Jim Kershner’s this day in history

From our archives, 100 years ago

Spokane’s Scottish community celebrated the 155th birthday of Robert Burns with an elaborate banquet for the “members of the Clan McLeod” at the Masonic Temple.

The evening began with the customary “parade of the haggis” around the hall, with “two clansmen carrying huge trays containing the delicacy.”

Then, all of the banqueters marched twice around the hall to bagpipe music, after which the haggis was presented ceremonially to a “chieftain.”

Then, as “in the manner of the olden time,” the chieftain cut two gashes in the pudding in the form of a cross and then served it to the merrymakers.

The haggis pudding wasn’t the only thing on the menu. The bill of fare featured “kale, cockie leekie, fush, jints, laich cuts of beef wi’ broon gravy, bashed neeps, sproots, sweeties and gundy,” amongst other things.

The entertainment included plenty of Burns songs and poems, including a quartet singing “Bonnie Wee Thing.”

The finale was a Highland Fling competition among the children.

Also on this date

(From the Associated Press)

1934: The 125th Street Apollo Theater opened in New York City’s Harlem district.

1942: The first American Expeditionary Force to go to Europe during World War II arrived in Belfast, Northern Ireland.