The New Orleans Democrat. (New Orleans, La.) 1875-1876, 1876-02-06
Short Sketch Of Burns Life.
What bird in beauty. flight or song.

Short Sketch Of Burns Life.
What bird in beauty. flight or song,
Can with the bard compare
Who sang 50 sweet and scared as strong
| As over child Of ar2
His plume, his note his form could Burns
/ For whim or pleasure change
He was not one but all by turns
| With transmigration strange"
One hundred and seventeen years ago
yesterday, near the town of AYR, in Scot
land, was born Robert Burns. the
Burns, or Burmese, as it was then writ
ten, was farmer, and in his boyhood
days Robert assisted him at the plow
and in other farm duties. The father
was good and hard working man, and,
by means of care and industry, succeed
cd in having his son receive u fair edu-
cation. Robert Burns poetic genius
was 1lrst awakened by the singing OF
young girl, his companion at the plow,
for in the age we have in mind one Of
each sex worked together on the farms
of Scotland, She sang sweetly, and tho
tones Of her voice made his heart
strings thrill like an Holian harp"
Some time after this, Burns was placed
at school to learn surveying, etc. He
was succeeding very gratifyingly whom a.
charming young female was introduced
to him and forever ended his love for
trlgonomctry and the like. The love
thus made manifest seems to have
always exerted an influence over him.
and the fame he acquired from his verses
then written, augmented by his rare
conversational abilities, made him a
general favorite and caused his COMPANY
at social gatherings to be much sought
for.
In 1885 Burns married Jean Armour.
who bore him twins Her father. who
well knew Burns was not able to care
for his daughter, was much vexed over
their marriage. Burns determined that
II he could not make decent living at
home he might possibly be able to do so
In America. He made up his mind to
emigrate, but before doing so. resolved
to publish his poems. This he did, and,
after defraying all expenses, found him
self the happy possessor Of twenty
pounds. This gave him renewed hope
and caused him to remain in his native
country. About this time no went to
Edinburgh, and was there received
by the most learned and respected Of
Scotland's people. Walter Scott was
among those who saw Burns on his visit
to Edinburgh. In after days this other
great poet of Scotland wrote concerning
Burns looks then, that "his person was
strong and robust, his manners rustic,
but not clownish, with sort Of digni.
fled plainness and simplicity, which re-
ceived part Of its effect probably from
ones knowledge Of his extraordinary
talents. There was strong expression
of sense and shrewdness in all his Inca
ments. The eye alone, / think, indi-
Gated the poetic character and tempera-
ment. 1t was large and Of dark cast,
which glowed, ] say literally gioped,
when he spoke with feeling or interest,
l never saw such another eye in q
human head, though / have seen tho
most distinguished men OF my time. His
conversation expressed perfect self-con-
tidence, without the slightest presump-
ton"
The most striking characteristics
about Burns poetry are simplicity and
intensity. The power Of concentration,
too, must have been very great, as Is
well evidenced in the lines below, which
would have taken many pages for some
to have said:
The rank is but the guinea stamp.
The mans tho gowd for a. that.
As an amatory poet he had no equal,
Campbell sang Of him:
For loves own strain to him was given,
To MARBLE all its ecstaeies
In Pythian words, unsougbt. unwilled.
Burns poctical temperament seems to
than steady inspiration. He died in 1896
while officer Of the excise, to which posi-
ton he had been appointed some years
previous. Burns is buried In Dumfries.
Stop. mortal. here thy brother lies.
The poet of the poor
His books were rivers, woods and skies,
The meadow and the moor
hand to do a head to plan,
A heart to feel and dare
Tell mans works. and here lies the man.
Who drew them as they are.
THE LOUISVILLE CELEBRATION.
Yesterday was the anniversary OF the
birth Of Burns, and In every village OF
his native land and most everywhere
else where his countrymen have settled,
celebrations were observed. In Louis
vile the Scotch residents under the au-
spices of st. Andrews Society, had their
celebration in Liederkranz Hall. It was
a most happy and enjoyable occasion.
The exercises of the evening were COM
menced at o'clock, when Mr.. John