New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-01-24
as the Bank Examiner has already expressed himself
as perfectly satisfied with the plan.
ROBERT BURNS.
A TRIBUTE on TIE ANNIVERSARY OF III
BIRTH.

A TRIBUTE on THE ANNIVFRsARY OF HIS
BIRTH.
To the Editor Of The Tribune
Sir January - will be the 1920 anniversary OF the
birthday OF Robert Burns. II will be celebrated by
ScOtchmen everywhere, and again the bowl VIII
be wreaihcd in his honor and the story of the poet
peasant be set to strains Of clOqucnce. His senu-
mcnts will be quoted his songs he sung his loves be
thought of: and though songs and loves have been
with us over q century they are fresh to-day as in
their earliest youth. For the songs OF Burns the
poetry Of the heart, and "age cannot wher nor Gus
tom stale" them The singer who appeals to and WINS
Tie affections will live long in the memory Of people
The lyrical faculty Burns's possession and his
legacy OF song Is sweet contribution the human
race has known. His verso has all the qualities tlat
insure permanencc- pathOs passion, grace, melody
naturalness. The last characteristic is not the least
for never was there unaffected utterance, never
simplicity more charming There is no obscurity IN
his verse there be no discussion as to meaning
All that he wrote is undcrsoodas clear to the mind
and sens, as the note of bird. the fragrance OF
flower The emotions are IA common heritage. To
express them with melodies and pathetic power was
Gods gift to Robert Burns.
What need to recall now the pathos and sweetness
OF We banks and braes o. bonnie Doom and HIGH
land Mary: the tender regret Of Ae fond kiss and
then we scver"-thc following lines n which Touching
lament Sir Walter scott said contained the essence oi
q thousand love tales:
Had never loved sac kindly
lad We never loved sac blindiy'
Never urt-Or never parted,
Ne lad Ter been brokcn-hcartcd
The fine rapture 81 "of a the alrt' 'he VIE. ,'"
bawr the Christening influence OF "Johh Ahuer
son. the animatmg sentiment II 'Aul Lang oSne,
the convivial ring Of Willie Brcwcd Peek OF Maui
How often have they been summoned to gi'cc a
festival or t. cNprc,i human feeling
nor WAS the flcnity to produce mir'h denied 10
E,,rns. Readers Of Lis Wild humorous narrative Oh
D." Tam O'shanier.' and lighter minor pieces VIII
recognize a joctld spirit and n graphic Irii,S , ~,
description. while his erver MOOD !, Scn itrh ~
hOmclv pastoral ~ The Golfers SATURDAY -''hn,,
lie vas at home with Nature. and ms poem hiS
full of Illustrations drawn from field ana w''u i'm nnr
sky-thc dalsy in the meadow he tlle'i u,e ~
~ g, Ijrd the whispering Of the wind. An d'uNc
fancy Ray oonjup picture OF the bnghLeyfd pe ,,
AMI staining m the field beside his plough, MS rap.
nc tNcd on tic flower At his fcet-in his heait
The poem that ,hall lnnctalLe II. -, ,ros io,rIv
horn IL. wa, NOT Llppcd ~ luxury. and ms bIl'l
life WAS marked by struggles and dlNdrpOlh'hsh,S
,nanv 81 Them hr,nclt about by the iratcS oil lls
, '' u,fure, and vet through all his Nci-,udcs. he
bore himself with manly Independence anu Sana nt
honesty Lut ,pltc u low hilth ana o,np n i,
bccai..n az Ioth birth and wcahlcs, that he entels
:hc sanctuary ~ tie common hchrt 81 Iia', ,I,.
~ tIe rco,,c and =, Oliver Wendell Holmes beiutl
fuly said Of Iav,rd Tal or he had no CROW" 'N i'm ''
which the si~icrhoDd Of the MUSES. w'Nc 1i 'n'. ,.
am uuitc conscious tina. thcr" II loimhs ny
in the mention here made u Robert Burns. ~ o ~
rather late IN the DAY 10 uNrH NV" ~ t.
- aralvzc the charm u hiS writing, S'he Iv,t,
eucc. however. 10 a Ioc' whose lat w. ,i,r Is sn
freshue-s and tie anniversary Of whose blr'i III,
near seem, timely ana appropriate. IN" a, hur.n'
il suggests is that poetry lmnd"i upon llc ., 90
win outlivc the verse II wi-r-t umucr'lilu ~
Tho Hottest oiciiou ~ scholarship Nho@)cvcr MA"
chance 10 hear his birthday the ~ongs "i loN p
..miucui that are already familiar VIII no, ', ,i
that they were written century aS1' ing 80
Gem a. him a, matter NJ course. like hi own bn,tn.
inc and his heart will beat with an enotlon ",r .
,,h1ich limo has me- powell for love and truth ana
beauty arc a. Clil-'H'7 - wv -"'
Praise 10 the bard his words ore driven
I.ite flower seeds by the Tar Winds -o"h'
Wborcor beneath the sky OF heaven,
The birds u fame have Gown.
L kEI-E.