The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1860-02-03
The Burns Celebration.

The Burns Celebration.
The 25th Of January. day which ush-
cred into the world one Of the most gifted
Of the sons of genius whose names are re-
cosded upon the annals ofpoetic literature,
is rapidly merging from a national into a
universal holiday. Caledonia, though rem
deTed famous by the deeds Of her Wallace,
her Bruce, and her Scottish Chiefs" still
claims, as the proudest title Of distinction
that can be bestowed upon he-, to be
known as "The Land of Burma; and the
Scotchmsn Of Manitowoc county. have
shown that they are not the last to bow
ut the shrine Of Scottihh genius
On the evening Of January 25, 1860, a
large company Of citizens assembled at the
National Hotel, in Msnitowoc, to perpet-
uats the memory Of the peasant bard"
After the guests had gathered around a
table loaded with every deiicacy-the pre-
psration OF which reflects great credit up
on Mr.. Windiate-t the President, Mr..
Henry Sibree, stated the object. Of the
meeting, and divine blessing was invoked
BY Rev. N. c. Stanley. Having done full
justice to the satabes, the company ad-
journed to an adjoining room until the ta-
bic could be cleared, which being done
they again seated themselves, and the
President announced the
1st Regular Toast:
The day, and all who honor it.
Drank with three cheers, and responded
to by Mr. Stanley in few brief and .ppro-
pirate remsrks.*
Mr.. McGsvin Wa, called upon for a
song, and complied BY singing
"Ran,ins, Rowing Robin"
I'd Regular Toast:
The genius of Barns.
Drank with cheering, and responded to
by Mr.. Sibree, a. follows:
Geatltmen
In the few remark. on the genius Of
Burma" that may make, it is no part Of
my purpose TO attempt critical ana ysis
of the poetical genius of tho poughmsn
bard, whose birthday we have met to hon
OF, in common with hundreds Of thou
sands Of his admirers in every land or
cline, whore the light Of civilization has
penetrated, and wherever the language Of
freedom and humanity is known and un-
dastood. Such Al attempt on my part
would be presumption. Has not the sub
ject occupied the disoectinc table Of almost
every critical doctor who has appeared
since the day he walked ameng them
And have they not taken him with all the
sang troid," peculiar to their trade, limb
from limb. joint from joint, bone from boue
tissue from tissue; yea, even brain, nerve,
mu'cle, cartilage; and every fbre or atom
of his being from the great toe nail to the
glossy jet black curls that adorned his
brow, and put them, one and all, through
the crucIble Of their critical laboratories /?
And what has been the result? Simply.
that which is ALWAYS arrived at, when the
judgment is obtained by hairs splitting rules
aud conventional forms, nsmelv a dis
agreement among the doctors. One re
ports timid!y. that. after careful anal ysis
he finds his proportions to be nearly "a
large a. some Of our great poets. Not at
all, exclaims = second. II scks lofliness
OF stature his tastes ran too low-eyen
among mice on his stubbe field, a daisy on
the lea, or wounded hare. whichever it
might be he chanced TO see BY the way
l., 4
ed among kings and queens and courts and
mobiles aud have taken some other hem,
phere. and proved bis title to greatness by
these lofty subjects; and made US acquaint
cd with something that neither lie or the
people could understand. This one do
cdss according to his measure, that he is
not Of the first order Another reports,
and says he finds the subject marvellous in
the extreme, says he might have flown
had he only known how 70 walk, and final
lv concludes that the rock he split on
was called Independence" Another com
plains Of his Democratic inclnatons, and
declares his politics to smell Of the smlthy.
But, gentlemen, time would fail me were
| to attempt to give a hundredth part Of
the MANY gratutous ahalizations Of the
genu. Of the immortal poet Of the Z" auld
clay biggin" | do not mean to do any
thing Of the kind, for thank God that
there is higher and q safer tribunal than
all the learning Of the lesrned--l mean
that the hearts and natural instincts of the
cSinmon people, which have taken the
matter out Of the haads Of these quacks
and decided the matter without thsm-by
burying the memory Of their own dear
Burns so deep in their hearts. that neither
Law, Physc, or Divinity, will ever be able
I'VE regret that We are not able TO lay the
remarks Of this gentleman, a. well As those o
nes.rs. Clark, Johnston, Nichols. Anderson,