Morning journal and courier., 1890-08-02

ment there In Disgrace, when twins, both OF
which died, were again born to them. Be
ing now independent of scandalous opposi-
tion, Burns publicly and proudly "acknowl-
edged" jean Armour as his wife, then as sa-
cred and binding marriage In Scotland 90
any other, and, in this instance, necessary
only because debarred formal marriage at all
times by the wife's parents, who thus were
solely responsible for the cloud upon the
poets marital record. Burns also "sstisfed"
the church, which In those days was not 90
very difficult of "satisfsction.n he was also
In position to satisfy" Jeans parents; for
on settlement with Creech, his Edinburgh
publisher, the then astounding sum of TWEEN
ty-ive hundred dollars was found to be at
his disposal.
Then came the brief, bright days. Mag.
unanimously generous always, much of this
sum, the first and last good fortune Burns
ever knew, went to Jeans parents, aud to
assist his brother Gilbert Burns in sverting
disaster in the latter's farm life efforts. His
lucky meeting with the ingenious and kind
ly Patrick Miller, Of Dalswinton Hall, had
occurred. Il had been settled that the poet,
who hated the city with q royal hatred,
should return to the plough. The nobility
of the day never quite forgsve this plebean
longing and love, the source of his grandest
inspirations. The beautiful farm of Ellis
land, five miles above Dumfries, was taken
at rental of fifty pounds per year. Burns
unsided began his farm lsbors the first Mon
day after Whitsunday, in 17SS. he toiled
manfully until the autumn of that year,
meantime singing many lusty song to his
absent wife, tearing down the wretched how
Ell he found, and building the lovely cottage
which stands there embowered in roses to
this day. And then was celebrated the sim
pie but glorious home coming, when, with
rustic rites, and his bonnie Jean upon his
arm, preceded by q peasant girl carrying
the family Bible and a bowl of salt" he
marched proudly into his little home haven
beside the winding NTH. All evidences
agree that in the brief period of tribe over
two years, between Whitsunday 1888 and
Martinmas, in 1871, Burns and his good
Jean experienced an Eden of labor and love,
despite their final enforced departure. Il
was also the period of Burns best and great
est poetical fecundity. But more children
came to them. These must be supported.
The crops failed and inevitable ruin was ap-
preaching 1t was then, with nowhere else
| on earth to turn, with NO one on earth to de-
| fend him from the wretched influences of
| such environment, that to save his wife and
| children from actual want and starvation, he
was forced to accept the government position
of exciseman at the beggarly pittance of if
| ty pounds per yearl And / say that that
person who will become critic of this poor
striving soul, from this pitiful period, takes
to himself share of the endless obloquy of
the dereleets OF that day and time who infs-
mously deserted God sent genius in the
hour of his sorest plight and highest efforts
to q noblemsnhood. The Eve remaining
years of his lite, after the poet, his Jean and
their three children, Robert, Francis Wal
lace and William Nicol, removed 10 the hum
BILE lodgings, their first home in Dumtries,
checkered, sad, pathetic beyond comprehen.
sion, are known to all. The literary ghoul
may come here and shovel from the dust of q
pitiful epoch the dross of sad doings and
hours. Whoever comes with reason, heart
aud the least of sympathy and charity will
still find glowing here the lingering battle
fires between temptation inexpressible and
| effort incredible; between weakness and dis
couragements indescribable and love and 10y.
atty ineffable. For myself, prefer to stand
| at the shrine of Burns and look down along
the burning shaft of light that links his
genius and his world girdling human love
aud magnsminity to the fsdeless immortali-
ty of his memory and name.
One of the places in Dumfries mest inter.
esting from its association with Burns is thu
old Globe tavern Il is still called 18th,
howl" (hoif, hoff, hufe, houffi Scottish fol
hall, house of retreat or haunt. 1t is Ger
tainly the most noted of al the "howfs," o.
haunts, made famous by the frequent pres
encs and loiterings of Coila's unfortunAt
bard. The structure stands on High street
but 1t is entered now as In Burns day from
dark and narrow "close" or alley, whicl
extends past the old stone stables of the inl
into Shakespeare street. which, in turn
, leads 20 ttS right into the present Burns
formerly Mill, street, to the Burns cottage
/ and it was through this little "close" Burn
III - Il = n
quent bouts with "John Barleycorn" at tn,
Globe tavern. The venerable inn is crowded
on market days with farmers, and the old
stables are packed with horses, traps and
carts, precisely as IL was one hundred year
| ago. A solemn Saotch dame recalling Mrs
Hyslop, the landlsdy of Burns time. namet
Smith, is the owner of the property, which
while abe still vigorously presides over th'
| proprieties OF the place, she rents TO her sol
in law at thirty two pounds per year. en-
tering the shsdowy old "howf" you pas
through tiny public room, where now, a
then, dozen or more gswk eyed rustics ar
drinking while discussing countryside gos
sip. From this room door, 90 low Jon vii
need mindipg your head gear in passing
leads to the little parlor, which was the res
haunt of Burns In Dumfries. OF the NOR
than one hundred songs composed by Burn
In Dumfries-which, had they comprised tn
limit of his production, would still have Civ
en- him rank as Scotlandis greatest lyric bar
by far the larger number were produced II
this little psrlor, or In the chamber above
Next the fireplace of the former was "Burns
Corner" The veritable chair in which b
| sat, preserved from the attacks of relic hunt
ers by cupboard, lock and key, is still here
Several other chairs, a table, and even man
faded pictures upon the low walls, are jus
as he knew them. The window panes ar
covered with verses, he scratched upo
them with his diamond. or these perhap
the following three are the most famous:
30 lovely Polly Stewart.
o 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 at your mob.
At moderate fare you may have here,
The best that's in the Globef'-
|. . and that more desirable sentiment,
. ''Gin a body meet q body
Gin a body kiss a body,
q The things a body's ainr'
Every one of these inscribed windo
paues Is worth two hundred dollars In gol
u The old inn is quite museum of relic
! aud better than all they are genuine on
70 for which fabulous sums are constant
y offered. But the venslity and thrift of d
place are loathesome. It is a GROCERY 3
day, precisely as it was when il stole awi
the life of Burns; and ones presence
y quickly made matter of supererogatio
. If liquor is not purchased or gratuities
q slowed. The little wench that looks aft
g you in this respect reminds one of "Anr
~ VII the gowden locks, !" the Helen Ann Pa
3 of Burns passionate verse. The Globes
~ maid of to-day is q "syren servant" as
old, and another soft hearted bard would
~ " likely to meet the same ill fortune at
" " hands.
10 One is fascinated by the place and
o memories, but leaving is as grateful q thi
ca as reaching il. A curse on the curss Il
er cursed himi-every true heart will pray; p
u ticulariy it one follows his old way throu
- - the ''close" to tie cottage, and pauses by |
~ stables where poor Burns, bewildered q
\ brain beclouded that bitter January night
20 1896, upon the straw and refuse, just at
u edge of Shakespeare street, and, insensil
until the morn, received the chill of des
that never left him, though he hnger'
conscious of his fate, until the 2ist of Jr