W.F. Frame Tells His Own Story

urn:iso:std:iso:639:ed-3:eng

83–84

text excerpt

An interesting episode occurred on one of my visits to the Dublin “Empire” some years ago.  Red coats, or any remark in praise of England, were at that time much resented by the frequenters of the house.  I was singing my song―

“Angus M‘Indoe,
The piper of the 72.”

Although I was in kilts, with my red coat, the audience did not quite like it.  When I reached one of the lines in the third verse, “Fight for dear old England’s shore,” I thought the spectators, or some of them, would have strangled me.  They yelled and hooted till they became hoarse.

My friend Captain Baxter, of the Anchor liner, “Caledonia,” happened to be with me.  He had a seat in the front row of the stalls, and when he saw me fighting with the crowd, as I had to do for several minutes, he stood up with his stick in hand, as it were, to protect me.

After I had struggled with them, and cooled down the excitement with a little Scotch blarney, they allowed me to proceed.  Since then we have been closer friends, and they declare to this day that I am a bit of a Paddy.  I had ever after that to sing the questionable line―“Fight for Scotland’s shore.”

excerpt from 'W.F. Frame Tells His Own Story' pp. 83–84 (216 words)

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