The games were supported by varied groups and institutions. The Club’s English and Irish friends lavished praise on the Scots’ talents and love for their homeland. The Mayor of Charlottetown proclaimed the day of the games a business holiday.“ The lieutenant-governor, as club Chieftain, joined with the Caledonians in announcing the games and permitted the use of Government House grounds for the festivities. Charlottetown businessmen advertised Scottish wares. Island newspapers printed notices and editorial comments. An Island poet paid this tribute:
TO “THE CALEDONIAN CLUB”
Hail! glorious spirit of the olden time,
That stirred the heroes of my fatherland To deeds of bravery, to write sublime
Their names on fadeless page with dauntless hand. Hail! to our Island home, where many still
Are found that pride in thy pre eminence — That now doth feel a gael reviving thrill
Of patriotic pride — thy influence — To know that in this Isle remote revives
The glorious spark that oft the breast of braves Warmed, when their country’s honor e’en their lives
Demanded, and was quenched in crimson waves. Hail! combination of the freeborn sons
Of Albion’s rocks of freedom, that were ever free. “The Caledonian Club”, [sic] whose name prophetic runs
From heart to heart of glorious action yet to be. Wave to the wanton breeze thy banner fair,
Beneath whose spotless folds your father’s [sic] bled; That it may to the gazing world declare
Their gallant sons are worthy of the dead; That it may call from west, east, south and north,
The worthy sons of Scotia’s land of fame. In union strong to one great gathering forth
In honor meet to your great chieftan’s [sic] name. And that it may like an electric stream,
Revive the spirit of the olden time In those of Scotland’s bonnie sons that seem
As if they lost that principle sublime, —
43