Scottish Flotsam from the Hebrides - Scottish History June 1997

I imagine the first question anyone will ask is what is a column called "Scottish Flotsam". I guess we will have to begin with what is "flotsam". According to the dictionary a couple of the definitions of the word are "things washed ashore" or "miscellaneous trifles". Well, we believe you can find some great treasure on the ocean shore. But -- you will never know what you will find or its value. So we decided that is what this column is - flotsam. We wanted a place to put things that didn't fit anywhere else and might be of interest. Each item could be a column to itself and might be some day but for now it will be the flotsam which washes our way.

What about some events in June?

June 3, 1789 - Stornoway born explorer Alexander Mackenzie set out with 13 companions to survey the vast river system of north-west Canada.

June 9, 597 - Death of St. Columba of Iona, apostle of the Scottish Highlands; aged 76, he had been in Scotland for 34 years.

June 16, 1963 - Prince Charles aged 14, caused a rumpus by ordering a cherry brandy in a Stornoway pub during a school outing from Gordonstoun.

June 18 , 1746 - Flora MacDonald , who assisted Bonnie Prince Charlie to flee Scotland in the aftermath of Culloden, met the Young Pretender in Skye.

June 19, 1980 - Plans are announced to prevent drink being taken into Scottish football matches and rugby internationals.

June 27, 1965 - Peat began to make a comeback as a fuel in the Highlands due to the cost of coal.

We could go on and on with dates from a wonderful book called Scotching the Myths by Jim Hewiston which is also found in our bookshelf.

It is time to stop combing the library but we can not quit without some quotes from Quotable Scots another great bookshelf resident. Since this is our first issue lets see what the quotes on publishing are.

PUBLISHING

Publishing is harder to get into than the inner rectum of the Vatican.
Gerard Kelly, actor, City Lights, 1991

His worst is better than any other person's best.
William Hazlitt (1778-1830), essayist, praising the work of Sir Walter Scott

Now, Barabbus was a publisher.
Thomas Campbell, attrib.

'Tis pleasant, sure, to see one's name in print:
A book's a book, although there's nothing in't.
Lord Byron

All that mankind has done, thought, gained or been: is lying as in magic preservation in the pages of books.
Thomas Carlyle, Heroes and Hero Worship, 1840

I have amused myself in bed writing a shocker - it has amused me to write, but whether it will amuse you to read is another matter.
John Buchan, to his pubisher, of The Thirty-Nine Steps

You can find more articles in the archive under Scottish Flotsam.

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