The Osceola times., 1880-03-27
'Tlc Fate orRobert Burns.

nlsh llS WIN copy ol ms iectufc
delivered last Sunday evening be-
fore a large and unusually rntel'i-
gent audience, on tho subject OF
Genus and Whiskey, but as the
speech was an Hnwritten one, he
could not comply, bpt he wrote out
in substance what be said about
Robert Burns, which we know will
be read with interest, as showing
that genius when accompanied with
incorporate hati,s generally proves
u curse instead of a%oiessing to The
man gifted with IT:
What shall ! say of the genius of
Robert Burns? ? Mere words cannot
do justice to it. At this day, nearly
Il hundred years after his death bis
genius shines brighter and reflects
a more beneticent Influence upon
humanity than al any former period
since it first beamed upon the world.
To-day, We only remember the
gifted being, the oracle of human
feeling, the music of whose soul has
poured a melody through the hearts
of tollng millions, the wizard OF
our smiles and tears, whose sweet
words of hope and joy have sung
themselves in dark hours and bright,
through many a heart. The man
has been lost IN the poet. In the
interest Of our cause, | will give
you an image, Il picture of the great
poet, and let you see him through
the eyes OF his contemporaries, ust
as they saw HIM and knew him.
You may rely upon the following
contemporary newspaper account
of his death, which occurred on the
2lst. day Of July 1896, as properly
authentic. Here 1T is:
"Thc public, TO whose amuse-
mcnt he has so largely contributed,
will learn with regret that his ex-
traordinary endowments were nc.
companled with frailties which rem
dered him useless to himself and
family. The last months Of his
short life were spent in sickness and
| indulgence, and his widow, with five
infant children, and the hourly ex.
pcctation of a sixth, is now left
without any resource but what she
may hope from the regard due &c
the memory of her husband"
What traiitie, which rendered
him ufhsJ to himself ard family
sickness and mdigeHce The fate o.
our revered poet, and Bonny jean
the heroine of his muse, left in pen
ury with Avc Iittle children and the
hourly expectation of the sixth
When we read that contemporary
paragraph, we are almost brought
into the presence of the dying
drunkard, and his unhappy, desc
late household. 1t is the home,
mind you, OF the greatest genius OF
his age; it was the home of Robert
Burns. Can you Imagine how any
man could have been more unhappy
than Robert burns? He must have
been conscious of powers destined
to give him an immortality of fame,
famous, too, in his life time, and yet
his genius, his wonderful intelli.
gcnce, the creations Of which
charmed, delighted and elevated
every grade OF intellect, defor,red
by traiitics which rendered him use.
less TO hImsel! aud family. Power
ty OF itself may be borne with the
magnanimity of a superior soul, but
when we know that we have en-
tailed want and suffering upon the
dearest pledges Of our affections,
that we may indulge an appetite
against reason and conscience, the
appointed penalty of which is So
ciai degradation, seIt-induced pow
erty and an iguominIous death,
what troops of ag0nlzIug thoughts
must pass through the conscious
mind when the bitter cup Of death
is about to be raised to the lips
Here was man dying with the
wreath OF immortality about to be
placed upon bis brow, his mission
AS a poet successful, his words the
heartsease Of millions, and himself
and family alone, of all tho world,
were 20 reap no benefit from his eX.
traordinary endowments. Intem-
perato habits, aud the irregularities
of conduct which flow from them,
arc irailtics which mans contem-
porauos either cannot, or will not
excuse. Genius, no, not even the
genius of Burns can render q man
happy aud respected, unless it be
associated with temperance and
morality. How can the conscious
ness of being n genius compensate
or comfort u man who kbows he is
living in constant disgrace and dis.
reputc with those whom he mus,
meet IN social life, or else go into
volutary social banishment. In the
eyes Of his neighbors, Burns was q
man of genius, but a drunkard, and
one whose company WAS TO be
avoided. Aud how could they re-
spect him, or approve him! Ills
daily walk in life was in conflict
with the immutable principles OF
sobriety and virtue. and his own
conscience must have condemned