In the winter of 1902-3, a Scottish curling team toured Canada and the United States, where they received a hearty welcome wherever they went. The Captain of the Royal Caledonians made a Report, illustrated with unique kinematographs and photographs of many of the participants. The Reverend author "growed" the record with songs, jokes (extremely dry), and yarns he picked up.

For people of my generation who inspired Hunter Thompson's "gonzo" version of reporting, this work is Dull. It is a monumental testament to how inane pompous social climbers can be, especially on the pretext of a diplomatic mission of peace across the sea. A kind of race-building enterprise sucking the more delightful purposes out of otherwise noble sports and adventures. A bit of "fun" always turns out to be another series of drams in a smoke-filled men's lodge. But this has long been true....

There are gems of historical importance, most of them inadvertent or asides. For example, the fact that at the turn-of-the-century women were much involved in golfing [130]as well as curling, as enthusiastic participants. The fact that entire towns would burn down, and "as in many other cases, was a godsend to the city; for the buildings now to be seen there are a great improvement on the old..."[130b].

The envoy keeps making mention of things indirectly as if to allude to an expectation with which the Scots lairds may have begun to tour, with respect to the "class" of people inhabiting the other shore. It is pretty clear that by the end of the tour they were to a man much bonded with Canadians and Americans. They were "swept" up with besom and stane into each others' hearts, songs, and the astonishing generosities of strong drink.

One of my favorite Odes, in brogue, indicted by a Lotharian emigrated to Canada as a welcome of the Canuks to the Scotties [449-450, quoting one verse] gives out:

An' mony a cheerie crack we'll hae,
Renew auld freendships, mak' some ithers,
For Scots, it's kenned the warld ower,
Especially curlers, are a' brithers.

And that is, of course, the Motto
of the curlers: "We're Brithers A'." ( )