The prairie news. [volume] (Okolona, Miss.) 1851-1875, 1859-04-07
ROBERT BURNS.

to honor. He was born in little ella
!. "biggin !" and died in an humble cottag
a in an obscure street, in the thirty-sevent
! year of his age. But he lived lon
enough to make himself remembered an
. loved as the greatest Lyric Poet tn
} world has ever seen and no man ha
ever lived whose birthday has been S,
, widely and so warmly commemorated a
his. Not only in his native Scotland
but throughout England, Ireland, Wales
and all the vast and distant British pos
sessions, the e immortal memory o
Burns" is affectionately recalled, ant
reverently regarded. In our own fail
land; from the sn0w-clad fields of Maine
to the golden streams of California from
the fr-fringed hills of Oregon, to the or
ange groves of FlHda, the name of the
Bard is lauded by glowing lips; while
his own great songs add inspiration to q
thousand festive circles. In his bugle
blast of "Scots wha hae," which has
proved tonic for thousands in the hour
of battle; in his brave contempt OF
wealth and rank, which teaches the poor
to sing even in the agony of his distress,
"a mans man for a. that" in his i'm
mortal lament for MARY in Heaven" Z"
which finds an answering echo in every
human heart which mOurns for the love
that fate forbiGs and in his heaven pierre
ing strain of praise and prayer, Robert
Burns has touched the strongest chords
that vbrate in the bosom of man. A
pure patriot, natural Christian, an in
tense lover and an honest man, the bet
ter he is known, the more he is loved and
at the next centennial celebration the
Poets tomb will be visited by pilgrims
from every city in Christendom.
But it is not my purpose to write his
eulogium. The silent admiration, the
heaving breast, and the flashing in tear
full eyes of all who read his glowing
words-these are the fittest tribute to
his memory. The most beautiful wri-
ters, the most eloquent orators, and the
most sympathetic poets, have exhausted
the realms of nature and fancy, in gath
ering immortelles to lay upon the poets
grave. Thomas Carlyle has devoted his
noblest essay to the genius of Burns;
and our own Halleck has embalmed the
"Wild Rose of Alloway" in immortal
verse. Professor Wilson, christopher
North,) in the phrenzy of his enthusiasm,
rolled upon the ground, which was the
scene of Tam O'Shanter; and among
the choicest relies at Abbotsford, is a
snuff box. made from piece of a rafter
taken from "Alloway's Auld Haunted
Kirk"
The Church of St. Michael's, whose
holy precincts contain the mausolem to
Burns, erected in 1915, is an old build
ing of the 18th century. The only point
of interest about it, is the plain, square
pew, looking like a prisoners box, in
which the poet used to sit on Sunday
and his widow, after him, until she died
in 1880. Through the graveyard, which
is crowded with tombstones, lies the we'll
beaten pathway to the poets tomb. In
the year 1896, on the 26th day of July
a day without cloud in the heavens, in
the presence of ten thousand weeping
neighbors and friends, all that was NOR.
tai of Robert Burns was here laid to rest.
Against the poets expressed wishes,
that awkward squad," the Dumfries
Volunteers, fred struggling shot over
the lowered coffin; and the weeping
crowd suddenly melted away. His lit
tie Willie," then four years old, now
Col. Burns, aged sixty-six, tells that he
has distinct recollection of the funeral
and the venerable citizens of Dumfries
are full of remiscences of their great po-
ct, of whom it was early predicted,
+" He'll be credit to US a. )" and yell
a be proud ef Robin This pride in
the memory of Burns seems to be equally
shared by the highest and the lowest
all classes, conditions and ranks are striv-
ing to do honor to his memory. At the
various celebrations throughout England
and Scotland, the most eminent orators,
authors, statesmen and noblemen have
taken conspicuous parts; and during a
weeks travel in England, the portraits
and the poetry of Burns have met my
eyes at every turn. The book and pic
ture trades must profit largely by the
new impulse given to the sale Of his works,
while at the theaters, Burns Concerts"
!" Scenes from Tam O'Shanter," and
+" Nights with Burns" are drawing crow
ded houses. One of the finest pictures
brought out for the occasion, is beauti-
full engraving Of /" Highland Mary" who
is sketched in sitting posture, wrapped
in shawl, with her feet and head bare
and her face as lovely as dream. This
sweet young girl, who has been made
immortal by the poets song, around
whose fair brow he has thrown the bright
aureole Of love, consecrating her for all