The Athletes and Athletic Sports of Scotland

104 ATHLETIC SPORTS OF SCOTLAND. in maintaining the integrity of the British Empire than a battalion of genuine Cockneys, the sneers ofCockney scribes at the bag­ pipes will meet with scant attention. While therefore the con­ tinuance of the bagpipes as a musical instrument is a seeming certainty for generations to come, that is no reason why it should be continued with its present admitted defects. Lovers of the instrument and the art of playing it should seriously consider the best means of extending its compass and removing the defects of its scale. Those who may object toany innovation on account of old associations should remember that the instrumentas we have it, is the result of improvements effected no later than the beginning of last century. We live in times of innovation and change, andthose who refuse to go along with the times are simply left behind. Let this not be the case with those who have the futureof the great Highland bagpipe in their hands— the skilledmakers of it and the skilled players onit. The postof piper to the chief of a Highland clan was one of great honour, and carried with it various privilegesand consider­ able emoluments. The M'Crimmons, hereditary pipers to M'Leod of M'Leod for many generations, and the M'Arthurs, pipers to M'Donald of the Isles, were famous as players and teachers. The lastof the M'Crimmons died in 1822. A race of Camerons were next famous inthe sameline. FAMOUS PIPERS.— Thefollowing are the first-class players known to the present generation, compiled by competent authori­ ties independently of each other. In some three instances players are included whose title to be on the list does not depend on their pibroch playing, and eminent authorities say unless a piper is a first-class pibroch player, he is not a piper. The surnames are put down alphabetically, those in italic are deceased ;— Cameron,Donald, Seaforth ; Cameron, Colin, Mar Lodge; Cameron, Alexander, Greenock ; Cameron, Alexander, Glasgow ;Cameron, KeithW., 74th Regt.; Campbell, Duncan; Duff, Alexander, Dunkeld ; Farquharson, J. T., piper to Prince Alfred ; Gillies J. Macdougall; Macallister, John ; Macbean,