The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-01-26
Annual Banquet of the Caledonian
Club at the Westminster.
PRAISES OF THE BARD OF AYR
Many Eloquent Speakers in Beautiful
Language Told OF the Merits OF Scot.
land and Her Immortal poct-Thosc
Who Attended the Banquet.

|
numbers in every corner and part Of
the globe.
Born 1876 years ego, Robert Burns has
left behind him monuments which Will
never fade. In truth, the genius Of
Scotland, his writing ana exquisite
poems are held almost sacred by tae
Highland laddies and the sentiments
depicted the plain and con.ened life
oS tine shepherds upon Scot!as rugged
brows bring back to the memory Of
those inforelgn c,imes the charms Of the
homes Of their youth and the days of
their happy childhood. No wonder,
then, that the representatives of the
Caledon.aEs in Scranton should be en-
thusiastic in rever!ng and hunO9,ng the
memory Cr one who occupied an essen
tial pant in the history of their country
and nation.
The banquet which celebrated the
event in this city was held last night
in the spacious banquet hall OF the
WeStmlHn!er hotel under the auspices
Of the Cllcdon!ln club, whore most
elaborate arrangements had been made
for the convenience of the guests and in
decorating the tables. which Were
loaded with the choicest viands and
del!cacics of the season. Chief John
Simpson formally opened the banquet
and requested Rev. James Mcleod TO
say grace, after which eX-Chief John
PiWc recitc1, with much dramatic ef-
feet, "Tao the HagEis."
The menu was a. follows:
Those Who Attended.
The following sat around the supper
| h, Inhn Mice
tha Lewis, John NJ. Harris, Miss Mat
tie Evans, Miss Anna Russell, Thomas
| Russell, Mr.. and Mrs David Spruks,
Dr.. and Mrs. Stein, Alex. Dunn, jr.,
Miss Julia Allen, David Thurman, Miss
Jemima Jones, Mir. and Mrs. j. Scott
Ingls. Mr.. and Mrs. John Pirie, MIR.
and Mrs. John McWillams, Mr.. and
Mrs. James Williams, Mrs. George A.
| Highfeld, Mr.. and Mrs. John Nelson,
Miss McNenna, Robert McKenna, Mr..
and Mrs James Moir jr., Miss d. Wen2,
Misses Jennie and Jessie Alexander,
Douglas Harris, William Reid, George
Mcdonald, DR.. G. ID. Murray, James
Cranston, James r. Skeoch, Mr.. and
Mrs. w. s. Jones, Alexander Hadden,
Miss Agnes Glencross, Mr.. and Mrs.
Thomas Henderson, Mrs. A. Moses, Mr..
and Mrs. Alexander Turnbull, Mr.. and
Mrs. John Hayes. Miss Bushnell, Will
lam Bushnell. Mr.. and Mrs. Walter
Collins, Mr. and Mrs. John Ross. Mr..
and Mrs. John Jeffreys, Alexander JEFF
rreys James Jeffreys, Lindsay McMil-
Ian. Mr. and Mrs. James Allan. r. F..
Maxwell and Miss Maxwell, of Carbon
dale: Nelson Teets, Rev. James Nc
| NT, pc
James Moir, ST.. Enos T. Hall, Mr.. and
Mrs. S. C.. Kerr, Robert Stewart,
Thomas a. jeffrey, John f. Roche,
Robert Bushnell. John Borthwick, n.
Northacier, W. j. Ewart, of Reading,
Pa; Alex. Dunn, sr., Miss Dorothy
Powell. Taylor; Mr.. and Mrs. John
Lambie, NJ. r. O'Toole. Nelson Teets,
T. owen Charles, Mr.. and Mrs. j. H..
Fellows, Clarence a. Pryor, w. l.. Lea,
George Grahame, Alex. Brown and f..
C. Hand.
Letter from Burns.
During the banquet letter in the
handwriting of Robert Burns was read
by Dr. Steen, of Scranton. The letter
was dated "Ellesland, June l6, 17SS"
and referred to family matters. The
letter was written in legible hand and
was we'll preserved. At the conclusion
of the banquet at L. o'clock Rev. James
Mcleod returned thanks in appropri-
ate terms, after which Miss Julia Allen
played pianoforte overture prepara-
| tory to the speeches of the evening.
Chief John Simpson acted as toastmas-
ter and in his introductory remarks re-
ferred to the life history OF Robert
| Burns in eulogistic terms. Mrs. David
| SprukS sang Bonnie Sweet Bessie"
and gave an effective Interpretation of
this favorte Scotch ballad, which so
delighted the company that an encore
was demanded.
EX-Chief James Moir responded to
"The Memory OF BuTns," and said that
ne could not do justVte to the memory
of the great poet, whose name meant
Scotland condensed into a personality.
Thoy were met, not to lament over his
shortcomings, to rejoice over his aspira-
tions Burns appeared at time when
poets were at a low ebb. Self-cultured,
lively imagination endowed with com
mon sense, and all these blended with
a gift of music, made the ploughman
poet the greatest lyric poet of modern
times His works created a revolution
in the world of poets. His sympathy
was unbounded. Some of the eminent
critics were of the opinion that his
power of words was inferior to his
poetic power, but Burns, nevertheless,
was a scholar of his times. Captain
Moir concluded by quoting several eX-
tracts from the works of the poet.
Attorney J. i. Scragg responded to
the toast, "The President of the United
States. and said that they assembled
to do honor to the memory of man,
who, possessing great genius as poet,
partook in part of the frailties of hui
man nature which created in him
power they had never since seen. In
meeting together to honor such man
as Burns they were in reality honor
ing themselves. Scotland had many
eminent writers in prose and verse
vet the people had but one one poet,
the subject of their meeting that even
ing. The Scotch Were a sturdy and
hardworking people whose, advent to
| this land was always welcome and If
all those who arrived In this country
were their equal I'm industry they would
be equally welcome and the problem
of emigration would soon be solved.
Mr. Scragg paid a warm tribute to the
good qualities of THE emlgrants from
Scotland and trusted that the time was
not far distant when the presidency of
the United States would be occupied by
a representative of this nationality.
While speaking on this subject he de-
nounced the unjust criticism passed
upon the president of the United States
and his cSief officers.
They sh sild, as far as possible. dis
courage all such criticism. as 1t tended
to weaken the authority and influence
of the executive. In this country 1t was
Unfortunately the case that all citi-
L. nna lfnnrlnad them enlves To ha thnrn