From the archives: Genius of Sir Walter Scott; 24 November 1934

THE influence of the author of the Waverley Novels upon the youth of Scotland during the past century was emphasised by the Marquess of Linlithgow when he gave the oration at the 35th annual dinner of the Sir Walter Scott Club in Edinburgh last night.

His lordship said there had been no child born in Scotland in the past 100 years who had not had its outlook on life in some degree moulded by Scott. The dinner was held in the North British Station Hotel, and the company, which numbered over 260, included Lord Provost Sir William Thomson and Lady Thomson. The chairman proposed the toast of “The Imperial Forces”, saying they were a symbol of the defence of all those rights which were considered most sacred. Sir Walter Scott loved the soldier and had all the fervour of the soldier’s soul, and they might say that he was a soldier, for he fought a valiant fight against all the forces of adversity.

• archive.scotsman.com