Ahh, the Scottish, infectiously bold in their tartans and whisky, ritualistic yet irreverent as all get-out. This helps explain why several staff members of Lyon College in Batesville charged with putting on the Burns Night Supper and Ceilidh scholarship benefit at the Clinton Presidential Center on Feb. 26 referred to the 18th-century poet laureate Robert Burns as "Robby."
The question was put to college president Don Weatherman before the program -- name the five touchstones of Scottish culture that an average Arkansan could identify.
"Haggis, bagpipes, maybe Robby Burns ..."
"Kilts," said Carolyn Ward, a Lyon student and Clarksville native who overheard the conversation.
All four of those were a part of the dinner, as well as a possible fifth -- Scotch whisky.
The college put out seven fairly high-end Scotches for tasting. These included the Highland Glenmorangie Signet and Quinta Ruban, two from Speyside (Aberlour and Macallan), and two from Islay (Ardbeg and Lagavulin).
Dinner included such kitchen jiggery-pokery as "cock-a-leekie soup," "tatties and neeps," and vegetarian haggis "bonbons" with whisky marmalade.
College band member and staff member Kenton Adler delivered the Address to the Immortal Memory of Robert Burns that included the reading of selections from Burns' poetry. The night wrapped with a singing of Burns' most famous verse, "Auld Lang Syne."
The Presbyterian college offers a major in bagpiping led by James Bell, a man Weatherman speculated might be among the top three bagpipers living on the planet.
In April, the college hosts a Scottish festival that brings thousands to Batesville.
-- Story and photos by
Bobby Ampezzan
High Profile on 03/06/2016