The Portland daily press., 1873-11-11
India street Church Course,

The first lecture IN the India Street lUniver-
salist) Church Course was delivered last even
ing by ex Gov. Washburn. There was large and
very appreciatlve audience. The subject was;
San Evening with the Ballad aud Song
Writers of Scotland" Theslecture gave eVl-
dence ofextensive reading and a high apprecla-
1 ton of the subject The speaker began oy
| stating the high estma;io which wise observ-
ers of history had given to the influence of
| ballads and that il was in some way an index of
| nations character He next spoke of some of
the leading writers of ballads in England and
I'America but remarked that it is ia Scotland
that the ballad and song have struck their note
the deepest and found the kindest soil.''
The true ballad is simple, energetic, tende +
and pathetic, historical. legendary, national,
painter of the pre-Raphaelite school.
Song is,of later growth less rapid and nara
tive and dealing more with affections and pas
sion.
How has it happened that Scotland has pro-
duced so many of the finest ballads and songs;
those which have found the warmest places in
our hearts aud are ofuenest on our lips? The
answer is four-fold. 1st 1t comes from the
character of the country, which is stern, rug
ged. grand, a land of shadows, of mystery, of
poetry.
I'd, 1t grows from the necessity forced on the
the people to labor, to study, to think. 1t is a
| land where men grow, where souls ripen.
Sd, 1t comes FROM the homes which warm the
land, the domestic life, the social ties, Ethe he
reditary pride.
Alb, These characteristics, this patriotism,
these domestic affections, owe much to religion;
the religion OF Calvin; and though we may dis
sent from the creed, we must recognize the
power which this religion has been in the prog
ress of the world. 1t made them men, heroes,
ready to fight and die if need be, for their
country and their faith.
The poetry of Scotland the speaker divided
into seven classes. 1-PastoraliLife. 2-Patri-
otism and humanity. 3-Religion. 4-Love.
5-Domestic Life. 6-Pathos and Sorrow.
wit and Humor.
Udder the first head he mentioned Allan
Ramsay, the earliest Scotch poet who is read to
any extent to-day. ''The Gentle Shepherd
was great success; its charm lay 10 the sim
pDcity and the truth of the description A
song from this poem was read, "The WaukIng
of the Fauld."
James HOgg, the Ettrick Shepherd read as
his first books, the life of William Wallace
and THE Gentle Shepherd" While tending
sheep be became known as poet and musi-
clan. 'The Queens Wake,' "the Skylark''
and others gave him celebrity. His popular
song 'When the Kye comes hame," was deiv-
cred with appreciation.
FIRST among the poems of patriotism "Bru-
ces address his army was mentioned, the
Marseilles Hymn of3Scotland. The spirited
reading of this poem was greeted with ap-
applause.
''Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border was the
first of the published poems of Scott. THIS
was soo1 followed by the "Lay of the Last
Minstrel" and Lady of the Lake, but the
Wavery Novels gained him his great populari-
ty. His patriotism shows forth in 1.-THE Bon
nets of Bonnie Dundee" The applause show
ed that the audience entered into the feeling of
the reader and of the writer
As a song of humanity, Burns immortal
poem IA Mans Man for a, that, twas given
with spirit which again called forth APP
plause. The song is one for all ages, the re-
buke OF the aristocrat, the encouragement of
the poor man. the comfort of the unfortunate,
the inspiration of true manliness. Thomas
Campbell should not be forgotten here.
But toUe is the universal inspirer in all ages
and nations. From the rich store, few selec-
tons were made. Both here and in the poems
of Domestic Life, Burns name stands prom-
nent.
''The Golfers Saturday Night and the "Land
of the Leal," were selected from the mass of
religious poetry which Scotland has produced.
the latter being by the Baroness of Mario.
Under the 9Th division John Anderson, my
10, john and ''The Mariners Wife, were
classed, the latter being the best song that ever
was written, according to Burns.
The poems of pathos and sorrow are very
numerous, as natural result of the national
oh aracter.
Early in the list should be placed the "Auld
Robin Gray of Lady Anne Barnard.
The selectious of wit and hnmor rece lived
hearty applause.
AS ,ftting close Robert Nichols poem
of universal brotherhood was read.