I´ve just been listening to a BBC
documentary in which James Naughtie tells the story of an audacious
raid carried out on Christmas Day 1950. Three young men and one woman
removed the Stone of Destiny from under King Edward I's Chair in
Westminster Abbey, where it had lain since its removal from Scone in
Scotland in 1296. The exploit brought the cause of Scottish
independence to the front pages. To this day, the Stone, now
installed in Edinburgh Castle, remains a symbol of the pride of
Scotland in its nationhood. It roused my Scottish blood and reminded
me of this toast by our national poet, Robert Burns, which usually
precedes the imbibing of large quantities of our most famous
alcoholic beverage.
Here’s tae us.
Wha’s like us?
Damn few,
And they’re a’ deid,
Mair’s the pity!
May those who live truly be always
believed,
And those who deceive us be always
deceived.
Here’s to the men of all classes,
Who through lasses and glasses
Will make themselves asses!
I drink to the health of another,
And the other I drink to is he,
In the hope that he drinks to another,
And the other he drinks to is me.
Then let us toast John Barleycorn,
Each man a glass in hand,
And may his great prosperity
Ne’er fail in old Scotland!
This inspired the following list of the
many inventions and innovations created by Scotsmen. If you´re not Scottish, some of these
may surprise you!
Click to enlarge
Here´s the unadorned list:
the raincoat
tar road surface
car tyres
the telephone
the bicycle
television
the U.S. Navy
the first authorised translation of the bible
whisky
the breech-loading rifle
penicillin
chloroform
the Bank Of England
Wha´s like us?
Damn few and they´re
a´deid.....indeed!
