The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-01-25
BIG FLOW OF SOUL
Birth of Bobby Burns Celebrated Last
Night In Grand style.

Night In Grand style.
The noble sons Of Scotland and good
fellows generally celebrated the ami
Versary of the birth of Bobby Burns,
the poet of nature and of the heart, at
Red Mems hall last night by q ban
quet that was replete with good things.
Those who have never attended Bob
by Burns banquet cannot appreciate
fully the meaning of good fellowship.
There is something about the memory
of the author of Tom O'Shanter that
arouses the wild and frolicsome good
nature of the heart and tunes it up to
the point that il must have a good time
or its strings will burst. 1t was ever
thus since Bobby first wooed the muse
and it viii ever continue 10 be so long
as verse of his poetry will live in the
memory Of MANN other words, until
man viii be no more and this world is
as dead as the pale moon that now re-
fleets its borrowed light upon il.
Today is really the birthday OF the
great poet who gave new glory to his
country and more exalted honor to his
race, but for the convenience of bust
ness men, who wished to attend, the
event was dated for last night.
y long table was stretched across the
spacious hail and magnet was placed
at each end of 1t in the persons of Mr.
George Van Werden, the chaplain Of
the occasion, and John II. Purdy Of
Dallas, Tex, who always has sunshine
in his soul, as POSTMASTER.
The table was ornamented with fine
spreading ported ferns and flowers. 1t
contained everything that the heart
could wish in the line of edibles 1t
was not edibles the boys wanted how
ever. but flow of soul and in due time
Mr.. Purdy brought down the end of his
fork upon the table and called for
speeches. As every man was intro
duced the entire assembIage sang:
HE is a Jolly Good Fellow" If any
thing in the world would inspire ora
tory nearly as well as the memory OF
Burns it is the same song. 1t gives
a man time to wear out the shock and
establishment incident to being sudden
" called upon and the result was that
although the speeches Were imprOmp-
III they were eloquent, timely and wit
~ beyond all expectations.
Among the very best speeches made
were those delivered by DR.. Fabrique,
then Mr. KendeH. the undertaken. then
DR.. .McClees, and following him by Mr..
George Van Werden, the druggist. This
quartet represented mortality and the
uncertainty OF human life. Mr.. Victor
Murdoch OF the Eagle and Mr.. Ander-
son of the Beacon delivered eloquent
addresses on tnS press as the EN- Diem
of truth and purity. David Wallace,
manager Of the Whitaker Packing
company, made a brilliant talk on
Burns and in response TO an enchore
danced a Scottish hOrnpipe that fairly
heat anything the audience had ever
seen for its fantastic figures and for
the energy of its motions. T. h Nc
Lean sung a Gaelic song that reached |
the right spot. He was highly ap-
plauded. John Stewart favored the |
audience with some of his own fine
rhymes which he rendered in artistic |
style.
Sheriff Cone made a speech that wa |
received with hilarious applause by I
every one present and the last number /
on the program that was rendered be- |
fore the Eagle reporter left was a beau |
tful and touching recitation by Mr.. |
John II. Purdy.
The others billed for speeches were /
Frank Oliver. James Emo. Tom Hlg- /
gins and Michael koehane
Il was matter OF regret that Dr. /
Fordyce was absent. he having gone /
east on visit, but all agreed that his \
heart was with them
The Oriel Sable quartet furnished 1
some elegant vocal music and the North .
Main Street Mandolin Club rendered .
some charming selections
Piano music was also d fine feature
Of the entertainment
The Burns banquet Of 1896 was n
event that VIII long be remembered by
those who participated ia r..