The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1890-01-31


From this time forward the lad enjoyed
quite Il local reputation, but his father was
broken in health. Robert was the Youngest
of seven children and life for him seemed to
grow harder every year. Nevertheless he
embraced every opportunity to store his mind
with information, and was particularly eager
to hear of the old Scottish heroes, but de.
lighted most of all in the old women's stories
of witches and warlocks, haunted glens and
crags, and mysterious appearances around
the old churchyards ~ little later he pro-
dnced some lengthy pieces i'll the local dialect
which attracted wide attention and caused
his society to be greatly sought by some per-
sons OF means and culturc-a result which
was highly benetlcial in developing his con-
versational powers, but induced habits of
convviality and consequent trouble.
In 1IS1-S3 he was In the depths OF tleSpond-
ency, He took u small farm in conjunction
with his brother, and lost the little he had
invested. He cast about for methods of i'm
proving his fortunes, but failed in all He
was in love and could not marry. The parents
of his loved one sternly forbade tho union
the lovers met often, however, and the re-
suits were evil. Completely cast down, he
resolved to leave his native land for Jamaica,
and some of his sweetest, saddest poems We're
written while that intention remained. To
published the first edition of his poenls-that
of l7Sf, previously referred to-and its sue
cess changed the whole current Of his life
He was on the point of clnbarking when he
was invited to Edinburgh to attend to the
issue of second edition. In the capital he
was 'tthe lion of the hour.'' He associated
with all who were eminent in letters, and
with many eminent in rank, wealth and
fashion, his conversation exciting as much
admiration as his poetry. Unspoilel by flat
terry, he retained his Independence of mind
and love OF rural life The profits of his
publication are reported to have reached
EG00. aud with this he took and stocked tho
farm OF Elislani, near Dumfries, where he
located IN 17ss, having publicly ratified his
marriage with Jean Armour. Her father
was still obdurate, but the marriage would
have been legal, as il was moral, oblga-
ton in any event.
Again he failed as farmer, and in less
than four years located in Dunfres He had
been appointed an exciseman, and, though
the salary never exceeded 970 per year, it
was his sole support. About this time he
wrote those political eifusions and some other
productions in which some bitterness of feel
ing is shown. His expressed sympathy with
the French revolution deprived him of the
good will Of the wealthy and powerful and
PASNSAoSo AAS ASScASAAl6 "a oluotlOA LII tuc GA-
else, Indeed, only the intercession of a few
persistent friends prevented his losing office
entirely. There was such dread of innoya-
ton that he and those who agreed with him
were stigmatized as "Jacobins." This en-
bittered him still more, and in such company
as was left to him ho often fell into dissipa-
tion. His last years were clouded with
gloom, and he died III Dumfrics July 21,
1896.
At least a hundred different editions of
Burns works have appeared, and rarely hive
such manliness, tenderness and passion been
united. His famo las grown rather than
diminished, and for his sake Ayr and Allo-
way, Dumfries and the banks OF the Doom
are places of classic renown and fond pii-
grimage In 1859, the centenary Of his birth
was celebrated with unparalleled enthusiasm
not only in every city and village of Scot
land, but in the chief cities Of England, In
dia, America and Australia-indeed,e every
where that seotchnle,, have located. His
family is extinct, two maiden ladies Of the
name OF Begg having been the last survivors;