Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-08-09

| tack" on payment of 20, 600 marks, Scots
with which the outlandish structure wa
erected. In its upper uncouthness it con
tains the town clock and peal OF bells. ant
a complaining weather cock surmounts tn,
spire. Middle Spire, clock and bells anC
| all, is an unreliable old "tongue Of tn,
town" to this day. But the ridiculous reli,
of an ancient canny deal would have beer
razed to the ground 100 years ago, were il
not the treasure house of stacks OF rusty wal
pixies ready for valiant service, when tht
exerciseman poet reused everybody in Grea
Britain with,
Does naughty Gaul invasion threat?
Then let the looms beware, sir;
There's wooden walls upon our seas,
And volunteers on shore, sir.
The NTH shall run to Corsinton,
The Criffel sink in Solway,
Ere we permit a foreign foe
On British ground to rallyl
'The auld brig" built by the devout De.
vorgilla over 700 years ago, when London's
population did not exceed $4,000 souls. and
which still spans the NTH below the New
Bridge, the latter completed before Burns
death, does not possess tithe the interest
because of its having sustained wondrous
kingly cavalcades and been fought over by
countless Border legions, that it does for
having lnnumerable times been the haunt
of this one man, and because sin his suit of
plain dark clothes with his sword cane in
hand" and his children by his side, he
loved to loiter upon it, or wander about near
it, upon the White Sands, or near its west
ern approach along Marvellous SUNNY
braes.
BURNS MADE A BURGESS.
y Not stones throw from its last red old
arch is the spot where Burns, on his first ap-
pearance in Dumfries, clad in the familiar
blue coat and yellow vest which Nasmyth
has made US unconsciously associate with
his sturdy figure, just after the publication
of the second edition of his poems, was
made an honorary burgess; the burgess
ticket to the already illustrious plowman
reading: 1.-THE said day, 4th June, 1887,
Mr.. Robert Burns, Ayrshire, was admitted
burgess of this burgh, with liberty to exer-
else and enjoy the whole immunities and
privileges thereof as freely as any other
does, may or can enjoy; who, being present,
accepted the same and gave his oath OF bur-
gess-ship to his Majesty and burgh in COM
mon FORM" But for Burns Dumfries would
not to this day be as we'll known as Kala-
mazoo. Still the marvellous condescension
OF these pompous old nobodies made Burns
freeman. He had been but hind until
this memorable "4th June, 1881"
At the foot OF George Inn Close, Irish
street, is little academy. 1t was here at
county ball that the gentry were gathered on
an autumn evening OF 1894, when the now
poverty-stricken poet passed and was given
the universal rejection" or cut direct bv all
save the noble David McCulloch, of Ard
well. which made those concerned, as we'll
as their descendants, infamous to this day.
Near this was the hall OF St. Andrews Ma
sons Lodge, to which Burns belonged and
which he made famous. Its record for April
IA, 1896, Burns present." is the last min
ute containing the poets name. At the cor
ner OF Shakespeare street and Queens place
still stands the little old Theater
Royal, which was opened in 1890,
Burns being present, and of whose
first weeks career he wrote so en-
Enthusiastically to his friend Nicol:
"Their (the performers'3 merit and charac-
ter are indeed very great, both on the stage
and in private life, not worthless creature
among them. Il There have been re-
peated instances of sending away six and
eiGht and -pA--A-- -----i.i-+ fv- WAIST
room.
Then aside from countless lesser facts and
places of association there is the old "Globe
Tavern" in which, unhappy as is the fact
for contemplation, one seems now to almost
hear his thrilling voice, mingled with the
laughter of Syme, Maxwell. Landlord Hvslop
and his wife, Meg, and their siren barmaid,
Anna of the gowden locks" as the poet re-
cites some new rhyme that the good fellow
ship of the place has prompted, or sings
those.
SONGS OF OLD SCOTLAND
be had rescued from ill-ftting sentiment and
welded to his own deathless verse; there is
the staunch little cottage and its memories
Of the hours he passed in it with his family.
Or at the "folding-down desk, between the
fire window of his parlor, transcribing in his
bold, round hand the remarks which occur
to him on Mr.. Thompson's last letter, to-
gether with some of his own recently-com-
posed songs;" there is old St Michael's Par
lsh Church, whose now most precious mem
orial is the place pointed out where Burns
and his family worshiped; and, at last, the
great mausoleum itself, in St. Michael's kirk
yard, where the poet. his bonnie Jean and
all their children, in an undivided family,
are at rest
Every square yard of Dumfries town is
aglow with some touching reminder of
Burns. His memory is the very breath of
Life of the place. There is but one stain on
its SURPRISING tenderness. That forms an
insult to the whole world in permitting his |
Iomb, the property by actual subscription
and q common heritage of all nationalities
and men, to lapse into a mercenary show |
place, In the clutch of two beggarly brutes |
lacking the common placid and kindly |
nature and intelligence of ordinary animals. |
These two creatures, man and wife, stand |
guard with lock and key, with tiger-like
claws and rufianly demands for coin, and
'hus secure, it is said, from a6O0 to e7OO |
from reverent pilgrims to this
'acred shrine. Whether the ghouls rob for
themselves or for intelligent human hyenas
behind them, the desecration is the same.
Burns was starved and bullied into his
grave by an infamous system and environ
nent, compelled to do the work of half
lozen men, at from ESQ to e7O per wear.
'cotchmen in Scotland and the world over
will be lacking in the poblest of Scotch
Qualities until this revolving defamation of
he illustrious dead is abolished; and the
buse partially atoned for through some
orm Of international association and action
which, in purging this one shrine from the
aint of shame ul venality, and rendering
rec and unsullied approach by all the
Torld to these sacred ashes, shall attach
nore honor and dignity to the memory of
Burns than that echoed in the mere bawling
f his name in connection with a hilarious
nnual toast, all unmindful of its defama-
ion here, at thousand st. Andrews festive
cards. EDGAR L. WAKEMAN.