Morning journal and courier., 1880-12-01
Price Four Cents.
Walter seott'. Greeting to Robert Burns.
CENTRAL PARK, NEW YORK, 1880.
BY WALLACE BRUCE.

MT. Wallace Bruce recited the followin oem at the St.Andrew's dinner, DeImonico' lew York city, last evening, predicting it wit ne following paragraph: After the unvei 1g of the Burns statue few W. eks ago i entral Park; after the eloquent oration ( Teorge William Curtis had stirred the heart thousands who love the lines of the Peas nt Poet; after the crowd had dispersed an lght had settled down upon the thre 'atues of Shakespeare, Scott and Burns, 'ems to me eminently fitting that Waite colt should extend a greeting to tn newI rived poet and introduce him to his bronze lend and comrade, William Shakespeare. y We greet thee, Robie, here tonight.
 Benesth these stars so pure and bright; We greet thee, Poet, come at last
 With Will and me thy lot to cast.
 We've talked about thee mony day And wondered when you'd be this way Reach out your hand and gie's shake, Just ance, for auld acquaintance sake. We welcome you from scotia's land
 And reach to you a brither's hand; kindred soul to greet you turns
 Will Shakespeare, this is Robie Burns. We've sung your songs here mony night Till that dear star is lost in light And, Willie says, the lines you wrote Will even do for him to quote.
 
 And says you are glorious chiel- In fact, the only one who knows The space twixt poetry snd prose. Oh, Robie, if we had plaid
 We'd quite convert yon Stratford lad. He said, in truth, but yester-morn,
 'Im Scotch in wit, though English born; And, Walter, it may yet appear That Scotland takes in Warwickshire- Let Avon be the border line, Blot out the Tweed or draw it fine." And set the board with attic saut, For Rob has come at last you see We were pair, but now we're three. We need no other comrade now No modern bard O classic brow; 'Tis long before another man Will be admitted to our clan. In stormy nights twas lonesome here When Will reeited half O Lear; But now he quotes o Shanter's Tale In thunder, lightning, and in hail, And says his witches can't compare With those that chased O'Shanters mare; He's even learned your Dell Address To quote some night for good Queen Bess- For, Robie, this is haunted ground. Where Spirits keep their nightly round: And when the witching hour is near You'll see strange beings gather here. I saw Queen Bess the other night
 
 While kings and queens, noble throng, In dim procession passed along. And walls seemed rising from the earth Like Leicesters tower at Wentworth And all the pageant that was there Seemed floating in the moonlit air Aye. Beauty, Jealousy and Pride In Dudley's Halls walked side by side, While Amy Robsart seemed to stand With fair Ophelia, hand in hand. And, Robie what vision came As Willie whispered Ariels name The towers dissolved and round him drew The stately, gentle, fair and true,- Miranda, Juliet, Imogene, Hermione and Katharine, While Rosalind among them stood The sunlight of sweet Arden s wood. 'Twere long to pass them in review, For still the circle wider grew Until the airy vision bright Was lost at last in liquid light. So let me whisper in your ear Never to tell what passes here: Theren be grand reception soon To greet the lad from Bonnie Doon. Wen gather up the iolliest crew, Falstaff, Prince Hal and Rhoderick Dhu, And a the rantin brither Scots Frae Maiden Kirk to John O'Groats. So, Robie, make yourself at home ,Mang friends and brithers you have come And here's a land that's quite as fair AS that between the Doon and Ayr; A land that glories in it's youth, That owns creed but living truth. Where pith O sense and pride O worth refuge find from rank and birth; land that's ma de your verses real Whose guinea stamp is honors seal, Aye Robie, here they've quite forgot To write the Sir-just Walter Scott. And here thy songs will ever ring Through all the years the centuries bring Till all are free and every sea Shall know shore but Liberty