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- I am just in from the meeting of the school Literary Society. They had a Gaelic debate: “Has emigration been beneficial to the Highlands?” They went into it with great vim and seemed to enjoy it greatly. Several times it resolved itself into little duels in which there seemed to be excellent bits which brought down the house, and retort would follow retort to everybody’s delight… The affirmative won by 35 votes to 14; some did not vote… Stornoway, 28th Feb. 1917
- There have been some fine catches of herring this last week, one day 5000 crans. The Minch has been getting “swept” and the mail-boat is running regularly. Oatmeal scarce; we have had to fall back temporarily on Quaker oats… Stornoway 22nd Feb 1917
- This week’s letter highlights a difficult truth which is very pertinent, given that it is Black History Month. In the course of transcribing the letters we occasionally encounter racist language which is extremely offensive and considered abhorrent today. The fact that a highly educated woman like Mrs Gibson would use this particularly horrible word in such a context reflects the racist ideas prevalent in Britain at this time. We thought carefully about whether to publish this letter on the blog, but we feel it is important not to cover up the past and that we should bring it out into the open, as the attitudes of people in the past are an important part of the historical record. In another sentence of the letter there is a reference to insanity in a particular family. We have not revealed the family’s identity in case this causes distress to any descendants.
- I had letters this week from Wm. B. Macdonald, who is with a battery in France and has had one or two narrow escapes, from J. W. Matheson, in Salonika, and from Alick Thomson, in the training camp at Gailes. He is enjoying the change from the trench-mud. Did I mention that Simon Mackenzie, who has been on a minesweeper off the west coast of Ireland, is now home, discharged on account of his health?… Stornoway, 15th Feb. 1917
- He told us of a mule who had a spite against a man and waited patiently for an opportunity to pay him out [get revenge]. One day the man was grooming the third mule from his enemy. The watchful one saw his chance and laid the man out with a kick delivered below the bellies of the two intervening mules. What do you think of that? E. says they never forget anybody who has beaten them…Stornoway, 9th Feb. 1917
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Monthly Archives: July 2011
Friday Photo; Native American Links
This coming Wednesday (July 27th) North Tolsta Historical Society will be holding an event led by Joan Hogg (née Mackay) who will give a presentation of her visit to Canada, where she researched her links with the Métis people. Joan … Continue reading
Sgeama luchd ceumnachaidh Comunn na Gàidhlig
A’ gluasad bho cùisean Thasglann airson mionaid, cuimhnichibh, ma tha sibh air crìoch a chur air ur cùrsa Gàidhlig san oilthigh no colaiste am bliadhna ‘s, tha Comunn na Gàidhlig a’ ruith an sgeama luchd ceumnachaidh aca a-rithist far am … Continue reading
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Tagged CnaG, Gaidhlig, sgeama luchd ceumnachaidh
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Friday photo and song; Berneray Week
With the Tall Ships and the Hebridean Celtic Festival flooding the town in Stornoway, it’s easy to forget that there is plenty going on across the Western Isles! Kicking off down South today is Berneray Week, with dance lessons at … Continue reading
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Tagged Berneray, Berneray Week, Friday Photo, Gatliff Trust
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New display!!
Next time you venture to the Library here in Stornoway, make sure and have a look at Tasglann nan Eilean Siar’s new display boards that have taken pride of place in the display cabinets. They give some great information on … Continue reading
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Tagged old shops, Stornoway Library, Tasglann nan Eilean Siar display boards
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Friday photo; Eye in the sky
Tomorrow the ninth Point Agricultural Show will be held at Aird School, showing off the best that the Eye Peninsular has to offer. Above is a aerial photograph of Portvoller taken in the 1960s-1970s, showing Loch an Tiumpan. Look closer, … Continue reading
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Tagged Friday Photo, Point, Point Agricultural Show
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Dusty fun!
This week, I cleared out the two display cabinets that are near the front door of the Library. Previously, there was a display telling the story of the early days of the Library and a very interesting story it is too but … Continue reading
Friday photo; Happy Birthday Canada!
Today is Canada Day, a country where many emigrants of the Western Isles settled. In particular, a large number of Lewis folk emigrated and settled in the province in Quebec, where small towns and streets still bear the namesakes of … Continue reading
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