The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-11-25
Interesting Lecture on the Life and Writings
of Robert Burns.

-
tuesday evening lecture delivered at Concert Hal
Henry street, Brooklyn, The life and writings OF the
poet Burns by w. w. Anderson, ESQ., Of the island Of
Jan aics, but q Lative Of Scotland The evening
damp and oggy and the attendance conseq 1ently
not numerous but those present manifested their admit
ration Of the his subject BY frequent
baton.
The lecturer commenced with An exposition Of the
poets mission and made Introductory observations
descriptive Of the element out of which the popular
poetry Of Scotland He then instituted compari-
between that and the popular song writing OF Eng
land. The finest and most exharatiDg Of the produc
items Of E ganc's bar6s the songs Of D.bdin
and others-such .Arethusa" the .Ra7 Of Biscay y
AID BLACK G; ed Susan" Whatever songs of the olien
time may have been sung by til English people,
IL raid ieIithed, exist only in rude snatch and
fragments The love songs many of them rather the
productions Of the learning and fancy Of the scholar
,han the simple and passionate siusion OF the lover
There pleasing etgan ee and point and brllancy
about thsu, which, though rot natural, in those
least Of the public mind Bat the age which succeeded
that showed fti greater ineriorityeyen uDmtgated
norsen-e-when Cupid and Venus, Chloe and Strephon,
became the p.e subject of song In the present
tury, however, there has been e. In
confirmation Of which esd only Moore who may
be claimed for England well for Ireland VIII I'm
united gushing heart, intellectual vigor, and ele
gsnc' philosophy and fancy In biz early days
be much that couc tend to corrupt only not
to improve the evil savor Of which still somewhat
iants his popularity while its consequences stretch atO
the far future aud afford amenable illustration OF the
tendency OF moral evil 10 perpeluAte tsst America, al
though she has already added several ipershabe
to the roll # classic poes is hardly old enough have
her circumstances been Of nature favorable for any
msrkabie development OF the literature OF popular song
The people have not yet had that continued pose aud
leisure which are necessary TO enable country u make
such acquisition. Scotland the contrary has al
ways been distinguished by its melo6ies its songs and
its ballads Its early history did not take its form amdst
the distractions and occupations Of and
lectures. While ifostea from England by fentimente
of rivalry and feudai warfare, aud in respects
by DIALECT though Of the language, there
the peculates of her people. The political hiaory Of
the tingdom vas Married by profuson Of romsnic I'D
venture and dsrIrg and enduring herosm exhibited IN
the Keen and successful contests Of the people fer cv
and rtlgioue city Burns though no the sa-lisst Of
scoraras eninent poeis aLo wf~ts IN the peculiar di,
let u the county, was u questonsbly the greatest
End tai been tie standard by watch the Others have
Stree been meatured; AM, may add cJnsequeuy east
in . the shade How seldom do bear Of Ramsay,
Ferguson end Mcneil ~ho eel! cted smr subjects and
sss cations make no comparison of nrus with Scott
and Campbell brcaGse they seiec I'D anotnec class OF
sshees End treated them di-r ntly there caabe no
proPre'y In ihs eomparis n Buros was the OF
all peasant farmer 10 biee in Scott and w4s
,npred to hard labor from his y, uh lie had the p, YER
ful frame Of the plorghman and mis- appa pre-
osses.ng lis education was such as toe parish sc ,ol
there afforded aided by his industry AMI ia
rabe circumstance under which he acquired slendsr
knowledge Of Inc latin and French lapg1 The lee
turer nexegave short sketch Of the leading Of
the life 81 Robert Burns, showing the peculiar character
auo the influence which his life and writings had
society in bs day He ded 10 poverty ana obcurity at
the early age Of 81. Hs death reused h,s country
senfe OF MS merits HIS family, the children of his
Bonnie lean" still survive. Two If his recently
sived from udia after honorable service in the army
major, the other colonel And 1T Is still Ia
the memory Of the readers Of the public prints that
* year 1914 OF the most eminent literary ia
Scotland healed by the Earl ef Entou and thirty
thousand OF his csuptr Pm H. Assem- bled in Ayr 10 do
honor by Jubilee TO the memory Of Scotland's Plough
Poet. Er Anderson then proceeded at great nyth
10 illustrate the peculiar talents Of Scotiss bar by
citing many Of his m at popular pcoduc,ions-. mans
a man for ~ thst;o the Eitgy Henderson,, "Tae
Bsrd Fpitaph y" John Anderson, my 10, &c. &c. and
concluded eture which pied nearly two hours ia
delivering amidst he appreciation Of thoss present The
iaepess Of tho hour st which 1t termins ed prevents us
fran oninp moie mt detail.