, 1890-08-21

In Scotland," his magnificent
battlc-piece, "The Song OF
Death,n his wonderful satire, "The
Kinks Alarm," his matchless em-
bod mont of connubial affection,
John Anderson, my Jo," 80 blaw
yc Westlin winds his "Address to
the NTH" "On Seeing a Wounded
Hare" that grand "Address 10 the
Shade Of Thomson" "Of ~ the ARTS
tho winds can blaw," and that d.
vinest of all his odes, "To my Mary
in heaven"
Getting to this Ellisland farm
brought me, In singular and for
tuitous way, within the radius Of
certain associations few have had
the good fortune to enjoy. AS they
link the living with thrilling close
ness and emphasis TO the dead, u
brief account of this unusual ex-
perience will have interest to oil
lovers of Burns In America. AT u
late hour OF n recent evening l was
standing near the noble statue
of Burns, erected in 1871,
in Church Place, Dunfrics.
The ouly other occupant of
Church Place at that time was n
venerable Scotchmau who standing
In the shadows or the Greyfriars
Church, seemed, though In merely
an idle curiosity on his part, as In
tently regarding me ~ l had been
studying the statue. finally made
bold to approach him with request
for information reg riding the road |
should take to Ellisland, Mt the
same time expressing my intention
of visiting II Oh the morrow. The
chance meeting was II pleasant one;
and on discovering that the gentle
man, Mr.. Thomas Brown, OF
Queensbury street, was quite at
leisure for the next day, l invited
him To join me on the excursion, To
which ie heartily acceded, and the
day was a glorious one on account OF
his intelligent company: FOR his per-
feet familiarity with details of the
life and experiences Of the poet, at
which | then wondered, though at.
tributing the same the universal
treasuring of Burns-lore by the
people of Nithsdale, was n source
of the greatest delight. The
companlonship resulted i'm n return
invitation to visit my new-iound
friends family on the same evening
of the Ellisland journey. On pre-
senting myself at his door, I was ad.
mitted by II young lady whose face
and presence startled me as COM
pletely as though Robert Burns had
himself greeted me at the threshold
OF that welcoming habitation.
There stood IA fair young woman, in
whose face was repeated every Inca
ment of the poets. Her hair was
raven black; her brows were broad
ana high; the eyes like flaming orbs;
the nose perfectly chiseled; the
mouth large, impassioned, tenders;
and the chin full rounded aud dim
pied. 1t was indeed Burns face
chastened and softened by the
pure soul of a woman looking
through 1t.
Completely overcome by the ex-
traordiuary likeness and situation, l
could scarcely use my tongue, but at
last faltered,
isis this the residence of Mr..
Thomas Brown, with whom an
American gentleman has an engage
ment for the EVENING""
at is" the young lady smilingly
answered. "Father aud mother are
expecting you."
"And you are?'-
"Their daughter. Jean Armour
Burns BrownW
1t WAS to the home. of the grand
daughter and great-granddaugh
of Robert Burns 1 had come. The
CHEEKY, handsome, white haired
hostess of the evening, Mrs. Thomas
Brown, n lady 66 years of age, who
sang for us, "Of a. the arts the wind
can blow with extreme pathos
and feeling, is the surviving dauyh-
ter OF Robert Burns, Jr., the poets
oldest son, who died in Dumfries in
1857, ut the age of 20 years.
His early education was chiefly
the charge OF Burns himself,
and with him, hand in hand,
he wandered again and again in
every loved haunt of Nithsdale
from Criffel ON the Solway to Friar's
Carse, above Ellisland. a page of
this paper could be delightfully."-
filed with the experiences of that
evening and of later hours, in this
plain aud pleasant home-in itself
IA museum and shrine of Burns
memorial relic and sentiment.
But aside from these and the
marvellous reproduction of figure,
face and radiant speech of eyes and
look of the poet and in his great
granddaughter, Jean Armour
Burns Brown, two things came to
me, with conviction which canlnot
be shaken, and which / would set
down to remain, with earnest and
solemn emphasis. The first Is, that
Robert Burns, Jr., was a man
of extraordinary intellect, at
tainnlents aud character. He
was an attache of the
British stamp Office, in London, for
thirty years, during which period,
and to the day of his deaths as l
have evidence, he was one of the
profouudest thinkers and scholars
of his time. y no more learned
scholar lived; and Carlyle himself
was not his superior in depth of
philosophical research. United
with these, where qualities OF heart
and character which were grandly
pure and sweet; while hidden end
name and fame, to discern which
gives one glimpse of what true
heroism means, was, as | also have
evidence, u gift of the loftiest poetic
power. With this new light upon
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