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Donald Blue - known as the Rattler

Holt, Edward P., 1871, Watercolour
Donald Blue - known as the Rattler
Donald Blue - known as the Rattler
Donald Blue - known as the Rattler
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Category
Library Item
Item no
11308
Title
Donald Blue - known as the Rattler
Description
An elderly man stands on his one leg in front of a low wall in Edinburgh. He is leaning on a crutch to support himself. There is a hook protruding from the jacket sleeve on his other side. He wears a misshapen hat, waistcoat, necktie and torn trousers.

The poet, Donald Campbell has written a poem inspired by this character by Holt:

Donald Blue
Known as the Rattler

Donald Blue is in despair.
He can no longer earn his bread.
The Rattling Boy of yesteryear.
has vanished now and, in his stead
a wounded soldier struggles here.
Even so, this much is still quite true;
unless you want to rouse the bear,
mind what you say to Donald Blue!

Note: Donald Blue seems to have been one of many maimed soldiers who took to begging after the Crimea War. This poem takes its inspiration from a Bothy Ballad of the same name, which contains the line "gin ye rouse the bear, I'm as roch as the deil'.
Artist / maker
Date
1871
Size
20.3 x 11.3 cm
Location
Edinburgh and Scottish Collection
Rights and purchasing
Option
Price
Digital FileElectronic file 72 dpi JPEG​
£6.10(inc. VAT 20%)
Digital FileElectronic File 300 dpi TIFF​
£31.00(inc. VAT 20%)
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