The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-05-18

sessed much less lively Imagination
and less wit than his brother; neither
could learn music. and 1t is n fact
worth noting that Roberts voice especially was
untunable and his ear so dull that 1t was with
difficulty the future song writer OF Scotland
could distinguish one tune from another. The
lads we're taught to read. to parse. and to give
the exact meaning OF the words to turn verse
into the prose- order. and to substitute plain for
poetic terms and phrases. When Murdoch gave
up. the father tried to continue the training Of
his boys. and read with them not only the ordi-
nary school books. Biographies, and histories,
but the Spectator. odd plays Of Shakespeare.
Pope's Homer. Locke on the Understanding.
and some philosophical works. These books.
OF course. could bo conncd only during inter-
walls snntched from excessive toll. and in Rob-
erts case this early ovcrstrain soon showed
itself in q stoop OF the shoulders aud n nervous
disorder Of tho heart as we'll rs in frequent fits
OF dependency. From tho ago OF eighteen.
when the family moved to another farm. Rob
ert's chief amusement was love making. and.
according TO his brother. there was not
comedy girl in the parish on whom
he did mot compose n song. Yet although
Gilbert acknowledges that his brothers affairs
Of the heart were at this time innumcrable. ho
asserts that they were governed by the strict
est rules Of virtue and modcsty. from which he
never dcylatcd till no reached his twenty third
year." 1t was at this epoch he met the young
woman to whom he addressed the lyric called
" Mary Morrison" and who seems TO have boon
servant ON n neighboring farm. In his TWEEN
ty-siNth year Robert and his brother on the
death OF their father. saved enough TO rcut and
stock small holding. which. however. they
wholly failed TO render lucrative. The same
period however. that marked his failure Us
farmer, and revealed the frailty OF his character
rs man. developed his genius as n poet Be-
sides rhymcd satires and epistles. no wrote at
this timo Halloween" tho Mountain Daisy"
the Twa Dogs" To Mouse. Tho Cotter's
Saturday Night" In these descriptive poems
the outward form and the diction are uuquestion-
ably modelled on his forerunners Ramsay and
Ferguson. although tho vividncss OF imagery.
spontaneous grace OF expression. and truthful
ness OF sentiment are his own. While this
work was being done. and before its publica-
ton was mootcd. frequent illusions occur In
the poets letters TO hir,ations Of n less inno-
cent sort than those to which his brother had
referred. Among the rustic bellies Of the neigh
borhood. Jean Armour had the chief place in
his affections, and their " gloamin' trysts "
were followed by a secret and irregular mar
rage certified by a written acknowledgment.
Her father was SO inccnsed at the marriage to
n man reputed SO wild and worthless that he
compelled his daughter TO destroy the docu-
ment. She became soon aiterward the mother
OF twin children. and meanwhile. although
Burns seemed 70 be half distracted by the sepa-
ration. and was writing his broken hearted
Lament. he became betrothed 10 Mary
Campbell. known to the readers OF his
songs as Highland Mary Chambers even
suggests that there was still third love inter-
oil 81. IL, A.
Burns's tickle affections Under these circum-
stances II was not unnatural that Burns should
regard Scotland as a land OF unpleasant compM-
cations. from which he might do well TO eXtri-
cate himself by emigration. He agreed accord
ingly 10 go TO Jamaica and become book keeper
on an estate there. and II was in order TO pay
his passage money that he determined to pub
fish by subscription the poems lying in his Ia
bic drawer. About 600 copies Of the volume were
printed OF which Burns got subscriptions for
about $780, The poot made on these a ne; profit
OF nearly sl0O aud was on the point Of sailing
from the Clyde whom letter from Edinburgh
overthrow his schemes OF eNpatration by OPEN
ing new pros poets to his poetic ambition. II ap-
pears thar the fame OF his first volume. like
that OF Sponsors earliest venture spread
like widhre throughout the country. Ac-
cordinR to contemporary record old and
or ignorant. were alike delighted. agitated.
transported. Heretofore tho Ayrshire plough
man had associated with nobody Of higher
grade than some cornwall Bcttifoggers Of the
nearest market town. but now persons OF every
rank were anxious 10 become acquainted with
the wonderful singer. One OF the first 20 seek
him out was Dugald Stewart then. We need not
say. a chief ornament 81 Edinburgh and us
university On the day OF their meeting Burns
met not only the Professor. but for the first time
dined with live lord tho eldest son of the Earl
OF Selkirk. We need not recall to the reader
the poets humorous account OF his feelings on
this occasion. but 1t il worth while 10 note the
impression made on Stewart bv this interview.
He had obviously" says the Professor. hcen
accustomed TO give law in the circle OF his ordi-
nary acquaintance. and his dread OF anything
approaching to meanness or servility rendered
his manner somewhat decided and hard.
Nothing" he adds. " was more remarkable than
the fuency. precision. and originality Of his
language"
The journey Of Burns from his rural parish
TO the Scottish capital was n sort Of triumphal
progress. When he reached Edinburgh. how
ever. he took lodgings with poor lad Of his
acquaintance and shared with him his room
and bed. for which they paid three shilngs n
week. 1t was from this retreat that he pres
emily went forth into the best society Of North
Briton. and thther. after their Inequalities
were over. he had to return. Burns owed his
introduction to society not 10 Prof Stewart or
any Of his recently-mNde friends. but to his own
celebrity. Although he delivered no letters he
was welcomed within a month altor his arrival
in town by the Duchess Of Gordon. the Earl Of
Glencarn. Lord Monboddo Robertson. the his
torian. Hugh Blair. Mackenzie, the Man Of Feel
ing. DR.. Adam FERGUSON. and others. 1t
seems that Burns kept ut this time a common
place book. which, according to Lockhnrt. con-
tanned some curious revelations. but much
OF II has since been destroyed. It APP
pears that very few OF the Edinburgh CO.
lebrties came In for eulogy Dugald Stewart
hints that Burns did not always keep himself
to the elegant or learned circles which had VOL
coined him. but sometimes INDUCED in not
very select society" In tayerns and ow-class
clubs the poet seems 10 have given rein to all
his impulses, mimckng. it is said and satir-
izing his superiors in position who no fancied
had looked on him coldly. and paying them on
by making them the butt OF raillery. The os-
tensible object OF Burnss visit was attained in
April 1887 by the appearance Of the second