Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-08-02

until the autumn Of that year, meantime
singing many lusty song to his absent
wife, tearing down the wretched hovel he
found, and building the lovely cottage
which stands there embowered in roses TO
this day. And then was celebrated the SIM
pie but glorious homecoming, when, with
rustic rites, and his bonnie Jean upon his
arm, preceded bya peasant girl carrying
the family Bible and bowl of salt" he
marched proudly into his little home heaven
beside the winding NTH. All evidences
agree that in the brief period of trife over
two years, between Whitsundsy, 1888, and
Msrtinmas, in 1871, Burns and his good
Jean experienced an Eden of labor and love,
despite their final enforced departure. 1t
was also the period Of Burns best and great
est poeticsl fecuudity. But more children
came to them. These must be supported.
The crops failed. and inevitable ruin was sp-
preaching. 1t was then, with nowhere else
on earth to turn, with no one on earth to de-
tend him from the wretched influences of
such environment, that to save his wife and
children from actual want and starvation,
he was forced to accept the Government DO
sition of exciseman at the beggarly pittance
of ESQ per yeari And I say that
that person who will become critic of this
poor striving soul, from this pitiful period,
takes TO himself share Of the endless oblo-
guy of the derelicts OF that day and time
who infamously deserted God-sent genius
in the hour of his sorest plight and highest
efforts to a noble manhood. The five re-
manning years of his life, after the poet, his
Jean and their three children, Robert,
Francis Wallace and William Nicol,
removed to the humble lodgings, their first
home in Dumfries. checkere6, sad, pathetic
beyond comprehension, are known to all.
The literary ghoul may come here and
shovel from the dust of a pitiiul epoch the
dross of sad doings and hours Whoever
comes with reason, heart and the least of
sympathy and charity will still find glowing
here the lingering battle fires between
temptation inexpressible and effort incredi-
Bile; between weakness and discourage
ments indescribable and love and loyalty
inefable For myself, prefer to stand at
the shrine of Burns and look down along
the burning shaft of light that links his
genius and his world-girdling human love
and magnanimity to the fadeless immortal
ity Of his memory and name.
AN HISTORIC INN.
One of the places in Dumfries most inter-
esting from its association with Burns is the
old Globe Tavern. 1t is still called "the
howf'' (hoif. hoff. hufe, houf) Scottish for
hall, house OF retreat, or haunt. 1t is GER
tainiy the most noted Of all the "howfs," or
haunts, made famous by the frequent pres
ence and loiterings of Coila's unfortunate
bard. The structure stands on High street,
but it is entered now as in Burns day from
q dark and narrow "close" or alley, which
extends past the old stone stables of the inn
into Shakespeare street, which, in turn,
leads to the right into the present Burns,
formerly Mill, street, to the Burns cottage;
and it was through this little "close" Burns
always made his way home from his too fire.
quent bouts with "John Barleycorn" at the
Globe Tavern. The venerable inn is crowded
on market days with farmers, and the old
stables are packed with horses, traps and
carts, precisely as it was 100 years ago. A
solemn Scotch dame recalling Mrs. Hyslop,
the landlady of Burns tlme named Smith,
is the owner OF the property, which, while
she still vigorously presides over the proprie-
ties of the place, she rents to her son-in-law
at e32 per year. Entering the shadowy old
howl" you pass through tiny public
room where now and then dozen or more
gawk-eyed rustics are drinking while dis
cussing countryside gossip. From this room
q door, so low you will need minding your
bead gear in passing, leads to the little par
lOI, huiCu WAS the real uAunt OF burns In
Dumfries. Of the more than 100 songs COM
posed by Burns in Dumiries-which, had
they comprised the limit OF his production,
would still have given him rank as Scot
lands greatest lyric bard-by far the larger
number were produced in this little parior,
or in the chamber above. Next the fire.
place Of the former was Burns corner"
The veritable chair in which he sat- pre-
served from the attacks of relic hunters BY
lock and key, is still here.
Several other chairs, a table, and even many
faded pictures upon the low walls, are just
as he knew them. The window panes are
covered with verses be scratched upon them
with his diamond. OF these perhaps the
three are the most famous:
20 lovely Polly Stewart,
. charming Polly Stewart,
There's lot 4 flower that blooms in May
That's half SO fair as thou arts"
Burns apostrophe to the Globe Tavern,
"Whate'er you choose bet ale or beer
Whatever fiji your mob,
At moderate fare you may have here
The best that's in the Glober'- |
And that more debatable sentiment,
"Gin body meet body
COMM through the grain, |
Gin body kiss body. |
The things a body's ainp,