The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-01-25
THE BURNS FESTIVALS.
henry Ward Beeeher's Grafton on Burns
st the Cooper Institute-An Inmense
~crovd-Thc Grand Festivals To-
ujght-The Centenary OF the
Great Poet Of Scotland,
~ Nc. 10.

xr Rohert Burns q poet whom Scotland justly cals ner
own her greatest too, and most honored, OUT poet wiz"
whom all countries claim kndred-a man born not 'os d
faction nor even for nation for universal mankind
He is pre-eminently the poet Of humanity, WIN
smo,ioas yelling up from a great heart, when
, tic senths sympahizes not only with his own kind,
INT with animate and inannate nature, whose meaues'
objects his genius clothes with poetic imagery ana uAes
men wonder they did not discover those beaues
ust as those 10 whom Columbus showed Tue f'o'e VI
making the egg stand on its end iel' asolpsne" ~ ''
own simplicity in not perce'ins IL "ithou' LIS ee''
zion II is peculiarly lifting that the anniversaries Oh
DIG sbo,Id bo celebrated this land Of freedom and
democracy for he sprung from the people, remained to
the end one of the people, and his heart was
ever with the democratic institutions OF the United
States Like the French democrat and patriot,
Reranrer whose genius strongly resembles his
oxn IN its alternate pathos and satire, its gaiey and
gravity deep passion and ocand humor glowing patriot
fierce war songs and sofcst lays of love- he painted
With peuci of light and of fire the of the people,
.her every day pursuits and the Of their abors,
Their homely joys and destiny obscure"
Ee hurled his lightning against " thrones and domin
and was an enthusiast in the cause of the national
udeperdence Of scotland. The union with England sug
pcsted to him the bitter burning strains Of reproach
opening with The line
oFareweel to a our Scottish fame"
He sympahlzed strongly with both the American and
French revolutions. When Dsmourer, the republican
General of France deserted the democracy Burns open
ly chaunted the song
.iYou are welcome to despots, Dumourier."
a private dinner in 17g3 when the host proposed the
health Of William Pitt the poet said, sharply, " Let us
drink the health OF greater and better man-Georse
Washington" The toast Of Washington was not drunk,
and Burns was suen for the rest of the evening His de-
yo.ion 10 freedom which he sings so sweey in his
Of Mt
him his situation excseman which he held under
me British government He called 10 account and
narrowly escaped "decaptaton, in American
In reference to severity threatened against his free
speech ne says, in letter to Erskine'-
Have not more precious stake in my countrys wei
fare than the richest dukedom in il? have large family
Of children and the prospect of many more have three
sons Who gee already, have brought into the world
souls Ill qualified to inhabit the bodies Of slaves.
Glorious Burps peasant poet child of nature deeply
learned in her mysteries without books simple farmer
composing his songs while holding his plough-o such
heart that felt for the mountan daisy" turned up by
me share and wept for the through whose
cruel coulter passed." the latter incident prompting
him TO write those lines of nimtabe tenderness the
"wee seekit, cow'rin, tu'rous beastie''
yet noble courage that he grappled with tyranny
by pen and tongue and his immortal vindcated
me rights OF II s wonder therefore, tina. the
name OF Robert Burns should be popular in the United
States independently Of his merits as poet, which make
him welcome the homes and fresdes of all natons
An this country particularly 10 New York; the Empr,
CITY Of America celebration OF his anniversary al
ways carried on with great eciat By his fellow
rountrymen is observed in every part of the world
The anniversary o. year, which happens 10 be his
centenary, the hundreh since his BIRTH Will be cele
brated with than ordinary fesvity in Great Britain
British American provinces, and the United States
At the festival Ednburg Lord Brougham is to take the
chair In London another distinguished parsonage is to
preside and the Crystal Palace Company offer $3.50 for
.he best poem on Burns Mr.. Monckton Mines; NJ p,
gom Taylor and Mi Theodore Martini to act as judges OF
e poems submitted. Tie number of works received up
30 lst ns,-the period named in the condtionsamount
I'd 20 no less than GOO Here, 10 New York. the Burns
Cub have made arrangements 10 render the celebration
worthy OF the occasion and the A festival dinner
VIII DC given the Astor House, with appropriate
Honies, Ind Geographic exchanges will be made with
similar cubs throughout the American Union and the
ganadas When the idea OF the celebration fret
started Intended 10 send gratuaiory messages and
beasts Hghnings wing to England and Scotland.
and TO receive responses by the swift messenger
but The failure Of the Atlantic telegraph dashed this idea
70 earth ss it has done the hopes of Shareholders
this dGappoin ment, however, there VIII be ample
amends in the arrangements made TO give addtiona
ec,at 10 the occasion on the American continent.
We nave received the following invitation
BURNS C1uB OF THE CIrY or NEW YoRK,
AsroR House, Nov. 2e, 1858
JANEs GORDON BENNETT ESQ:
sIa-Yor respectfully invited TO attend the dinner
10 be given the Aston House, January Is 1882 in honor
of the centennial anniversary Of the BIRTH Of the poet
Robert Burns. VAR CIIREHUGH, Jr., Cor. Secy.
.sThe Aud lang syne Association" will celebrate the
Centenary festival their rooms, No 6S3 Eighth
At Mozart Hall, too, dinner viii be given by the
-. -nr-1
liam street. corner Of Pine select few Of scotas Sons
will celebrate the birthday of the immortal poet 10
Brooklyn also, and Jersey City, simiar honor VIII be
done 10 his name.
Al Of these celebrations there VIII be- we suppose
cakes Of oaten meal "bannocSs o. beanmeal, bannock
o. BARLEY together with the renowned s.naggis" on
Of the most savoury morse.s in Scottish cookery au
hastily huge wassal bowl of whskey punch Of Scotc
matt or as Barns would call IT, barley bree," iquo
IN which The poets most unfortunate failing that
induged freely, which led him to excaim in moment
Of sober reflection Occasional hard drinking the dew
&c me9 and again. after being drawn into this b.
bis boon companions and his ogn conyival Temperament
he SAYS in letter to FRIEND ~ write y9u from the re
gons Of he'll, amid the horrors Of the damned"
well that the Of Caledonia AMI the rest of an
kind should do justice to the memory Of and poe
who treated with neglect his day and generation
10 bis own country, this prophet Of humanity, tn
Shakespeare of Scotland honoei as he deserved
He was allowed 70 pine in poverty, and died before h
ame a, the age Of th!ryseve years lie mis- frae
and weak ponts-what great mao ever lived who ha,
uotS-but they were incidental to his genius Monu
ments have been erected in honor Of memory But hi
greatest and most enduring monument that which vii
oulast The Pyramids Of Egypt, mis- poems and songs
When Tines effacing fingers shall have crumbled thee
giant tomcs Of kings into dust, his Tam oShaner ,
a. Bruce's Address TO his Army The Vision Q
Coin" "Lnes 10 Mouse" Verses 10 a Noun
tain Daisy" "Ihc Holy Fair" and his "Ad1ress &
sGe Dell viii i've, and DC forever the admiration Of ~
world. But these creations of the peasant poet
o1t fragments Of tae man-ndicaons OF VIVA
be woui3 and mght have been had deata cot shor
nora career in the prime OF life Nor eau tee mor
Englieh reader, unacquainted with the Scottish dialect
fay appreciate the genius Of Burns what make,
hro universally 80 popular, IN despite of tts difeaiy,
tho inspiration the fire, the matter toe meaning viii
witch his verses are instinct Natural good sense per
vades them all; bis head was as strong as his hear,
Among he balls taking place within few days are
those of tie Eramep last evening ~ tho q vo,,a