Yet another instance of how the piper made free with his superiors. A Highland officer having in obedience to orders added a drum to his pipe band, a spirit of jealousy soon afterwards arose between the piper and the drummer respecting their title to precedence. This gradually increased until it became personal animosity. At length the subject of the quarrel was submitted to the officer, who decided in favour of the drummer, whereupon the piper exclaimed, “Ads wunds, sir (whatever that may mean), and shall a little rascal that beats upon a sheep’s skin tak’ the right hand of me that am a musician?” A musician, no less!
The last item to be given under this heading is meant to illustrate the high opinion Highlanders have of the pipes, but I do not vouch for its authenticity. It is from a book of Scottish Life and Character:—
“Dougal Mac Dougal, he left his native fastnesses for the great city of Glasgow, where he joined the police, as many a better man has done since. But Dougal was not content with being a policeman, he must needs join the police band. By-and-by another native of the fastnesses came to Glasgow, and meeting Dougal, he said-‘And wad it be true Tougal that her is a member of the polis prass pand?’
“‘Yus, Alastair, her was.’
“‘And what instrument was she play, Tougal?’
“‘Ta trombone.’
“Ta trombone! Her as draws and draws and plaws and plaws? Och, Tougal, wad she tempt Providence by leaving ta pipes for that?’”
After which we had better adjourn.
