3-034-559 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

The Scott Centenary Banquet in the Corn Exchange, Grassmarket, Edinburgh, 1871. The celebration...of the hundredth anniversary of Sir Walter Scott's birth...was a very spirited affair...Our Illustration gives a view of the interior of the great hall, with its profuse decorations, and the closely-packed assemblage of 2000 ladies and gentlemen, seated at eighteen narrow tables across the width of the hall...there were statuettes and painted figures of various historical, poetical, or mythological character, ranged along the galleries; and from the roof, alternating with pendent gas-burners and with baskets of flowers or trailing plants, hung many diversely- coloured banners, each inscribed with the title of one of Scott's novels or poems...A trophy of warlike weapons, with a' large shield in the midst, crossed lances and swords, pistols, helmets, cuirasses, and other arms or armour, was fixed on the wall...The general effect was extremely gay, assisted by the dresses of the ladies...The repast, consisting merely of a little fruit and cake, with sherry and claret wine, scarcely delayed the business a few minutes; the toasts were proposed and drunk, with very long speeches relieved by appropriate songs'. From "Illustrated London News", 1871.