Chronicle of the Royal Burgess Golfing Society of Edinburgh, 1735-1935

K
CHAPTER
XII
SOCIAL
LIFE
HE
aspect
of
social
life
in
the
Burgess
Society
has
always
been
very
pronounced;
in
fact,
this
feature
is
probably
one
of
the
principal
causes
of
the
Society's
success.
It
has
maintained
that
char-
acteristic
from
earliest
stages,
and
its
efforts
in
that
direction
have
not
faded
even
at
the
present
time,
nor
are
likely
to
diminish
while
the
Society
maintains
its
present
prestige
and
popularity.
An
appropriate
description
of
this
social
element
of
theperiodmaybetakenfromaClubminuteof
18
32,
when
ex-Captain
Birrell
was
entertained
to
dinner:
"
Captain
Simpson
proposed
the
guest
of
the
evening
in
his
usual
strain
of
eloquence
and
in
his
wonted
deep
pathos
of
tender
emotions
and
excited
feelings.
A
great
many
loyal
and
patriotic
toasts
were
given,
and
those
of
a
golfing
nature,
which
were
varied
and
select,
added
not
a
little
to
the
joys
of
the
evening.
Many
appropriate
and
well-executed
songs
contributed
to
the
harmony,
and,
at
a
late
hour,
all
separated
upon
the
most
friendly
terms,
resolved
to
meet
some
other
day."
Another
example
of
the
social
picture
as
depicted
in
the
contemporary
minutes
may
be
quoted
relative
toacomplimentarydinnerin
18
38inhonourofCaptain
M`Millan
who,
like
his
brother
Alexander,
the
preceding
Captain,
had
presented
a
silver
snuff-box
to
be
played
for
by
the
members.
The
toast
of
the
evening
was
proposed
by
the
Chairman,
Thomas
Knox
Beveridge
(of
the
Register
House),
"
in
more
than
his
usual
elo-
quence,
going
over
in
a
strain
truly
electrifying,
the
services
which
the
Captain
had
done
for
the
prosperity
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