The New York herald., 1870-01-26
Brilliant COmmemOration Of the Birth Of
Scotland'S Bard.
Moquencc, Wit and Beauty Paying Homage
to tho Memory Of Genius-G Grand Ban
quets In New York and Brooklyn
Toasts, Addresses, Senti-
ments-The Celebration
Elsewhere.

~'S'"b ~ 6A"Au D0u4uUto a. sHu hopVI
House, at Demonico's at Caledonia Hall and by
Scottish clubs and societies In BROOKLYN.
AT the Astor House the occasion-a most harmon +
GUS one-was celebrated by the "Old Burns Clue, +,
and proved In every respect fitting tribute to the
memory OF him who was not only the pride OF Scot.
land but the admiration Of the world. Over 16O
gentlemen, many OF whom were arrayed In national
costume participated in the festivities The presi-
dent Mr.. G. B. Cotton, occupied the chair. In the
vici0ity OF which were ex-Judgo Whiting Hosea u.
Perkins, +. Deafeld smith, John Laird wilson, A.
r. Dyett, s. Miller. Ii. H. Reid and others. An ad-
mirablo address to the "Haggis" was delivered by
Mr.. Thomas Nicholson. The cloth being removed
The chairman read letters OF apology from Presi-
dent Grant, Governor HOFFMAN, Rev. DR.. McCosh as
well as several letters Of greeting nom sister organi
cations throughout the country. He then proceeded
to propose the first toast-"The Day we Celeorate,n
and said that the great bard had struck deep chord
in the hearts OF tho American people, and It's re.
sponslve echo was manifested by an ovation as
spontaneous as it was real. Burns was truly the
poet OF humanity, and in the hcartreaching echo he
had done more tnan any other poet TO smooth the
rugged pathway to the poor wayfarer on fe's weary
journey. America joined with Scotland In grateful
homage to his merits poet and In all time, even
to the fnl consummaton thereof and while Scotland
was accorded the honor Of his birthplace and his
tomb, universal humanity claimed his genius and
vered his memory. (Applause.)
The toast was drank with all the honors
The CHAIRMAN then announced as the second re.
gular toast ''rhe Genius OF Burnsn which was re-
sp0nied to by
Mr.. HOSEA b. PERKINS, who. In the course OF his
address. said-The genius OF Burns has been
honOred and cnnobled by the pen OF Carly Ie
Cunningham, Professor Wilson and other no
less distinguished literary men, and 1t would be pre-
m nnNo rwpuo rvtIatc
new or interesting relative to the sPlOuehman
Bard, stu cannot but think tnat an aber brain
than mine might lind material enough In the history
OF the "Scottlsh Sha Xspeare" TO form somewhat
pleasing ADDRESS.
AS q poet ne is not ike Akenside-stately formal
and severe; nor dld he, IKE Shelley, soar upon the
wild and furious winds OF an intense Imagination
into the oier reglous Of poetic fancy; he nad NOT
The stately march OF MltOn but in originality OF
thought In depth OF feeling, in nauraness or express
and as CARVE @ says .Netare aer q, y Gone pSe
grand agent In making pcets." When about twenty
SIX years or age the poet for while abandoned
the plough and turned his steps toward Edinburg,
hoping like the Grecian pilgrim, that on the pillars
or new Parthenon his name might one day be IN
"venal wretches OF raplne and plunder;" Cincin-
natus left the plough to tho shattered banners
Inspired word ane GSa @ Se
plough 70 thrill the great heart OF humanity with the
melody Of his song;
II has been very truly said Mr. President that
there Is more or less poetry In every man. but in
human bosom did 1t ever burn with warmer aud
whole being, and at times gusned forth in strains
sweet az the symphonies OF heaven. His songs
are ,s9g, sung daily DAILY IN N. many nan humble cabin In
melodies with the echoes OF his axe. HIS martial
airs have nerved the arm and red the heart Of the
lines to MARY In Heaven have moved to tears the
gentle heart Of woman. The spirit OF poesy had its
existence eer yet the snadomy woods waved their
amid the snow.cappsd mountains Of the North aud
among the ever-Dloomlny roses Of the South; 1t
and sings with the lark his morning hymn; 1t IS
seen IN the goden-frnged clouds rnat noat like
banners a ~ tne western SKY ana sparkes In the dew
hover; 1t shines amid the brilliant galaxy OF stars
follows Arcturus In MS course and claspa the
belt or Orion. (Applause.) Burns was ever zeal
GUS for what ne regarded as truth, and
manly and courageous IN the defence OF his
tnat the noble qualities OF his nature were some.
