Democratic enquirer. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1867-1873, 1869-02-10
THE SONG WRITER OF SCOTLAND.

| to gang nae mNir to the tabby Iemeralre.
THE SONG WRITER OF SCOTLAND,
Anniversary of tho Birth of Robert
Burns, the Poet of Scotland - A
sketch of Burns and OF his Time.
| From the Evening Wisconsin, 25th inst
RoDERT BURNS, the acknowledged ma
tional poet of Scotland, was born January
25th, 1859, and died July q, 1896 His
birth place was clay-built cottage, some
vicinity OF the Kirk OF Alloway. His pa
rents we're peasants of the poorest class,
but respectable Robert was brought up
ut the pillow, but like SO many self made
men he found time to supply himself with
the rudiments of education, and became n
master Of English. His first attempt in
verse was in his 10th year He tells US
that "a bonnie, sweet, sonsie lassie who
was coupled with with him in the labors of
tho hay harvest, at Lochlea where hia pa
rents had removed, awoke his early in
spiration and thus he began his early
career in poetry and love. Until hia 10th
year Robert was employed by his father as
regular day lRborel at f7 or S26 per
apnum. At 19 he went TO the school of
Krkoswald to learn mensumtion and sur
veying. As the district was the abode of
bold smugglers the young scholar becam g
familiar with bold and reckless class of
people, engaged in cOntraband trade, and
from them he received many lessons which
enlarged his views of human nature, even
if they did not improve his manners. At
this time he wrote and printed the "Dirge
of Winter, Death Of Poor Mail
| lie" "Maillie's Elegy" and John
Barleycon," in which he discovered that
deep foundation of pathos and humor
which afterwards rendered him famous. 49,
In 1871 he removed TO Irvine to learn the
trade of flax dresser, but his progress was
not marked by any great degree of studi-
BUSINESS. At Irvine the incident in his life
occurred which compelled him to do PEN
ance in church before the congregation. --
On this occasion Robert wrote The Poets
Welcome, and "The Rnting dog, the dad
dy o't," which showed that be did not take
to heart the affair
In.l7S3 Burns father died. Before this
event he and his brother had taken
farm al Mossglel, in order that
the old folks might have home,
but life of the severeat labor and most
studious economy barely served to keep
| their heads above water, but in the midst
of all these troubles the young poet did not
drop the pen, and "Holy Willies Prayer, "
the Ordination" the holy Fair" and
other works were produced. They were
chiefly leveled at the churchmen and won
for the young author quite local reputa-
ton. He showed that he was capable OF
better things than these, for while at Moss
giel he wrote the verses toa "Mouse," " to
the Mountain Daisy" and "AIan was
made to mourn" aud the sweetest of pas
tolals, "The Cotter's Saturday night" be-
sides innumerable love songs, some OF
which are the finest in the language and
some OF which Burns tells us, related to
no imaginary horoines.
In l7S6 Burns, finding farming unproht.
able, issued an edition of six hundred cop
les of his poems, from which he realized
G20. which enabled him TO procure pas.
sage in ship about TO sail from the Clyde
for Jamaica. He was then 'skulkinR from
covert to covert, he says, ito hide from
the merciless pack Of the law" which the
relatives Of the mether of his children had
SGT upon his heels He had written THE
Gloomy Night is Gathering Fast as a sort
OF farewell TO Scotland. when letter from
Dr. Blackjack 10 friend OF his arrested the
execution Of his purpoRe This letter rec
commended visit TO Edinburgh by Burns,
with view to receive the applause
which his poems had excited, and to ar.
range for the issue Of new edition oi
them. Burns went to Edinburgh, and for
somo twelve months was admired, caresg.
ed, feted and hattered by persons oi
all ranks and particularly by those Of emf.
nence and influence He returned home
with nearly GC00, the result of his new
publication. Over half Of this ho gave To
his brother and the other half be used in
stocking a new farm At Ellisland in DUN
friesshire, There, in 1858 he married
Jane Armour. He became on officer
Of excise in his district and be.
tween his farm, his office, and
nm occasional poem, he managed to exc
out poverty stricken and miserable ex
istence. His salary as on officer was eco G
year, afterwards increased 10 G70, but th'
duties Of the Office, united with his con
vivial habits, made him neglect his farm
40 that he realized-very little from that
and he was finally compelled 10 surrsnde
IL to the landlord, A hand TO hand con
: fliot with poverty and care wa
thenceiorwaTd his fate, In 1891 b.
retired to small house In Dunn
, fries where he supported himself b,
his official stipend and random contribu
! tons TO various works His habits wer
: such that with III health and disappoint
ment in not receiving promotion, his con
sttution was aoon undermined and he die,
in the 37th year Of his age. During hi
. last illness his good humor never deBorte
7 him even in tho darkest hours, and hi
humble homo was like place besieged !
: was visited not only by tho poor, by Inc
chanics and peasants, but by the learne
: and tho rich II h said that whenever tw
or three persons met in the streets
Q their talk was Of Burns an
0 Of him alone, They spoke Of his hi
- tory, Of his works, Of his fame. Of his pei
a son, and OF hisnpproaOhing fate; but all thi
sympathy came too late His funeral wa
!. a public one, attended bya vast multitud
!. from all parts Of the country AT the tim
!. there was much talk Of raising mon,
ment TO his memory, but the work WI
!. not accomplished until 1873 Burns le
|, four sons, two OF whom entered the Ea
India Compeny's service
% Tho poetry Of Burns will live foreve
+; because II sprung directly out Of the h,
= man heart, and appeals az directly TO u
:. deepest and noDlest emotions. His poet
n is profoundly fraugSt with passion, Il
stinct with melody, true to nature, artle
+, In Ia grace. Every bosom capable Of 70,
-" ing must be touched eithor by its patho
N la beauty OF itB mirth. His Tam 0'Sha
~ ter" displays narrative ability Of the fir
y order, while his Jolly Beggars" is All,
1 with dramatic power His peculiar streng
: was in the lyrical, aud hs songs will be u
delight Of tho human heart
long as the life-blood rushes throuC
n Our American poet Halleck, thus spoa
A Of Burns:
''There have boen loftIer themes than hls,
y And longer scrolls aud louder lyrea
n And lays IL mp with poeHy's
"A Puror and holior hroa;
!, Yet read tho names that know not DEATH
Few nobler onoa than Burns are there,
And few have won greener wreath,
o Than that which binds bis hair
~. -