The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-01-26
ROBERT BURNS'S BIRTHDAY
Fittingly Celebrated by the Caledon-
ian Club Last Night.

Y NJ c. A Hall was given over to the
Scotch last night when the Caledonian
Quoting Club celebrated the Burns anniver-
sary There was q large audience and an
enthu sastic one The platform was decor
ated with palms, flowers, flags and the
portraits Of Walter Scott and Robert Burns.
To announce the gathering of the clans Mr..
James lBryson played THE Campbells Are
Coming on the bagpipes while marching
up and down in front. of the platform. A
stray black dog followed. at respectful dis
tance evidently wondering at the strange
instrument. The officers of the club soon
came in and took their places in chairs on
the platform. A company of six in High
land costume and six IN full dress sang
Gault welcomed the audience briefly, to the
entertainment which celebrated the fifteenth
niversary of the ..Plownlan Poet. Robert
Burns" Then he introduced Doctor Mil
burn.
The first word that the speaker said was
II am not Doctor but plain Mister
and that he would not make an address but
loved the Scotch and he had good reason to,
as he was Scotch on his maternal side,
which probably agcoInas Tor NY tnf Sh,5
mentioned the Scotch, in the matter of
clothes, the picturesque. costume just seen,
pipes and the cairn CORN, and ut puts to
blush the Prince Albert he said; the Ian
gS SaEgrn Oh bo 9ne Iasse and other Words
the literature with it's power and orgi-
nality; the great philosophers Hume and
Sir William Hamilton; the economist, Adam
Smith: the biographer, Boswell. the his
torian, Carlyle; the greatest mind, next to
SHAKESPEARE Sir Walter he se said ..vbv SCOT
land should be loved is because it was made
immortal by Robert Burns: His was a COM
in an ordinary sphere. To speak of him as
poet is to speak of sweet songs. The SIM
What Mr.. James Viii comb Riley remarked:
L don't know about Milton When take
up Paradise Lost, feel like putting on my
overalls.' and again. when the information
was given that Milton received only $25 for
Paradise Lost, Mr.. Riley said that might
have been a good price for the Seventeenth
century. but If he should write it to-day s.
would be good price. Burns speaks a
common speech, of common sense to COM
Poetry is the patriotism. He. sang songs
which every SCctchman should love. Then
his weakness and his strength: but in his
weakness he had great company, for many
of the great of earth had ms same weakness
and his same virtue. Scotland is the home
of songs. This seems strange when
know that the only Scotch instrument is
but what would it be to court lassie, and
what for a lullaby, 1t is mighty in battle
Mr. Milbuyn then quoted the different
songs of Scotland; for nerve and dash,
s Green grow the rHshfs Ole for love- Righ
in Heaven All were effectively given, Mr..
Miiburn closed that part with a quotation
from the Burns of the Augustan era
Horace. He lacked the honors in his life
but now he has the coronation. in the
hearts of men" Mr., Milburn was frequent
ly applauded during his remarks and sew
eral times was interrupted by the applause
Thu programme which followed was a rich
Scottish treat There were twenty
numbers on the list and many recalls were
given. The corcert lasted we'll on 10 midi
night Mr.. c. Reisger played violia solo
Blue Bells of Scotland. with variations
and at the end of nearly every part the
audi, nee applauded. He was ably accom-
panied by Mrs. Retyger. Fer response he
played a medley OF Scc,tish airs which were
well received. The Highland Fling danced
by Messrs. Coutts and Stewart in fun ces-
tune. to the music of the bagpipes played
by Mr.. Bryson, and the Scotch reel by the
same men and Messrs. West an / Ferguson
were fine. Among the others who took part
were Miss May Johnson, Miss Josephine
Robinson, Mr.. j. NJ. L. Kerr, Pref. AIcsAvoy,
Mr. Carl Cam, ron, Messrs. Kerr. Louden
stewsrt and Clerk; Mr.; Norris Neck, Miss
Mr.. Hugh Campbell, and Mr.. James Cam
eron. At the end of the programme the
audieI.te Joined in singing Aud Larg
Syne."