In those times “Fast” days were not feast days as now. On a “Fast” day, one had either to go to the kirk, or keep to the house; and woe betide the man who, on such a day, ventured forth with even the semblance of a smile on his face. Those were the days of blind bigotry―a reduced mixture of the “Inquisition” and “Star Chamber.”

In any case I gave my first concert out in Campsie on a “Fast” day. I was accompanied by quite an array of talent, Hamilton Corbett being one of the artistes, and I presented a gold medal to the best comic singer. We had a very meagre treasury, but we had lots of fun[.]