Who’s “Wah Hay?,” pp.117-118.

[Anecdotes of Burns Contents]

THE following is culled from the “Singapore Free Press.” 

“A certain enterprising gentleman that many of is know pretty well in Singapore, who has been asserted to have occupied himself lately in coating Hong Kong with vermilion, was present at a recent convivial entertainment there, at which assisted a strong force of true Caledonians. That immortal patriotic lyric of Burns, ‘Scots wha ha’e wi’ Wallace bled,’ had just been chanted forth in rousing style by the full strength of the company. After its echoes had died away, and the toddy tumblers were being duly replenished, our friend was noticed to be brooding over some brow-knitting enigma. At last his perplexities found utterance, and in a markedly colonial accent, he thus spoke – “But, look here, who’s ‘Wah Hay?’ ” 

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