The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1875-02-06
TRIBUTE TO ROBERT BURNS.


TRIBUTE TO ROBERT BURNS.
X Proud as am Of long line
| of Scottish ancestry, | am still proud
ler of this distinguished mark Of recog
milton, which, even in the lowest anc
most humble degree, associates my
name with his, who makes me wish
.srhat for poor auld Scotlands sake.
Some usefu' plan. or book could make.
Or sing a song at least.
"The Robert Burns Scottish Benev
olent Association of Sacramento" de
clares by title at once it's origin and
mission. Deriving it's patronymic from
the peasant-poet. whose curtain of ex
istence rose in a clay built cottage
reared by his fathers own hands on
the banks of bonnie Doom, it has here
assembled this goodly company to eel
citrate the one hundred and fifteenth an
niversary of the one, and the fourth Of
the other. t '--
..with fourth the convex world between
Us and that classic land whose every
whipping burn and mountain stream,
heath-clad moor and fairy glen has
been immortalized in song-here would
they revive the sweet memories and
hallowed association of the thames
o. our ain fowk" in doing honor to this
twin natal day. This is the true mo-
tive for these exercises this the les
son which comes hidden in the enjoy
ment-the love of country; which,
could we all learn it ourselves and
proclaim it unto others might prove
more precious than either silver or gold
or untold treasure. Bound by fresh obi
cations to his former home and country
men, the allegiant Scot is thus also re-
minded that he forms here part of
another great country, dear to all free
dom-loving hearts, and that the influ.
ence of our little pebble, cast upon the
waters, may ripple to the furthest shore
even beyond "cauld Caledonia's blast
on the wave"
The land Of Burns! What sssocia.
tons does not the bare mention con-
jure up! That she has given birth to
his transcendent genius is perhaps the
greatest of all her triumphs. His
songs are already part of the mother
tongue, not Of Scotland only. but of
England, and Of the millions who, in
all ends of the earth, speak the Eng
lsh language. In town or country, in
hall or hut, as the heart unfolds itself
to the JOY and woe of existence, the
name, the voice of that JOY and that
woe. is the name and voice which Burns
has given it." What life was his!
and what legacy of fame he has be-
queathed his country! But hot alone
of her poet may Scotland be Justly
proud. Is there another country which
can be pointed out on this habitable
globe that has produced, proportionate
to population, 81 great number oil
her sons distinguished in arts and arms,
in literature and science? Her civili-
zation, her manufactures, her agricul.
ture. are all carried to the highest per-
lection, and her academies and univer-
sites, her national museums and art
galleries, are commensurate with her
pristine fame and glory. In military
)rowess and achievement she has fought |
Ter way to the van. OF her indepen-
lence she is justly proud, and each
Scot, pointing to her heraldic scutche-
IN, can truly say,
Scotia's thistle guards the grave
Where repose the dauntless brave:
Never yet the foot of slave
Hath trod the wilds Of Scotia
Would it not be exceeding the time
o which | am limited l could dwell
With rapture on those historic High
ands and Legendary crags, so rich in
'allad lore, which have looked steadily
nd watchfully down upon the wars,
nd revolutions, and momentous
hanges, that, century after century,
ave transpired in Caledonia's vale be-
DIV. Especially would l like to pict-
re for You, in the glowing colors with
7hich eight years ago I beheld it, that
acred shrine to which all lovers of the |,
ersic and sublime are wont to bend
heir course, the royal burg Of Ayr-Il
re place where the brave Wallace first /,
isplayed his courage, and the plowboyl,
oct first beheld the light. But l for. 6
car; already do | perceive that the /
ppetizing aspect of the programme !
anded round, is drawing off attention !
'om my unsavory prosings. The
'unger portion Of my audience, too,