The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1875-01-26
BuRNss BIRTH DAY.
Seventeenth Annual Celebration by the
Burns Club of Davenport.

So strong is the sentiment that binds
the admirers of Scotia's favorits bard to-
gether, that the annual festival by the
Burns Club, of Davenport, draws many
from this city across the river at every
recurrence of the we'll remembered day tol
join in the festivities that are sure to take
place. These occasions haye always been |
so pleasant to those who have met each
other so many times, with song and toast,
around the banquet board, that it seemed
pity anything like jar should mar the
old feeling of joy, or cloud should cross
the brows of those who have so many
times taken ''tbe hand that now is warm"
with pledges. both here in an adopted land,
and in that bonnie land ayaut the seas
yet such was the case at the seventeenth
annual festival held at Lahrmann's Hall,
last evening. There was discord among
old members which those present failed to
comprehend, or, comprehending. passed
as lightly over as possible, prefering not
to fan the fame which, if not extinguished,
is certain to consume the cherished senti-
ments which have made these occasions so
pleasant. But this is for the club to settle
and is perhaps beyond the province of an
ordinary report, and should be left to good
old Scotch sense to regulate.
Barring this, the festival was grand
success, and in numbers present far ex-
ceeded any previous assembling of the
Club in honor of the birth day of the great
master Language and ofhearts, the immor-
tai Burns, one hundred and fifteen years
ago, There were between five and six
hundred present, many from this side Of
the river, and goodly number from the
country surrounding the two cities. I'm
der Ithe excellent management of the
committee of arrangements, DIR. Thomas
Wright, Robert Monroe, John Kay, and
John L. Smith, this large number were
able to do full justice to the whole pro
gramme-the dancing, the supper and thu
toasts, The floor managers were those ole
timers, Robt. F. Swindle, Chas. Coyne
James Monroe, and FL. Fl. Mullin, Wit
staid at their post of duty long into tn
morning. The supper was elegant, TIN
ancient dish Of haggis as a matter 0
course, was prepared by Uncle Robert E
lSwindle, who has had that honor eve
since the Club was organized, and so wei
has he done it that none others can su
percede him. To be partial to haggis re
quires habit and some confidence. Thi
they have in Uncle Robert, and others be
| side Scotchmen have learned to like thi
great dish.
After supper, and while the music wa
/ keeping hundreds OF feet busy in the hall
some hundred or more men and women
| both old and young, assembled in the sup
| per hall where Uncle Robert dished on
punch, royal hot scotch, and the presiden
of the club, as master of the ceremonie
= proposed the following toasts with re
: spOnses
The Day we Celebrate
Response by d. B. Monroe.
Inc President OF The United States
Response by Robert Monroe.
e TIE Queen Of Great Britain.
Response by DIR. Thos. Wright,
The Army and Navy of the United States.
q Song-'sThe Red White and Blue by D B. MOI
Z roe, the assemblage joining in the chorus
q The Land o'Cakes.
Response by Mr.. Messer.
All honor to the memory of Robert Burns Scotia
Immortal Bard.
Response by 9. |. Jervis.
Scotland, the land of Fathers. the birth plac
| of heroes.
=, Response by Robert Smith,
j The Press.
n Response by George Ballou of the Gazette
Our Sister Societies.
\ Response by John L. Smith,
| The officers and members of the Burns Club.
Response by DR.. Wright.
| The Ladies-God bless them.
Response by J. S. Drake.
l These were interspersed as we'll as fo
lowed by songs by ladies and gentlemen
The responses to toasts were all improml
tn, and for that all the better. Many wer
- exceedingly instructive, especially those b
> MIR Jervis and DR.. Wright. and we regre
that we cannot more fully report them
l kf,n