The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-01-26
BOBBY BURNS BIRTHDAY.
The Scotch Of Helena Celebrate the
Anniversary w . Banquet
at tho Belyidere.
Speeches, Songs and Toasts, With
Some Music On the
Bagpipes.
An Eloquent Tribute to tho Posts Memory
BY j. w. simpson-A Cslsbration
Memorable.

BY u. w. simpaon-A Celebration
Memorable.
Robert BurAa' birthday. the anniversary
Of which occurred Yesterday, was celebratsd
by the Scottish residents Of Helena aud
vicinity with a banquet and entertainment
at the Relvidere house. Nearly everyone In
these parts with Gaelic blood in his veins
attended. The tables in the large dining
room were filed with tho good things to
be had i n Montana, conspicuous among
which was haggis worthy Of q grace and a.
lang as the arm" and . seemingly mex
haustibls bowl Of hot SCOTCH. There was
speaking and singing and instrumental
music, including Highland airs on the bag
pipes. The celebration was kept up TO the
wee sma' h'urs beyant the twep." The
principal speech Of ths evening was that q
j.. b. Simpson, who said in part:
.'One hundred and thirty-thrss years ago
to-day. within ! humble cottage near the
banks of tho bonnie Doune and within
sound Of the bell Of Alloway kirk, there
was born to Scotland and the world . man
child. No joy.bells FLASHED at his birth.
No o%bsequious menials were there to vel
como the arrival OF an heir to ancestral
wealth and renown. No salvos Of artil-
lery a from battery walls. Only the
heart Of q peasant woman was glad within
her, as she pressed her baby to hor breast
and thrust away the carkinR cares Of the
morrow. Tonight. In every village, town
and city Of our lain oountrie," On tho
sweltering plains Of Hindostan; on the far
stretching sheep-runs Of Australia; around
the diamond fields OF Africa; by the Con
COS mighty flood, and Niles more classic
stream: on the islands Of the ocean,; whore
the Hudson and the mighty Missouri roll
down to the sea; on our coast lands. our
prairies, amid the glorious majesty Of tho
snow-kissed Rockies; under punkah, cotton
roses that are b~lossominR under tho
southern cross; amid Arctic ice and whore
the radiant efulgsnce Of q tropio light
sheds luster on the scene, and where the
great smoke scents each Highland olachan;
wherever kindly Scots are gathered together.
linked with doughty patriotism and sturdy
Independence, wherever the name OF
ScotchmAn stands for integrity a success.
wherever Gods sun shines on fair women
and brave men, therein thousands and
tens OF thousands, q multitude that no man
can uUx0Uols WAbA IA OAcAN0A0uA sAUss
tingles to tho very marrow. and With 9
pride that 10 bono Of their bono and flesh
Of their flesh, the sons and the daughters
Of bonnie Scotland are drinking, drinking
as we do now, to the immortal memory OF
Robert Burns. /.
Yes, immortal, for how nobly our national
bard has won his place in the national
heart you know. You know his sturdy,
democratic Independence. his glowing
patriotism and his wide, far-reachinR, all
embracing sympathetic nature. For you
and for your children these and many
another noble quality and endowment are
a priceless inheritance. Here was 9 man
who, In spite Of the trammels Of his birth,
in spite Of the narrow groove OF his sur
roundings, could strip the tinse!led trap
pings from empty and position, whc
never did mistake the husk for the kernel
the noblest creed Of the noblest democracy
Burns was q patriot worthy OF q patriotic
nation. In his veins there flowed q tide o.
noblest love for his country. 10 him the
names of Bruce and of Wallace were those
Of %demigods. Who but = scotohman and
VIVA Hae?' From its short. thunderous
lines blazes forth the very flame Of Scot
tish Independence. As We read We can lift
the veil from the bygons past, once more
We can see the naughty squadrons OF tn
Scottish band. Hark to the tumultuout
tread of their infantry! Sec their pennon'
Haunting in the summer breeze! Listen to
the contemptuous blare of their buRles
But now, the Bruce is up, the battle meets,
the Southrons, 10, the Southrons, are II
for life. and Scotland. thank God, is free
And who shall do Justice to the Rrea
catholic heart Of the man, with his love fol-
his fellow-men, for every creature God haI
made, for nature herself? H liveth best
who loveth best all things both great and
small" said an English poet, and Of
truth the heart Of Burns was the very tenn
pie and high altar of universal sympathy
and love. Here was a poet, mark you, Will
a heart attuned to noble ends, with a mint
that WAS fitted to enjoy tho rsrest pearls Q
intellectual and social life-born in 9 big
GIN and doomed to die q gauger! Won X
It have been wonderful if he had tnrnet
misanthrope or oynic? Bat nos; graft nd,
wells from his heart in a torrent.
'.The Bridegroom may forget the bride
Was made his welded wife yest're'en;
The monarch may forget the crown
Tint lately on his head has been;
The mother may forget the babe
That smiles go sweetlJ on her knee;
But Ill remember thee, Glencairn,
And all that thou hast done for me-"
To him his auld mare Maggie was q we'll
loved friend. The mountain daisy, uptorr
by his plow, and the field mouse, scarce
ID AAOu y AObts aAOA6O - = q AOOA "
sympathy and regret. His charity knows
no limits. 1t is divine. Under this shelter
ing shadow of its wings even Clootie him.
self can find q refuge.
OF course he loved the lasses. He die
that as naturally as he breathed. II need.
acynio or u philosopher to reach the othe
climax of absurdity, and Burns was neither
Was il Shakespeare who spoke of the lovel
"sighing like a furnace?" Here is the gal
liant himself in the very body:
Go bring to mo a pint of wine,
And fill it in a silver tassie;
For l must drink, before 4 20,
service to my bonnie iassie.
The boat rocks at the pier of Leith. ~
Cold blows the wind across the ferry;
lhe ship rides by the Berwick Lau
And / must leave my bonnie Mary.
.'1he trumpets sound. the banners fly.
The giittering spears are ranked ready,
Tho shouts of war are heard afar,
49, The battle closes deep and bloody.
'Iia nottlie roar OF sea or shore