New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-01-26
TTF BURNS ANNIVERSARY.
DINNER OF THE BURNS CLUB.

NJ Than q hundred years ago, or 10 speak
~ exactly on the 25th Of January III 'he year 1907
a. 1ttIe woodwaled cottage on the banks OF the Doo'
In horn His parents poor peasants, oiling
-. dov 10 earn the hard ana scanty fare by Whlch
nd and it seemed as If this child was destined TO
ii HIGHER or better than to struggle on in the same
80 round of poverty and toll, knowing nothing,
thinking nothing dreaming nothing, but how 10 earn
tbo scapty pttance which must be had untl
nj, measure Of years, too, should be ful,
and then 20 sink away uuthought OF ana
aforementioned, as generations before him had uone'
But in this child gathered the elimination
OF what had perhaps been gradually agsiegauns
and concentrating through all these past genera
tons This tiny body held the germ OF ONO
OF those rare spirits that occasionally come lu'o 'n
world TO teach it, aud cheer H. anu 9P00N = O
IN its way SO the child grew to hearty EsOiou' mai
hood and while the strong hands ana INC S'ou iio"i'
patiently pursued the weary drudgery OF MS iathers
Sbe blitbe free spirit broke out uncontrollAoly'
in such sweet resOunding song 'n"' AZ
first the humble companions among "hom
Ia dwelt and afterward people III O'heI
and far different walks Of life, throughout the "oio iau
IN which he lived aud in other lands wherever MS IAN
uare was spoken or understood listened, entranced ny
its wondrous melody and power For his song was ever
NJ the inmate dignity of humanity, the nobility OF simple
worth the brotherhood Of man, with the shaIPest
~ irritating goads for all hypocrisy, and meanness ana
scpseess pride Of artificial rank and station ne au i
the finest sympathy and the tenderest' Ior any 'nns
that was good. and pure, ana true anu .
and he translated the oommonest pe"uues
Of nature and the simple pleasures OF inc
moor with such tender lOyingness ana magic
mower that all who read wondered at what they had SO
often seen and never comprehended But such oeeus as
he epuucaed were not pleasant to the Worldy lch anu
great of the time in which ne HNeu-alOeit INC
same ideas had been taught seventeen hunureu
years before by more than mans authority and thous
rd NJ people had professed TO hold them since Ana so
MOOT fo,nd envy and jealousy and all unchartableness
rraved AGAINST him. and they made his life nara ana sor
roWful But many good souls While ne hVeu' anu inoto
after his death, recognized the nobility power ana oioS
OF his songs and did him honor as they might anu 81 "
this CITY OF New-York, some thirty years ago. some
overs ana friends Of the sweet singer banded themselves
tcber and called their The Burns CLUB OF Ne"
York" From that tme every month those IIIenOs nave
met together and passed an evening III Ple7san ON'
intercourse in memory Of the dead Poet ana once I'D
each year. on the anniversary OF ms DFlh they give
dinner and with speeches. and songs, and toasts Last
,r they met as usual at Patterns Hotel III Green
icbt The great diuugrOOm was set Tor 100 persons,
d avor,, seat WAS full over the Presidents chair hung
portrait OF Burns, above the cross OF 81 Andrew ana
aouked on either hand by the banners OF Great BRITAIN
and America Around the walls other hags ana banners
were literally displayed At the other end OF the roomia
large picture represented the Genius Of Poetry casting
nor mantle over the rustic he stands holding
ms ulow in the furrow, and around the room
we're other pictures representing scenes from
hi. noems On the table, besides the ordinary bill
~ fare common at such dinners, was the national
Scotch Broth and Haggis. At the head OF the table
sat James Nicholson, for 10 years past the Presi-
dent of the Club. After grace had been said by
VjcePresident Millard, the tmehonored custom in
she land Of the poets birth, and when the first
courses had been properly disposed Of dead silence fell
on the company, while, with proper form ana
ceremony the hOnOred dish, the national Haggs' was
brought upon the table, and the President, rising,
received it with Burns's famous address TO the
Chief Of all the Pudding race" Then the dinner went
on with social chats laughter, and jokes until the
time came for the first regular toast Of the evening
The day we celebrate" The President, rising, told
the company IN round Of eloquent cen
tences what was the meaning Of the occasion that had
brought them together. not merely festive
gathering for the mere purpose OF social enjoyment but
testimony to the worth and greatness and humanity OF
the man whose name the Club bore. Then their
whole company rising drank the toast with three times
three rousng cheers Mr. James Gibson sung There was
a lad was born IN Kyle" 1.-THE Genius Of Burns" was
introduced by another eloquent address by the President
and drank with Highland hOnOrs by the entire
COMPANY each man standing with foot on his chair
and the other on the table, while the resoundng cheers
rang through the room, again and again. song"
mans man FOR a. that" by Capt Joseph Love, followed
the company Joining in the chorus Then an interval
OF eating and drinking, and both, and the President In
PRODUCED Miss Minnie GeaTy who sung John Anderson
my joe touching manner as TO win the thunder
Gus applause of the company Then other tOass speeches.
songs and merry hearty enjoyment continued until the
- wee sma hours" had we'll sped, and the company
separated as good friends should part who hope meet
again.