The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-01-26
ROBERT BURNS.


Las. evening tho one hundred and eighth ami.
versary Of tho ilustrious Scottish poet was cele-
bratsd BY grand banquet given by the Burns
Club 81 the Pacific HOTEL Tho room was sppro-
pristeiy decorated with those symbols best cacu.
lated to recall which the great genius Of historic
and picturesque old Scotland painted effectively in
his poetic illusions. Among others wcre-"The Cot
ter's saturday Night" BRIG Doom" "ram o. Shan
ter" Burns Cottage" " The Genius OF Poetry Find.
ing Burns at the Plough" and deservedly conspicuous
all the portrait Of Robert Burns hmself-a me
yet fresh and green in the hearts OF his patriotic country
men, and whose mpershable poems will be handed
gracefully down the tide OF agea About ono hundred
SAT down to dinner, and throughout the greatest
exuberance OF spirits and enthusiasm prevailed har-
mony, national sloquence and unanimy being the
prominent characteristics OF the evening Mr. John
Nicholson, President, occupied the chair
The proceedings opened with address to the
haggis by Mr. Thomas Nicholson. When the cloth
removed several munications, from many cities,
cordially approving and sympanzing with the object
OF the meeting were read.
The PRESIDENT then asked attention while he
nounced very agreeable communication Perhaps
this was the frs. time ,eleg 4phc message had been
received from the continent by the Burns Club. and he
felt much pleasure in reading the one that had just
been handed TO him from the Caledonian Society of
was Mr.. Crawford, a member of the society who was
now present, and who had teegraphic message to
London congrauiasing the society there on the ami
vorsary OF the great Caledonan games The following
were the words OF the telegram -"ws heartily
recprocote your health and that OF Robert Crawfo
our member President of London Caledonian Society"
loud cheers He would add that the telegram was
dated "London, Saturday, :35 f. NJ, 80 that IL would
follow that it arrived here half hour before it was
sent at all, for it was only five minutes past nine
o'clocS-tcheers and iaughter-provng at all events
that we were half hour ahead Of friends in Eng
land. iAppause.l
The toast Of the evenng-"The Day We Celebrated
was then given, and after preliminary remarks
the PRESIDENT said come not TO celebrate the
natal day OF 'whim inspired fool or to endorse
the merely college bred, who ''thnk climb Parnassus
by dnt o Greek We come not to lay tribute the
feet OF
Some idol without shrine name
Ger which its pale-eyed votries keep
but to pay honest, intelligent and well deserved
honor TO the memory OF one who,
Take HIM for all in all.
We meier may look upon his Ike again.
tApplause.) We como together with the thousands
who are met to-day, in this and other lands.
to pay homage 70 the 'poot OF humanity
to him whom the genius of poetry found at
the plough and taught in natures school the art
divine IN art it may be caed to take up the
mon thoughts OF tn0Ge around hm--the hopes and
fears, the joys and sorrows OF Scoa's sons OF
to,to purify them by the fire OF genius give them
back to his country and to the world in nobest,
sweetest songs oug consecraled to friendship, TO
love, to patriotism, toAduty, and, like these vr-
tues. Imperishaole Appianse.) II is impossible to
know how much to Burns unless we
examine the song literature OF Scotland before his
time and compare IL with that OF to-day. II is true
Scotland many song writer's before Burns whose pro-
auctions not wanting in Of the principal Gle
ments or song, especially tho songs OF Ramsay and
Fsrguson-men whom our poet delighted TO honor-but
War chm -fvaA h,a
coarsoness aud vuigarty al calculated TO elevate and
purify the character OF people until Burns almost
unconscious OF tho greatness OF his task OF the
derful power he welded in It's performance raised
popular taste 10 higher standpoint and gave TO his
nature, fyll Of generous emotions and
manly independents than has ever been be.
