Scottish Accent

[Angela]

This is the second time I came across this and thought it notable.
Apparently, Abraham Lincoln managed to acquire a wicked Scottish accent in order to properly quote Robert Burns' poetry - and from the references it appears he did so in his younger years - around 1830.
I have come across this in Michael Burlingame's biography and now again in the Sidney Blumenthal bio (which sadly isn't giving many original sources). I have gone through Herndon's Informants a bit but have not been lucky yet.
So fun to imagine how he might have picked this up, isn't it!

[Eva Elisabeth]

Angela, I cannot check as have no access to my copy right now (will have to wait until Xmas...), but I wonder if it was/is in "A Reporter's Lincoln" (eye-witness accounts edited by M. Burlingame)?
In any case I think you'd like the book (I do):
https://www.amazon.com/Reporters-Lincoln...0803292538

[RJNorton]

In Lincoln's Ladies: The Women in the Life of the Sixteenth President author H. Donald Winkler writes, "Billy Greene told friends that Lincoln 'knew all of Burns by heart' and could quote him with a Scottish accent." Greene and Lincoln became friends at New Salem. (I think 'knew all of Burns by heart' is an exaggeration; Herndon thought Greene embellished his knowledge of Lincoln.)

[Angela]

(10-28-2016 05:29 PM)Eva Elisabeth Wrote:  Angela, I cannot check as have no access to my copy right now (will have to wait until Xmas...), but I wonder if it was/is in "A Reporter's Lincoln" (eye-witness accounts edited by M. Burlingame)?
In any case I think you'd like the book (I do):
https://www.amazon.com/Reporters-Lincoln...0803292538

It was definitely in the biography. From the way it is quoted - interview style - I think it could originate with Herndon.

@Roger - I agree, it DOES sounds like he exaggerated a little.

[Gene C]

Eva, Sounds like an interesting book.
It is also available on Internet Archives. The print is small.
https://archive.org/details/reporterslincoln5401stev
I'd much rather read a "real" book than an ebook.

I have question about your book copy.
The copy in the IA has only 86 pages, but the Amazon copy is 305 pages. The Amazon reprint seems to be exactly that, a copy.
Is yours a quality reprint, (I've been a bit disappointed in some of the reprints I've purchased in regards to the quality of the illustrations) and
what do the extra pages consist of?
Am I going to have to wait till Christmas too?

[Eva Elisabeth]

Gene, it's at least three or four years ago that I read the book, and my copy is about 1000 miles away (until Xmas...). I have exactly the "Bison Books" copy as on the Amazon link. It's overall of better quality than some other reprints (e.g. those printed by Amazon), but there are no illusions in the book (at least I don't remember any), so picture quality is not decisive.
I seem to recall there's a lengthy (but good) introduction, and maybe the print is larger. I think whatever the cheapest copy is for (with?) me (perhaps you, too) would be ok - however, I cannot for sure say from skimming and memory if Burlingame hadn't added one, two more "stories" he had dug out.

[Eva Elisabeth]

(Was that any helpful? Sorry I couldn't provide more info.)

[Gene C]

Yes, that was helpful.
I will probably read a few chapters on the internet and if I like it order the book.

[Eva Elisabeth]

That's wise.

[Gene C]

(10-28-2016 03:26 PM)Angela Wrote:  This is the second time I came across this and thought it notable.
Apparently, Abraham Lincoln managed to acquire a wicked Scottish accent in order to properly quote Robert Burns' poetry - and from the references it appears he did so in his younger years - around 1830.
I have come across this in Michael Burlingame's biography and now again in the Sidney Blumenthal bio (which sadly isn't giving many original sources). I have gone through Herndon's Informants a bit but have not been lucky yet.
So fun to imagine how he might have picked this up, isn't it!

Over the years, many of Robert Burns poems have been set to music.
This is probably one of the best known, Ae Fond Kiss

Ae fond kiss, and then we sever;
Ae fareweel, and then forever!
Deep in heart-wrung tears I'll pledge thee,
Warring sighs and groans I'll wage thee.
Who shall say that Fortune grieves him,
While the star of hope she leaves him?
Me, nae cheerfu' twinkle lights me;
Dark despair around benights me.

I'll ne'er blame my partial fancy,
Naething could resist my Nancy;
But to see her was to love her;
Love but her, and love forever.
Had we never lov'd sae kindly,
Had we never lov'd sae blindly,
Never met—or never parted—
We had ne'er been broken-hearted.

Fare thee weel, thou first and fairest!
Fare thee weel, thou best and dearest!
Thine be ilka joy and treasure,
Peace. enjoyment, love, and pleasure!
Ae fond kiss, and then we sever;
Ae fareweel, alas, forever!
Deep in heart-wrung tears I'll pledge thee,
Warring sighs and groans I'll wage thee!

Here is the song by two Scottish singers, Claire Hastings and Dougie MacLean.
I picked these two because they seem to capture the feeling of the poem.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXa_7vh0GpU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8pD_TcPmLhM

I can almost picture Abraham and Mary reading this together.