Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1890-08-02
wAKEMAN's wANDERNGs.
Conclusion Of the Beautiful Thoughts
at the Home and Grave Of the
Poor Mans Poet.

hoff, houff Scottish for hall, house
of retreat, or haunt. IL is certainly
the most noted of all the "howfs, I"
or hauhts, made famous by fire.
quent presence aud loiterings of
Coila's unfortunate bard. The
structure stands on High street, but
it is entered now as In Burns day
from a dark and narrow "close' or
alley, which extends past the old
home stables of the inn into Shakes
peare street, which, in turn, leads to
the right into the present Burns,
formerly Mill street, to the Burns
Cottage; and it was through this lit
tie ''close' Burns always made his
way homie from his too frequent
bouts with "John Barleycorn" al
the Globe Tavern. The venerabl.
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
time, named Smith, is the owner
of the property, which, while
she still vigorously presides over the
proprieties Of the place, she rents to
her son-in-law at e35 per year. En-.
tering the shadowy old "howf," yoL
pass through a tiny public room
where now as then a dozen or NOR
gawk-eyed rustics are drinking while
discussing countryside gossip. From
this room door, SO low you vii
need minding your head-gear IL
passing, leads to the little parlor,
which was the real haunt of Burns
in Dumfries. OF the more than 100
songs composed by Burns In Dunn.
fries-whieh, 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 parlor, rim the chamber above.
Next the fireplace Of the former
was Burns Corner" The verita-
ble chair In which he sat, preserved
from the attacks of relic-hunters By
lock and key, is still here.
other chairs, table, and
even many faded pictures upon the
lew walls, are just as he knew them.
The window-panes are covered with
verses he scratched upon them with
his diamond. OF these perhaps the
+, flowing three are the most famous:
40 lovely Polly stewart. .t
o charming Polly stewart,
There's not a flower that blooms In May
That's hall so iair as thou art"
Burns apostrophe to the Globe Tav-
ern,
"whate'er you choose bet ale or beer,
Whatever At your mob,
AT moderate fare you may have here,
The best that's in the Globe!-
and that more debatable sentiment,
"Gln body meet body
Comm through the grain,
Gin body kiss IA body
The things body's ainP
Every one of these inscribed win
dow panes is worth $500 in 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 venality and thrift of the place
are loathsome. 1t is groggery to-
day, precisely as it was when it stole
away the life of Burns; and ones
presence is quickly made II matter
Of supererogation, if liquor is not
purchased or gratuitics bestowed. !
The little wench that looks after
you in this respect, reminds one Of
"Annie wi the gowden locks" The |
Helen Ann Park of Burns passion
ate verse. The Globes bar-maid of
to-day is "syren servant as of old,
and another soft t-hearted bard would |
be likely 10 meet the same i'll for
tune at her hands. .a1@141
One is fascinated by the place and
itslmemories but leaving is AS grate- |
ful a thing as reaching it, A curse |
on the curse that cursed himl--eVery
true heart will pray; particularly If
one follows his old way through the
"close" to the cottage, and pauses
by the stables where poor Burns,
bewildered and brain be- clouded |
that bitter January night OF 1896,
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 structural habitation, In what Is /
now known as Burns street, is pre-
cisely as II was when the poets life .
ended within it, and his loyal Jean,
SS years later breathed her last in .
the now historic dwelling; save that
il has been freshened up bit with
paiut, and the roof, some little time /
since, was given new sheathing Of
tiles. Ii is the property of a local |
school board, and was granted to it
on condition of slight aunuilies TO
the poets descendants, aud also In 1
Of properly caring for