The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1866-11-15
BURNS AND HIS HOME.
AYR, SCOTLAND, Aug. %. 1866
BY EDNA DEAN PROCTOR.

AYR, SCOTLAND, Aug. %. 1866.
This is literally the land of Burns -
At the Ayr railway station at Glasgow,
and, indeed, at all intermediate stations,
his pictured face upon the wall invites
the traveller to the place of his nativity.
The book stands are covered with va
rious editions of his poems, and with
.guides'' to the localities which he has
made famous; and the whole region of
Alloway and Ayr, unconscious of its
honor in giving him birth, has become,
from grassy lane to busy street, his proud
mauSoleum.
The town of Ayr contains some 1s.-
900 inhabitants, and is built on both
sides of the Ayr river (crossed by the
"twa briggs" just above its fall in the
sea. About it is an open, rolling country,
highly cultivated, and stocked with fine
Ayrshire cows, feeding in herds of twenty
or thirty, in the smooth, green fields
But the town, the fields, the river, were
chiefly interesting because they made up
the scene on which the eyes of the young
poet rested; so, first l went two miles
away, to the cottage where he was born
1t is low, whitewashed, thatched roof
dwelling, close to the road side, and be-
longs still to the corporation of the
Shoemakers of AYR by whom, with the
grounds adjoining, it was purchased by
the poets father, for the sum of one
hundred and twenty pounds. 1t consist
ed originally of but two rooms, which
have been kept, as nearly rs possible, in
their first condition-thc same flag stone
floors, and small windows, and recess in
the wall for the bed: but, having been
long used for an inn, it was found to be
too small for the accommodation of its
numerous guests, and, some years since,
a large dining hall was built in the rear
This hall is fitted up with an orchestra.
and is the favorlte places of parties and
merry makings of the towA and nei OH
borhood; the memory of Burns giving
zest to pleasure much of the time Du-
ring the summer season, at least. the
cottage is thronged with visitors from
every land and cline, carriages wait be
fore the lowly door while their occupants
turn back to look again with sad interest
at the narrow walls, or TO select some
photograph OF the room, or to beg 4
flower from the garden, as memento of
him who has made himself to every man
n brother.
And so on 10 the ruined kirk Of AL
loway, which rises little beyond the
cottage, on the same side Of the way
1t has been roofess for many wears, but
the stone walls are carefully preserved.
and the bell still hangs in the small tower
at the eastern end.
| Burns monument crowns the banks
of the Doom, midway between the "Auld
Brigg and Kirk Alloway, and but a
stones throw from either. 1t is pleas
ing structure; a circular, classic temple,
resting on a triangular base, within
/ which is an apartment, containing vari-
Gus mementoes of the past The most
interesting of these are the Bibles pre-
sented to Highland Mary. with her name
and his. in his own handwriting, upon
the hy-leaf, and beneath, lock of her
flaxen hair The grounds about the
monument are eNquisitely adorned and
kept, and in grotto at their south side
are the renowned life-s size statutes of
Tom o Shanter and Souter Johnny, cut
in brown stone by Mr.. James Thorn, the
selftaught sculptor of AYR. He has
portrayed them at the moment when
Tam had got Haunted. unco right,
Fast BY an lnsie, bleezing finely,
| Wi roaming swats that drank divirely:
And AZ his elbow, Souter JOHNNY
HIS ancient trussy, drouthie crouy.a
No one could look at them withou,
catching their glee and laughing at them;
and, whatever they may lack of artistic
! finish, they are certainly admirable rep
resentations of the two who
| Had been fou for weeks ;heS;ther."