The Nevada Democrat., 1859-02-02


poor parents, himself subjected to much of suf-
ferirg, some part of it, at least, brought upon
himself, at an early age he descended to the
grave. shattered in constitution. OF proud,
independent spirit, sufficiently so, if he had
been the head Of baronial house, or the Black
Douglas, no shaft was thrown but pierced him
through. He was subjected to all these ills
and annoyances inseperable, apparently. from
q poor position in life, when accompanied with
as proud a spirit. He thus partook of much Of
the cup Of bitterness, and drank from the foun-
tain of experience many of the lessons be has
embalmed in immortal soug.
His poetry has been read by all; its harp ap-
peals TO the heart and reason, and its strings
when touched develope the finest feelings of
humanity Of all that have ever written, he
has made the most lasting impression, for his
thoughts were the result of bitter experience,
and the reflection of the proud heart in an-
gush. IT'S to the toiling million he spoke, aud
when we look to theologists for reason fol
the Immortality of the soul, Burns has given II
to us already
'The poor oppressed honest
Had never sure been born
Had there not been recompense
To comfort those that mourn"
Mr.. Moyes then proposed the first regular
toast, to the memory of Robert Burns, which
was responded to by Mr.. VIM. Montgomery, as
follows
Mr. Chairman, and Ladies and Gentlemen.
committee of arrangements, were kind enough
TO assign to me the duty of responding to the
toast you have Just drank. Had known at the
time consented to do so, that we should have
had the pleasure of the company of several gen.
tlemen, whom see before me, who are mucn
better qualified for the task tnan myself, |
should most certainly have declined it. The
most of you are aware that speech making is o
little out Of my line of business, and | am not
| going to bore you by attempting to make a
long, howery harangue, overhowng with the
gems Of rhetoric, or abouuding in beautifully
rounded periods.
We are met here this evening, ladies and
gentlemen in the fulhlment of what ight
almost term a sacred duty; of what have no
donbt is to us all "A labor of love; to celebrate
in q becoming manner the hundredth auni-
versary of the birth of Robert Burns And we
have the pleasure of knowing that we are shar-
ed in it at this moment by hundreds of thou
sands of our countrymen, scattered over all
sectious of the globe, aud by thousands of 9th
er admirers of that great master OF the lyric
muse. 1t is q pleasure to think. ladies and gen.
tlemen, that in this practical aud energetic age,
the age of steam, telegraphs, and gold, aud liv-
ing as We are in this most practical and ener-
getic part Of the world, California, far removed
from the homes of our youth, with oil their
dear aud hallowed associations, and engaged
in the most engrossing of all pursuits, the pur-
suit OF wealth, that we, for time at least,
withstand the influence of its alluring charms,
and set aside one night in our lives TO do hom-
age to the memory of one whose wealth of mind
alone comprised his riches, aud who earned for
himself the glorious title of his country's dar-
ling poet Compared with such name as
that, the tinselled, higb-sounding ones OF dukes,
princes, kings, aud emperors sink into signt-
cance / believe il is conceded by most wri-
ters. that the Scottish people have for ages
been distinguished among the nations of Eu-
rope, for their love of pastoral poetry and
song; and il is not at all to be wondered at
that people, the language Of whose very-day
life is of such plain and unprctending nature
as to insult il to be woven into works Of dra-
matte caste, should hold in such veneration the
memory of one who so long and so ably sung
in the language OF the lreside, the loves, the
iOys the social scenes ana rustic pleasures of
his native country.
In honoring the memory of Burns, we honor
not that of some pensioned laureate, whose
highest aim consisted in glorifying the acts of
some one who had a throne for birth-right,
or who searched among the musty records of
antiquity, for the picture Of some heroine Of
Greece or Rome, with whose grace or beauty
he sought to invest the pursc-proud, titled
danes that dazzled in the sunshine Of q court;
but of one who earned his bread by the sweat
Of his brow, and who in his wandering upon the
banks of bonny Doom. sung in a hundred beau
tiful idyliums, the charms of the blooming
maid Of Kyle. What can be more exquisite
than his song Of the blue-eyed lassle
gaed wacfu' gate yestreen,
gate, fear, III dearlie rue;
/ gat my death frae twa sweet cen,
Twa lovely o. bonnie blue
Twas not her golden ringlets brght
Her lips. like roses wat wi dew,
Her heavng bosom, lilyw with
1t her sac bonnie blue.
In looking at the life and character Of Burps,
that which is apt to strike the attention of mis-
reader and admirer, and to Gil their minds with
sorrow, is the fact that man Of such transcend
ant genius should be allowed TO pass the latter
years of his life amidst the storms of adversely,
and prey to insOlence, calumny, and neglect
Possessed of warm and ardent Imagination, n
mind overfiowing with wit, gaety, and hum0r,
aud entering with heart aud soul into those So
cial and cOnvivial gatherings for which his
countrymen are so celebrated, it was almost
impossible for him to deport himself in such a
manner as to escape being made the object OF
remark, by those envous of bis popularity, and
being looked upon as man void Of morality
ago, had the temerity, when in the company Of
the rich and titled, to refuse to drink the health
of Pitt, and propose that of Washington, and
who dared to dedicate to one Of the magnates
Of the land, such poem as Belzebub's Address,
had little mercy to expect from the powers that
were. OF that no one could be better aware
than Burns. lie preferred to struggle on amidst
his honest poverty aud Independence, to becom-
ing poetical sycophant, who believes in that
great monstrosily, the right divine Of kings,
and who shut his eyes to the crime, debauehery,
and extravaganza Of royal princes
or the life of Burns, ladies and gentlemen,
you are ell as we'll if not better conversant
than am. These were his sentiments. AS for his
works they need no eulogy; they have render
ed his name imperishabe. aud placed it in gol-
den letters on the iron scroll Of fame.
The festivities we're kept up, by the singing
of Scottish songs, appropriate toasts, &C., until
near twelve o'clock. when the table was cleared
and the dance commenced which lasted until