One particularly happy period of my life was in 1872 when the Good Templars’ Harmonic Association was founded in Glasgow. The inauguration of that organisation meant greater opportunities to young artistes like myself to air their ability. The first hall secured by the Association was in Ingram Street, and the first president was Mr. George Gourlay.

In that hall appeared many of the local “stars,” now gone to rest. Amongst others were Hamilton Corbett, “the one man show of Scottish song and saying”―a creator, not an imitator―whose name is still recalled with pride all over Scotland; Jamie Houston “Glasgow's Bailie Nicol .Jarvie”―a name in those days to conjure with; Misses Matilda Dunsmore and Marianne Smith, whose pawky renderings of “Burns” and other master lyrists [sic], were appreciated on every hand.