The herald., 1894-01-25
1.-THE DAYS 0 AULO LANG SYNE'
The Scots Will Celebrate Them
and Bobby Burns Birthday.
A Review of the Life AMI Works of
the Great Scotch Poet.
His Natal Anniversary to Be Celebrated
This Evening-The Beauties of
His Character Shown Ia
His Poetry.
TBY c. MULHoLLAND.l

WAS DOfD. 1D6 DullOtQR IN WHICH ILLS
infant came into the world was what in
California would be called a 'dobe
Hhanty.
A few nights after his birth great
storm ragged, torrents of rain softened
the clay walls and part OF the building
fell in, mother and child being in great
danger of perishing in the ruin.
The parents we're in dire poverty and
utterly unknown to all the world, ex-
cept the few neighbors scattered in the
vicinity, most OF whom were as poor as
themselves. The utmost obscnrity
shrouded the birth of this infant; pow
erty surrounded his early life; the toll
of galley slave was his daily task from
boyhood to manhood, and it seemed as
if the only end OF his being must be to
wear out his life in dradgery, till death
should return the wornout body to the
earth.
But on this anniversary of the birth Of
that child, in all countries of the world,
people will meet to do honor TO the loved
name Of Robert Burns.
Obscure as was his birth, no poet since
Shakespeare has been more written
about than Burns. His life affords
nothing in the way OF strange fortune or
remarkable adventures, and it ia only
for the came reason that Shakespeare
has been written about go much, that so
much has been written about Burns !;
both are loved beyond ell other poets.
No other poets that ever lived had
hearts 90 full of generous feeling for
their fellow creatures; none saw more
clearly all the pitiful weaknesses of hui
much tender sympathy, how much un-
selfish generosity and pure, devoted love
there is in human hearts, as these two
glorious souls whose names will live tor
ever and be linked together as the poets
of humanity.
When Burns was born the peasantry
OF Scotland were about the poorest peo-
pie IN Europe. But they were not a
people sodden in ignorance, with spirits
broken and minds dulled by despotic
rule. In no country in the world did
greater intellectual activity then exist
among the macs Of the people than in
Scotland. There were no railroads in
those days; no telegraphs, no steam
ships, not the postal facilities that now
exist and in the whole of Scotland
there were not 30 many newspapers
then published in week as are now
published every day in Los Angeles.
But even then people in the remote
farm hamlets took keen interest in all
public matters, even the great affairs of
church and state. This interest was not
confined to men 100 years before the
birth OF the poet, Jennie Ge0des made
striking theological argument in st.
Giles church with her Guilty stool.
The interest taken by the people in
public affairs is shown by Burns him
self, in The Twa Dogs, where Luath
Gays:
"They lay aside their private cares,
To mind the kirk and state affairs;
They'll talk o. patronage and priests,
With kindlipg fury in their breasts;
Or tell what new taxation's co-in',
An fertile at the folk in Lon on"
But, poor as the poet was, look into
any biography of Burns will show that
some of the best books in the English
language were read there, and not a
page of traeh was in the list. 1t is only
too common in our own country and
time to find in farm houses, even OF
well-to.do people, little else of books
than silly novels, or even more objec-
tionable trash. Parents do a cruel
wrong to their children when they allow
stupid books to come into their homes,
OF novels is not only stupid, but debas-
ing to mind and heart.
But many of the brightest men OF the
century have written biographies of
Burns, or exhaustive essays upon his
life and character. In a newspaper ar
ticle there can be little excuse for doing
more than calling attention to his birth
day, end expressing love for his dear
name.
In doing this, however, it may be par
doned if one who has loved Burns from
boyhood, and whose love increases with
years, should repeat few lines where
the poet shows his sympathy with the
joys and sorrows Of his fellow creatures.
With such nature, 30 tender, no eus-
ceptible and so ardent, it was inevitable
that Burns should compose his first
poem about love. And among all the
poets who have ever written about this
master passion, he is chief. None ever
equalled him in the delicacy, the ten.
derness, the purity with which the most
pas slonate love is expressed. While hia
heart throbs to bursting, and the blood
dashes ike lightning through his veins.
the purest and sweeteat love sOnge flow
from his pen, and all nature is invoked
to prove the purity as we'll as the inten-
sity of his love.
GLOW lofty, sweet Alton thy neighboring hills
Far marhed with the courses Of clear winding
ri &;
There d,iiy wander as noon rises high,
Ny hocks aud my Marys sweet cot i'll my eye
How peasant thy banks and green va leys
b. low,
Where wlid in The woodlands the piimroses
blow
There of mild evening cps over the lea
Thy sweet-scenied birkssnAde my Mary and me-
'Thy crystal stream, Alton, how lovely it glides
Ana winds by he cot VIII re my Mary Resides;
HOW wantOn thy water her snowy leet lave,
AS gather ny sweet fowerets she stems thy clear
wave"
The sight OF sweet maiden innocence
for him halowed the banks of every
stream.
How, pleasant the banks of the clear winding
Devon.
with greer-spreading bushes and flowers
blooming fair;
But the bonnitst flower on the banks of the
Devon
Was once sweet bud on the braes of the Ayr
"Mild be the sun on this sweet blnshins flower
IN tne gay, rosy morn as IL bs sles ii the new,
And gentle the fan OF the soft, vernal shower
mi steals on the evening eacn LEAF 10 re-
new"
In the absence OF tie object OF his
love nature In all her moods Slls hie
soul with sadness.
"fhou layerock that springs frae the dews of