
have been made to the Administrator and M.P.'s
that certain Town Councils are not giving equal
rights in respect of both languages, and demanding
that no unilingual appointments be made to the
municipal and other public services in the Transvaal.
“Wo request, they say, “that legislation be intro¬
duced in the Provincial Council, making it illegal
to appoint unilingual officials in the municipal ser¬
vices of the Transvaal. As Africaans-speaking
citizens, we appeal to our fellow Africaners to
support us in our effort to remove this great
injustice to our mother tongue, thus bringing about,
a closer understanding between the two sections of
the people of South Africa.” We have maintained
the same with regard to public appointments in the
Highlands.
SECRETARY’S NOTES.
Several functions in aid of Mod funds have
been held, and each has proved successful.
The concert at Aberfoyle on 18th February
attracted people from a wide area, and the
programme submitted was of a very high order.
Helensburgh and Clan Colquhoun Society
gave a concert in the Victoria Hall, Helensburgh,
on 15th March. The Glasgow Local Committee
supplied the artists for both concerts, and they
desire to record their warm appreciation of
the splendid services rendered by soloists, and
instrumentalists, who so willingly came forward
to help without fee or reward. Several dances
have been held in the Highlanders’ Institute
and these were very popular.
The Ceilidh, arranged by Miss Cameron,
and held at 203 Bath Street, was a very happy
function and much enjoyed by a large company.
A similar function, arranged by Mrs. Barron
will be held at 80 Bath Street on 30th March.
A Whist Drive, arranged by Miss Nettie
Kennedy, was held at her home in Scotstoun
on 16th March, and was attended by about 40
people. We thank these ladies and their
willing helpers for their efforts, all successful,
on behalf of the Mod fund.
The following are the functions arranged
for—
5th April—Whist Drive, Inverness-shire
Association.
7th ,, —Ceilidh, Mull and Iona Associa-
ation.
8th ,, —Gaelic Plays, Miss Nancy MacLean.
9th ,, —Gaelic Play and Ceilidh, Ceilidh
nan Gaidheal.
11th ,, —^Highland Ball in Grosvenor
Restaurant, Glasgow.
23rd ,, —Dance, “G.G.” Musical Association.
10th June—Evening Cruise, Skye Association.
17th, 18th June—Feill, MacLellan Galleries,
Glasgow.
All functions will be held in the Highlanders’
Institute, Glasgow, except where otherwise
stated. * * *
The attention of the members is specially
directed this month to the Highland Ball on
the 11th. Mrs. Iain Grant, 1 Crown Gardens,
W.2., is the Convener. Tickets, 12/6 each may
be had from An Comunn Office, 131 West Regent
Street, Glasgow.
The Celtic Congress is to be held this year
in the Isle of Man between June 29 and July 6.
It is expected that delegates will be sent from
kindred Associations in Scotland and, it is
understood, that hospitality will be extended
to all delegates.