The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-08-03

lous sums are constantly offered. But the
venality and thrift of the place are loathe-
some. It is groggery to-day. precisely as
it was when it stole away the life of Burns;
ter Of supererogation, if liquor is not pur-
chased or gratuities bestowed. The little
wench that looks after you in this respect
reminds one of annie VII the gowden
locks" the Helen Ann Park of Burns
passionate verse. The Globes bar-maid of
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 as grateful thing
as reaching it. A curse on the curse that
cursed him!-every true heart will pray;
through the 'close" to the cottage, and
paused by the stables where poor Burns, be-
wildered and n-beclouded that bitter
January night of 1895, upon. the straw and
refuse, Just at the edge of Shakespeare street,
and, 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 struc-
tural habitation, in what is now known as
Burns street, is precisely as it was when the
poets life ended within 1t, and his loyal
Jean, 80 years later breathed her last in the
now historic dwelling; save that it has been
freshened up bit with paint, and the roof,
some little time since, was given new
sheathing of tiles. 1t is the property of a
local school board, and was granted to it on
condition of slight annuities to the poets
descendants, and also in consideration of
properly caring for the sepulture of the bard
and his wife and children in the st. Mich
ael's kirk-yard mausoleum, quite near at
hand. 1t is permanently occupied by the
| school, Mr.. Mcintosh. who is not only dis
| tinguished by his residence in the Burns
| cottage. but az having. through his disci-
pline and training the most remarkable
housing of truant school lads in all Scot
land. The cottage itself is almost proto-
ham, New York city, where Edgar Poe,
harrassed by poverty and fighting his hero
| ic battle against desperation and strong
drink. passed the last few dreadful years of
| his life; and more than one startling SINH
larity between the later experiences of
occur among the saddening reflections to
which a visit here will give rise. The first
story of the cottage comprises "but and a
ben." that is, kitchen and sitting-room
The second, or attic. story has tiny dress.
ing room over the front door, sort OF
double dormitory at the north end, where
the children Slept and at the south end the
chamber to which, precisely as at the Poe
cottage and as with Poe. Burns would re-
treat when poetic inspiration of surpassine
| luteuSity pOs6eSSeO ulKus II Wdo 1TOuA VAls
room that Burns passed out, the wreck OF
his former self, in the spring of 1896 for thu
hoped-for help at the waters of Brow-Well
He knew the hand of death was upon him
and said to his Jean, on departing Will
that precious and well-worn pocket Bible
as This chief luggage:' Don't fear, wife.
They will honor my name IN hundred
| years, moro then nowr' And it was to this
room they brought him back, trembling
shadow that blendid into the eternal sun
shine on that balmy July day, little late
on.
It may be altogether weak and unmanly
but can scarcely read these Inscriptions
where record of birth and death, in tn
: stately mausoleum of st. Michaers kirk
yard, for the tears through which the blacl
! lettering is SO blurred and dim. oh, thu
pity and glory of it all!-sobs the hear I.
the vision OF his brief years, his bitter for
tunes and his supreme achievements rushe
overwhelmingly into the memory. An in
apired sculptor has engraven above his toni
the apotheosis of his conservation to tn
muse-Poesy descending from Heaven AM
discovering the rustic rhymer at his plough
The sun never sets whore there are no mon
uments to his memory. There are few ira
ducers now. We are growing to remembe
only how generous he was. how maRnani
mous; how he bettered humankind BY M
machless pleas for the br0therhood Of man
how MS pen was ever baAxml
scimitar against injustice, false afis
tocracy, sham: how ~ no 0sne
failing or ailing nature evsr &.
: own foilies than To all Others misfortune
and weaknesses. how hunan and humane
} not conscious aud VULGAR. vas ~ h eysr
. ond and glad hour Al MA liz, ard thol