In the meanwhile I just loafed around the banks of the Clyde, watching them load and unload vessels, taking in the foreigners' ways of doing things, peering into the shop-windows along the water-front, etc. The time passed quickly enough. I wasn't homesick a bit but felt right at home. There was something about the people and the place that made me feel quite at home.
After dinner, at about two o'clock, I strolled into the Green. People were slowly sauntering into it in groups, and walking up toward the music stand where the dancing was to be done. The music stand was about half a mile from the park entrance. It was early, so I sat down on a bench and made myself comfortable. Little boys came along handing out programs and I secured one of them. Here is what it said:
Glasgow Green.
No. 1—March; Glendaurel Highlanders.
No. 2—Strathspey; Marquis of Huntley.
No. 3—Reel; The Auld Wife Ayont the Fire.
No. 4—March; Brian Boru.
No. 5—Strathspey; Sandy King.
No. 6—Reel; Abercairney Highlanders.
No. 7—Dance; Reel o' Tullock.
No. 8—Waltz; The Pride of Scotland.
No. 9—Highland Fling.
No. 10—March; Loch Katrine Highlanders.
No. 11—Strathspey; When You Go to the Hill.
No. 12—Reel; Over the Isles to America.
No. 13—Dance; Sword Dance.
No. 14—March; 93d's Farewell to Edinburgh.
No. 15—Strathspey; Kessock Ferry.
No. 16—Reel; Mrs. McLeod's.
No. 17—Slow March; Lord Leven.
Choir.
No. 1—Glee; Hail, Smiling Morn.
No. 2—Part Song; Rhine Raft Song.
No. 3—Part Song; Maggie Lauder.
No. 4—Part Song; Let the Hills Resound.
No. 5—Scottish Medley, introducing favorite airs.
No. 6—We'll Hae Nane But Hielan Bonnets Here.
No. 7—Part Song; Hail to the Chief.
No. 8—Part Song; The Auld Man.
No. 9—Part Song; Awake Aeolian Lyre.
No. 10—Part Song; Night, Lovely Night.
No. 11—God Save the King.
The program was a good long one and sure looked good to me. I imagined there would be something doing.
At about half past two there was a big crowd congregated about the music stand but as there were few seats near it most of the people had to stand.
As I wanted to see all I could I mingled with the throng and patiently waited for the performance to begin. The band hadn't made its appearance yet and there was no one on the band stand. To relieve the tedium some of the young fellows who were in the crowd began to chaff some of the lassies in a flirty way. Three pretty girls in a group were the especial target of the laddies. If I could only get off the Scotch right I would jot down some of their badinage for it was very amusing, to me, at least, but I couldn't do the theme justice.
After what to me seemed an interminable long wait we heard some yelling and snarling away down toward the entrance of the park I took to be dog-fighting. Too bad it was so far away, for anything would have been agreeable just then to relieve the monotony, even a dog-fight. I noticed the people near the entrance scattering to either side of the walk and forming a lane through which to give the dogs a show. The yelping and snarling came nearer and finally I perceived that it was a band of men approaching dressed in Highland costume and playing the bagpipes. I had heard the bagpipes played many a time and knew what they were but I had never heard a whole lot of them played at once. I now knew that it wasn't a dog-fight that had caused the noise. The bag-pipers came along quickly with long strides, their heads erect, stern of visage with petticoats flying from side to side like those of a canteen-girl when she marches with her regiment. The men were husky fellows, broad-shouldered, lithe and active, but they wore no pants. The whole lot of them were bare-legged and upon their heads was perched a little plaid cap with a feather in it, and over their shoulders was thrown a plaid shawl. Stockings came up to their knees, but their legs a little way further up beyond the stockings were entirely bare. Although there were lots of the girls present I didn't notice any of them blush at this exposure of the person. Maybe they were used to such spectacles. What tune do you think these Highlanders were playing as they marched along? Nothing more nor less than—
"Where, oh where has my little dog gone,
Where, oh where can he be?