Telegram-herald., 1890-08-03

fortunate bard. The structure stands
on Highest, but il 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
Shskspeare-st., which, in turn, leads 10
the right into the present Burns, form
erly AIll-st.. TO the BUNS Cottage; and
IL was through this little "close" Burns
always made his way home from his
too frequent bouts with John Barley
corn" at the Globe Tavern The vener-
able inn is crowded on market-days
with farmers, and the old stables are
packed with horses. traps and carts,
precisely as 1t was 100 years ago. A
solemn Scotch dame recalling Mrs.
Hyslop, the landlsy of Burns
time, named Smith, is the
owner OF the property, which. while
she still vigorously presIdes over the
properties of the place, she rents to
her son-In-law at e32 per year. Enter
ing the shadowy old "howf" you pass
through tiny public room where now
as then a dozen or more gawk-eyed
rustics are drinking while discussing
countryside gossip. From this room
door, so low you will need minding
your head gear III passing, leads to the
little parlor, which was the real haunt
of Burns in Dumfries. OF the more
than one hundred songs composed by
Burns in Dumfries-which, had they
comprised the limit of his produc-
ton would still have given him rank,as
Scotland's greatest lyric bard-by far
the larger number were produced IN
this little parlOr, or in the chamber
above. Next the fireplace of the
former was Burns Corner" The veri-
table chair in which he sat, preserved
from the attacks of relc-hunters by
cupboard, lock and key, is still here.
Several other chairs, table, and even
many faded pictures upon the low
walls, are just as he knew them. The
window-panes are covered with verses
he scratched upon them with bis diam
ond. OF these perhaps the following
three are the most famous:
20 lovely Polly Stewart.
charming Polly Stewart
There's not a flower that blooms in May
That's half so fair as thou art"
Burns apostrophe to the Globe
Tavern:
"Whate'er you choose. bet ale or beer.
Whatever TT your mob.
The best that's in the Globe."-
and that more debatable sentiment,
"Gin BODY meet body
Comm through the grain.
Gin q body Kiss "a Doay,
The things a body's ainp'
Every one of these inscribed window
panes IS worth $200in gold. The old inn
is quite museum of relics, and better
than all, they are genuine ones, for
which fabulous sums are constantly
offered. But the yenality and thrift of
the place are ioathesOme. 1t is a grog-
gerry today, precisely as 1t was when 1t
stole awav the life of Burns; and ones
presence Is quickly made a matter of
supeIerogation If liquors. not purchas-
ed or gratuities bestowed. The little
wench that looks after you in this re-
spect reminds one of "Anuie WI the
gowden locks''-the Helen Ann Park
of Burns passionate verse. The Globe )
barmaid of today is "syren servant
as of old, and another soft-hearted
bard would be likely TO meet the same
| ill-fortune at her hands.
One IS fascinated by the place and its
memories. but leaving is ss grateful a
thing as reaching It. A curse on the
curse that cursed himl-every true
heart will pray, particularly If one fol-
| lows his old way through the "close"
to the cottage and pauses by the stables
| where poor Burns, bewiidered and
BRAN bcclouded that January night OF
| 1896, upon the straw and refuse, just
at the edge of Shakespeare street. aud,
| insensible until the morn, received the
chill of death that never left him,
though he fingered, conscious of hIs
fate. until the 2lst OF July following.
The old home OF Burns, that is the
structural habitatIon, in what "a uow
known as Burns-st., IS precisely a II
was when the poets life ended within
it, and his loyal Jean, thirty-eight years
| later. breathcd her last IN the nov his
| toric dwelling; save that II has been
| fresbened up a bit with paint, and the
roof, some little time Gnce, was given a
! new shesthiug Of tiles. It IS the prop
/ erty of 3 local school board, and wa,
/ granted TO it on condition OF slight an
| mutics to the poets descendants. snt
also III consideration Of properly caring
/ for the sculpture Of tie hard and hH
[ wife and children in the 50 Michael
[ klrk-yard mausoieum. quite nesr 81
I hand. lt IS permanently occupied ~
: tHr NlANkrt tl tAit lfAitta ffNalt
Ragged school. a Mr.. McIntosh. VINO &
/ not only d stnEuished BY h.s resdenc.
n the Burns cottage, bat as having
/ through his isCipline and training. ta'
most remarkable housing Of tfuant
/ schools lads IN al scotland. The cot
tage itself j. almost a prototype of TO-
/ ceiehrated Poe cottage a. f0Tdnsm
NeN York CITY, where Edgar Poe, har
rassed by poverty and fighting b.
/ heroic battle against desperation anl
/ strong drink. passed the iast few dread
I fBi years of hls life. and more than on'
startling similarity betwWeen the late
/ experiences of these two metcors q
/ genius VII occur among the saddsnin'
reflections to which q VISIT here will gly'
rise The nrst story Of tne cottsg'
/ comprises a but ard q ben, that is.
kitchen aDt sitting room. The SC
Ond, oT site. story has a tiny dress cE
room over thc front door. a s0rt o
double DOM tory at the NORTH end
/ where the chi'1ren sIept. ard ~ -
south enu fhe chamber 81 wh5cn. pre
{ CiseiT a. af ta6 Poe cottage and as rit'
Poe. Burns woCId retreat waeu poets
Inspiration q sgrpassing intensity pos
sessed Aln1. it was from tas roou