what alloyod by . mixture OF human passions and
folies; but Notwithstanding these inrmltes OF tue
poet he Is represented as being kind and tender
father, and watched with interest ana anxiety the
dawnlng genius OF his little son, whom ne iondly
hoped might one day enrol his name among the
gifted. In letter TO his friend Cunningham he
said, 81 will deeply lmbue the mind OF every child
OF mine with religion, and ir my son should happen
to be man OF leeng, sentiment ana TASTE shall
thus add largely to his enjoyment.n
Although Burns held an Office under the govern
ment ne was no potlClan-he was too honest Tor
one-and upon ali occasions uttered his opinions
boldly and iearlessy. On being reproved by q
.ITlenu IOr expressing nlS opinions loo freely ne
made the following characteristic reply which,
though 1t may be little navored with egotlsm
IS nevertheless true, and would do nonor
said he, "that it does not belong to my
humble station to meddle with the concerns OF
nation? l tell him that 10 is on individuals such
as that nation has to rest, both for tho arm OF
support and the eye OF intelligence The uniformed
mob may swell natl0n's bulk, ana Its titled. tin
seled courLly throng may be its feathered orna-
ments, but the number OF those who are elevated
enough IN life TO reflect, yet low enough to Keep
clear oil the venal cOntagon OF court these are 4
nations strength Had the author or such senti-
ments been their contemporaries he would have
fought as vallantly for the liberties OF his country
did Wallace or Bruce
The whole life OF the poet was battle and march
against the winds OF adverse fortune; ike Dante,
Byron ana Shelley he dared to stem the current OF
an intolerant public sentiment, ana "nke spectre
ship went sailing right against the wind" lie died
In his Ihrtyseventh year, but every hour that nc did
live added ages TO his fame, and he lived long
enough to engrave his name deeply upon the hearts
Of his countrymen and to weave for humanity
sweet garland OF song that VIII be fresh and green
forever. tApplauscl
Mr.. E. DELApEED SMITH. on being ed on to re-
spond to the next toast, Scotland" said:-As
"speaks for herself" History and philosophy,
science and learning, poetry and romance steeds
to the chariot Of her fame, as onward 1t moves from
generation to generation. Like the morning It ad-
vances, growing brighter as It dawns on each sue
ceedlng age. 1t Is luxury to know that we may
lndulge In lfmltless praise OF Scotland without
arousng the jealousy OF either OF the countries IN
ner immediate neighbOrn0od. For Englishmen and
AIlsHuicH VIII iupuIe all tue glory W Ghe DlOOu OL
their own ancestors sown across the border Centu-
rles ago. DO we not read that SaXOns conquered
the LowlandS and made them their own in the year
OF our Lord 44g? And do we not learn that Celtic
tribe from Erin settled on the west coast In A. d. 6O3
became the dominant race, and even gave the very
name or scots" 10 the "PlCts' that they were
beloref tApplause.j II we exto her for her Presbs-
teranism-that sturdy Church which she planted on
American s0il-may II not afford malicious delight
TO her rivals well special satisfaction TO
her 1riends-for she Ii always hospitable-to know
that whiskey and ale are among her principal pro-
ductionsi Laughter.) III we praise her salmon, her
opponents may gnaw at her herrings. II we al.
mre her tartan. her enemies may hang on
her hemp. tRenewed aughter.) II we exalt
her schools, 1t may console her competitors con-
fess that the salaries OF her schoolmasers depend
upon the price OF oatmeal II she Is the land or
books we must acknowledge sne is alike the 'iand
o. cakes.n Ii she produces brilliant literature It
is kind to her negnbors to drench II with cold 're-
vews," that It's fame snail not glow too brightly
In the admiration OF the world. II she
Launches great steamers you may stu
taunt her on her canal boats. II she gores
In her steam engines, she yet furnishes the naves
OF the world with SAILS but leaves to them, II must
be confessed, the alrsr that swell them. ZAP
pause.l And here, TO be serious, l cannot refrain
from alluding to the personal manners OF Scotch
men, by which they are sometimes prejudced
In the minds Of those VINO fail 10 realize