Blair Collection > Celtic monthly > Volume 7, 1899

U^ THE CELTIC MONTHLY
JOHN MACRAE, DUNS. WELCOME, HERO, HOME!
^i>/c\ UlTE a iiunilier of tlie
'; j|r'''-| leading families of the
'^^ Clan MacRae trace
their descent from Ficnnla dubh
MaoGillichriosd, who nourished
in the l-tth century, and his
grandson, Farqnhar, who was
pi'ogenitor of the Torlishich branch. The
subject of our sketch this month belongs to
that famous family, his grand-uncle being
Duncan MacRae of Torlishich, so renowned in
the traditions of the clan for his great strength.
Lideed, the MacRaes have always been specially
noted for their remarkable stature and prowe.ss.
31r: John MacRae was born at Stratlianloan,
Glenshiel, Kintail, in May, 184-3, his father
being Farcjuliar MacRae, who served three
generations of the Lintons, the grazing tenants
in that district, and died in Lochaber in 1882,
aged eighty-five. Mr. MacRae joined the Con-
stabulary in 1868; and eight years later was
appointed Sanitary Inspector for nearly the whole
county of Berwick, under a system carried out by
the Commits oners of Supply — under the super-
vision of tlie then Chief Constable, Mr. List —
to assist and enable the Parochial Boards, the
then local authorities, to execute the Public
Health Act in a more efficient manner than was
generally the case at that early jieriod of sani-
tation in many rural districts — a system which
received the honourable mention of the late Sir
John Skelton, of the Board of Supervision, in
his valuable work on Public Health. After the
County Council was established, Mr. MacRae
was appointed County Sanitary Ins|)ector, and
Chief Sanitary Inspector for the three districts
into which the county was divided for public
health purposes. He had then to resign his
j)olice connection, and has since devoted his
whole time to sanitary work. He enjoys a high
reputation for the able way in which he has
discharged his professional duties, the county
standing high in sanitary matters.
We need hardly add that Mr. MacRae takes
a deep interest in all Highland matters, and
especially such as relate to his native county ;
and is in every way a worthy representative of
the house of Torlishich.
The Heko ok Omdurman. Brigadier - General
Hector A. Macdonald is to receive a hearty High-
land welcome from his countrymen. We are all
very proud of Hector, for he has shown that the
Highland race can still produce its heroes. The
Highland Societies of London entertain him on Oth
May ; and on the 8th the Macdonald Society do
honour to their clansman in Glasgow. Thereafter
he visits his native county, where the proceedings
will not lack in interest or excitement.
Hero of • )aidurinan ! welcome again
To the land of your birth, the home of your
clan ;
Whose air, as a boy, you did drink with wild joy ;
Whose name you have honoured in deeds of the
man !
The rocks, her stern monitors, they have supplied
Thy grandeur in daring, thy bold stubborn mood
Her tempests and torrents have rningled the tide
That flows through thy bosom in proud stirring
blood.
Welcome ! we're proud of the lad we sent forth,
Whose fortune is ours, whose deeds are his own ;
\V'elcome, brave Highlander, back to the North,
Where your name is belov'd, your prowess is
known ! .
Oh, we'll sing of the lad that is gallant in war.
The lad who in serving hath learned to command ;
The lad that we love, and the hero whose star
Hath gilded with glory his brave native land.
The fame of Macdonald goes down the green glen —
The moor-fowl hath heard it; the wild roaming
stag
Hath startled beneath it to bound up the ben ;
The lone loch hath crooned it in dreams to the
crag.
Oh, how, when the hosts of the desert came down
J'rom the east and the south, on his flank and
his front.
He stood like a rock, ilnd smote them and
changed
His thin line of heroes and gave them the brunt ;
How he changed his line twice, from the east to
the south,
And twice in each spot did he swift overthrow,
With his swarth Soudanese and brave Frllnltcm,
The curse of the desert — the rallying foe.
Xnd the Khalifa's might, that nodded like ears
Of corn in the land, lay trampled and torn.
For the whirlwind encountered the rock where it
stood,
And dashed its life out on its withering scorn.
Scotland, brave Scotland ! thy sons ne'er betray
The land that they love ; where adversity breeds
The heath's purple bloom, they have learned to
obey.
And the hour of thy triumph's the hour of their
deeds!
Hero of ( >indurman ! welcome again
To the land of your birth, the home of your
clan ;
Whose air, as a boy, you breathed with wild joy ;
Whose name you have honoured in deeds of the
man !
Inverness. Beknakd GboROE Hoake,