Like the Roman Emperor, who found Rome wood and
left II marble, Burns found tho song literature OF his
country mass OF RUBBISH, without form or beauty and
ef, Il glorious temple OF odythe Scottish hills
It's foundation the Scottish sky It's dome-nay | might
omit the word Scottish" and say that 1t is temple
where all can enter who have spark Of music In their
SOUL all who can discern the from the false the
noble from the ignobIo; all who recognize the true
stamp OF manhood, whether covered by the coarse
"bomespun' OF the peasant or tho gorgeous rappngs
OF The peer all who can appreciate the beautiful in
ure the iewdrop kissing the modest daigy-the lark its
companion, soaring singing away up in The blue
summer sky, tho leafy trees" through which the
bloom by fountain, shaw green" the enlbematic
thistle spreading wide amang the bearded besr" the
heather waving ON the bilisidei all who rsn JOIN n
spirit the little circle Ground the nge" hhmbls
cot on Saturday night; all who be reused ITO 10
or die" rather than suffer Expressions woes ara
parted shadcn of "Mary in heaven, or thrill with
delight to clasp the hand Of "trusty riend with whom
IN early youth had 'pu'd the gowans nne,n and who
lad returned, after years OF separation, 10
-Toom the sloup 10 friendships growth
For thc days o aud lang syne. tApplAuse).
The "nnco gud may pass this day UNDECIDED, the hypo-
critical holy wllles may turn up their watery eyes
IN Well fogncd horror; the mere money grub may ask
what stocks he put on the market or what new proGts
q nd MAJ or
more ms,eralist, who greatness except in
monuments that stand out in bold relief before the eye
may say, "Words, words, only words, forgetting that
the proudest or material monuments crumble dust
and thu, words. only swords the only things that
last forever -tapplause)-cornpared with these
We may worldly wise in our day and genera.
ton, but We come together to celebrate this dav with
Tor the thoughts which these words express considering
ii high privilege TO throw pebble. however small
upon the carn that the world has raised mark their
love for the peasant poet Robert Burns. lAppause1
The toast was drank with great enthusiasm.
To the second regular toast, "Burnsn Mr. II. B. Pr
Kys responded. He SAID
Mr. CHAIRMAN GESrLExES or THE BURNS CLuB-A
little more than century ago, In humble cottage
the banks of the Doom in that Scotland that has given
TO the world than its full genius and talent
there came into existence OF the most and
traordinsry men Of which history gives any account
No booming cannon announced his advent, no namng
bulletins beralded his coming, no courty throng
gathered around the chamber Of his birth; yet this
peasant boy was destined to an Immortality OF fame
such a. no other poet ever enjoyed. (Appauss.) We
are startled a. the great intellect and wonderful origin
light over tie glowing pages OF Byron and Moore; In
serious moments We read Cowper and Kirke White:
or listen with rapture 10 Milton as he pous forth his
divine strains almost from the very gates OF heaven.
Bryant leads US with solemn stately tread into the dim
old forest and with sublime eloauencs tells us that
tho groves were Gods first temples" Keats charms,
delights nay enrapures US as he Porrays Tho dazzling
besuty OF mis- heroine In the " Eve Of saint Agnea"
We follow Tennyson through "Locksley Hall" and rest
with the fair Olivia beneath the shadow OF the Talking
Oak" and Longfellow carries us onward and upward
into the ioftier regions OF cong with the noble cry
nExCelsOr.N
talent In true poetic gsnius stands out 10 "srong and
bold relief the name Of Robert Burns tApplause.)
In simplicity and beauty Of expression, In originality Of
thought Ia depth Of feeling, Burns has but few any,
superors He was the poNt Of the people; and his 70.
putati0n rests not a. that Of great conqueror like
Alexander or Napoleon, solely upon military gsnius.
ambition schievemsntS And 10 we'll that 10
does not, because such distinction 10 more or less
ephemeral But the fame Of poets sculptors painters
and worldwide bsnefactors h constantly Increasing,
and like the current Of . majestic stream,
Of ciaruitx : Anplausal Burma had fau,s: Xha