# Lines Read at St. Andrew's Anniversary explained — Poetry

> Chapter companion for Poetry by James McIntyre.

## What happens

A clipping from an old Ingersoll paper describes the celebration of St. Andrew's Anniversary on November 30, 1868, with a dinner at Mr. Douglass' Hotel. After the meal, Mr. McIntyre chaired the event and recited an original poem praising Scotland's landscapes, traditions, and domestic life.

## Themes in this chapter

### Cultural Heritage and Immigrant Identity

The poem and the celebration emphasize Scottish cultural pride and longing for the homeland.

### Community and Social Gatherings

The dinner at Mr. Douglass' Hotel brought together Scots, English, and Irish attendees for songs, speeches, and toasts.

## Character check-ins

### James McIntyre

Recited the original poem at the St. Andrew's Anniversary dinner.

## Key lines

> Scotia's sons to-night we meet thee, With kindly feelings we do greet thee, In honor of the land of heather, Around this board to-night we gather.

We Scots gather tonight with warm hearts to honor our homeland of heather.

_Opening lines of McIntyre's poem, expressing collective Scottish identity._

> Land where you may enraptured hark To heavenly song of the skylark, Which soars triumphant in the skies Above the gaze of human eyes.

Scotland is a land where one can joyfully listen to the skylark's song as it flies high beyond sight.

_Romantic depiction of Scotland's natural beauty._

> We hope some day to tread the strand Of our own dear native land, And see the lasses shear the corn Near the banks of the Findhorn.

We hope to someday walk the shores of Scotland and watch the young women harvest grain by the Findhorn River.

_Expresses the immigrant's longing to return to Scotland._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_12_se/chapters/lines-read-at-st-andrew-s-anniversary
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_12_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_12_se/chapters