Rensselaer Republican, Volume 16, Number 21, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 January 1884 — A Scotch Piper. [ARTICLE]

A Scotch Piper.

The Orientals love the noisy music which comes from the clashing of cymbals and the beating of gongs. A Turkish ambassador who attended a London concert was asked how he liked the music. “I was pleased with the first part,” he replied. He referred to the tuning of the instruments. An Indian prince, wishing to honor the officers of several English regiments marching through his territory, invited them to an afternoon entertainment. The officers went, accompanied by the band and twelve pipers of a Highland regiment. The prince paid little attention to the music of the band, but when the pipers struck up a Scotch reel, he exclaimed, “Beautiful! That ,is the music for me! Can I get such a band ? Can I buy it ?” On being informed that he might purchase the discharge of one of the pipers and hire him to instruct his own men,‘.lie at once made arrangements to secure the services of John McK . The Highlander was appointed the prince’s head musician, given a good house, several cows and a horse and buggy, besides a liberal salary. He was arrayed in a scarlet tunic covered with gold lace, blue-cloth trousers with gold lace down the seams, a blue and gold turban, and a heavy, broad sash. Fourteen men, supplied with bag-pipes imported from Scotland, were placed under his instruction. The prince at first proposed to dress his pipers in full Highland costume. But the Scotchman’s pride could not stand seeing a native dressed up in a kilt. Sb the pipers were uniformed in green cloth tunics and tartan trousers. The prince frequently sent for his head piper to amuse him, or to soothe him to sleep by the shrill music of his own pipes. On such occasions John always received a handsome present in money. He remained five years with the prince, and then, having saved a large sum of money, returned to Scotland and set himself up in business.