Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-01-26

see" he will turn up the whites of his pious
IL tiets and praise thy ma mat might.
When thousa thou has left in night,
That sm here sfore thy sight
For gifts and grace,
A burnip' and q shDin' light
To q this place.
"That I Am here, chosen sample,
I'm here, pillar in tby temple,
Strong as q rock;
s0'atTt 10 = a SIfSf fiO eR' example
Yet there is a fervid piety pervading every
lire of the "Cotters Saturday Might" OF
which such canting hypocrites are as utterly
ignorant as the inhabitant of the farthest
hilltop of Nova Zembla is of the perfumed
zephyIs that sigh threw the Howery wales OF
Araby the blest. Laughter and applause
There is purity of sentiment, q refinement
of feeling, and n delicacy of thought in the
address 10 the "Wee, modest crimson tipped
flower" of which such thin blpoded, hollow
hearted, soulless shams have no more con-
ception than milestone has of the sublim-
est symphonies OF Mozart or Mendelsshon
elevating influence of Burns poetry, how
| ever, do not allude simply TO those navel
lously beautiful scintillations of thought or
fined and ennoblins sentiments which are
found scattered like unstrung diamonds
through almost everything that ever ema-
mated from his pen, but to the
DIGNITY OF THE MANHOOD
which beams out of almost every line he
ever wrote. [Applause.l
He has been ca led the poet of the Door
Not because he spent his genius in piteous
wsiling for the hardships aud miseries OF the
millions whose lives are doomed to a cease
less round of toll; not because he taught
them to repine at their condition, nor vet to
despise or envy the advantages OF rank ami
wealth and culture; but be cause he taught
them to realize the dignity and majesty of
their own nature, and to stand erect In the
image OF their Creator. [Applause.l 1t is
this sublime philosophy, this grand pivotal
idea in all the creations OF his genius that
MAKES him truly the poet of humanity every
where, and renders his name and memory
sacred, not only with his own countrymen
but with honest, high-minded, whole souled
men everywhere.
There is another particular in which Burns
has been rarely, if ever ,equalled, and which
renders his poetry peculiarly fascinating TO
all classes Of men and to every grade of the
human intellect-I mean its aphoristic char
acter-the wealth of wisdom he sometimes
puts up in the smallest packages. For ex
ample, out OF the innumerable instances
which might be cited, what could possibly
be more expressive of the utter uncertainty
OF all human calculations than his simple
"The best laid schemes of mice and men gang aft
Where can be a more singing rebuke to
human vanity and seif-conceit than in his
oft-quOted ejaculation
To see oursels as liners us?''
In the simple power OF word painting
not painting, but that marvellous faculty of
producing q real life picture by few rapid
strokes of his magic pencil-Burns was never
approached by any other poet that ever lived
on earth. As an illustration of this will
pass by his universally acknOwled master
pieces and select at random a single sketch
from his almost inimitable gallery. Take,
for instance, single verse from the address
"tO haggis:'
Bic knife see rustic labor digit,
And Gu: the up wi ready slight,
TRAY hi,uf INV hipg ila hrf,
Like ony diieh
And then, W On what st.s soI ions sight,
Can't you see the delicious, tempting dish,
steaming before? Does not the delightful
odOr 1t enhales upon the surrounding air
make your very mouth water. [Laughter.l
Then see the auld guidman and his "buirdly
cheels," armed with their horn spoons, rush.
ing to the attack
Then horn for horn they stretch ar strive,
Beii tax the hinmost; on the drive
Till ali their weel-swalled kytes belyoe
.r,.r,, a Are bent Ike g, drums run viva
BE thank IL huns.
Why, TennysOn's world renowned descrip-
ton of the charge OF the six hundred at Bala-
klava cannot compare with ii!
There is yet another popularity in which
Burns stands without parallel in the annals
pie, unaffected patriotism and the manly
pride in bis own class which crops out IN
almost every sentence that flowed from his
nntutored pen. need go no further for an
illustration of this than the very poem from
which have just quoted, where he contrasts
the Child OF affiuence, reared on dainty
viands, and the hardy, haggis-fed peasant OF
his native heather. Look at this picture:
..Poor DEVIL See him over his trash,
A. fecsless as withered rash,
His mere 8 nit
Oh, how unfit!
But mark the rustic, haggis- fed,
Clap in his walie hand q blade
He'll max Il WHSLE;
Ard legs and arms and he eds will sDed
Like tops o. thrissle."
Nevertheless, as have already said, man.
kind will never consent that Burns shall be
mOnOpOliZed by single nation. Humanity
loves and claims him. Vast as would be the
chasm in the literature OF his own country
If the glorious offspring Of hts genius Were
stricken from 1t, vaster still would be the
void in the universal heart of man IL the
wide space filled by the memory OF Burns
grow brighter and yet brighter until time
itself shall wax old as doth a garment, and
the heavens be rolled together as scroll.
At the conclusion Of this address, General
BalIoch sang, by request, "Jack O'Hazel
"Jennie with the light brown hair" The
floor was then cleared, and the remainder of
the evening was occupied with the dance,
T WI ss strains, put du 1
enough for the guests to refresh themselves
with the repast SO amply spread below stairs.
Inc committees, conn OSeO OF SCOTCH Amerl-
can cit liens of high standing, fulfilled their
duties in the most acceptable manner. On
the whole, the Burns club can congratulate
themselves upon the abundant success of
this anniversary celebration, and their next
entertainment will be anticipated with the
usual pleasure.
MUSICAL AND DRAMATIC-Englieh Opera.
ezra DiavOlO" was performed by the Kellogg
Opera Troupe at the National Theater last
evening before large and well satisfied au-
dience. Nine Van Zandt in the role of Ser
lima" acted and sang with a style and grace
that by no means lesSened the high reputa-
tion she has earned. Mr.. Castle as "Fra
DiavolO" was, as he always is, excellent. He
has always been great favOrite with the
Washington public, and his reception last
evening was highly complimentary. Mr..
Peakes as "Beppo' and Mr.. Hamilton as
mirably. Tonight we are to have "Faust;"
as Faust" and Mrs. Seguin as "Valen-
tine" Judging from the excellence of the
cast, tonight will be one OF the most enjoy
able of the season.
FOrTS Opera R0ase-"Foul Play was
again presented last evening. The play
abOunds in interesting and thrilling sftua-
tfons the plot is good, scenery appropriate,
i. and the characters well sustained generally.
Mr.. Aldrich as "Robert PenfOld" makes a
very pleasing impression, and Miss Kate
Newton as "Helen ROllestOn" fully deserves
the praise accorded her.
Ihe0fer C0niQtte.-A crowded house nightly
Is attracted by the novel and interesting pro.
gramme furnished at this Mace Of ami,ce-