Life, 1895-03-14 · page 9 of 18
Life — March 14, 1895 — page 9: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Page 169 of Life Magazine - Analysis This page contains a narrative about an old Scottish man and his love for Scottish culture, language, and heritage. The top illustration shows various Scottish animals and objects in a whimsical arrangement. The main text describes how the man learned Gaelic, impressed audiences with passionate speeches about Scotland, and refused to compromise his Scottish identity despite pressure to adopt London ways. When challenged, he famously declares: "The maun who can't say No, is a coward!" The bottom illustration depicts a well-dressed couple in conversation, with dialogue about "necessities" and someone arriving home "from your club in a car." The satire appears to criticize materialism and the abandonment of cultural identity in favor of modern conveniences and urban sophistication—championing authentic Scottish pride over cosmopolitan assimilation.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
169 Scotch obstinacy better than a dozen songs, and he stalked to his seat with more cries of admiration. He loved the songs of Scotland, he loved its heroes and its language. When over sixty he began to learn Gaelic, so that he might make a grammar and dictionary of it, and preserve a language that was fast dying. out. And he got his reward—the af- fectionate admiration of a strong, tenacious people, who will not let his memory die. * . * N the meantime the American hero is the millionaire, and our artists and writers go abroad for Scotch, to which he kept time with his long staff. Then their technic and inspiration. Droch. the pipers struck up, and four clansmen danced a highland NEW PUBLICATIONS. fling. The old man was all excitement, moving his feet FATHER GANDER SMELODIES. By Adelaide F. Samuels. Boston: Py " . * oberts Brothers. and arms as though with difficulty keeping his seat. Vistas, By William Sharp. Chicago: Stone and Kimball. By and bye he rose to speak, and was See greeted with a tremendous cheer of affection and appreciation. He impressed you by every word and movement, as though he were filled with the enthusiasm of a boy. He went right at them with short, explosive sentences—each one of which raised the dust as it struck. “You'll no mak your religion so dour. The bible tells you to sing before the Lord— aye, and dance, too.” Then he took a step forward, and raised his foot and arm as though about to jump into a highland flin; When the laughter died down he continued : “I'm a very old man and can say it with- out conceit—I_ know .nine languages—and something of a good many more—but if I were to be shut upin a dungeon or on a desert island, I'd ask only for the bible and the songs of Scotland, and be happy. “Of late years you young men have been going to London for everything. It will swallow you up. It’s a great maw. Don’t look at London! Be yoursel’—be a Scotch- man!” Then he sat down, and when the storm subsided, there was cry after cry for a song from Blackie, He sat there shaking his head, and pursing up his lips, but the great audience would not take his refusal, Fin- ally, he rose his gaunt length, advanced well to the front, shook his long staff in their , faces, and yelled: * " THE-maun: who caivt’ “NYOU SAY WE MUST TRY AND GET ALONG WITH ONLY NECESSITIES, AND HERE YOU CAME HOME FROM YOUR CLUB IN A CAB, say No, is a coward!” That pleased their “CTHA'S ASNECESSTY.”