The daily morning journal and courier., 1896-01-25
"BURSs BIRrH oELEnRArED.o

Despite the stormy Weather n Large Audi ence Crowds Warner Hall in Honor of Burns Natal Day-Stirring and Patriotic speech by Dr. Munger-Burns' Songs sung by New Haven Artists and Cheered 10 the Echo.
 "For a that and a that
 It's coming yet for a that
 When man to man the world OCT
 Shall brithers be for a that"
 One hundred and thirty-seven years ago to-day a Blast O Januar's Wind Blew Hansel in on Robin," i'm other words that is the time that has elapsed since Scotland ploughman bard first saw the light of day and for the greater part of century Scotsmen in all parts of the world have met on the twenty fifth of January to celebrate his natal day. The addresses that have been written on him and delivered from plat forms are probably greater than that of any poet, if not of any man that ever lived, and why? Because his songs and poems have touched the hearts of the people in a way that no other writer has ever done. Because of the sheer ity that characterized the writings of the poet, and because of the fact that he was a man among men. The cele- bration at Warmer hall last night was the twenty-ninth which has been held in this city and like its predecessors was held under the auspices of the New Ha- ven Caledonian club. The proceedings commenced at 8 o'clock with a concert which was presided over by Chief John Brown, who was accompanied to the platform by the orator of the evening, Rev. Dr. Munger of the United church. The others on the platform were James H. Macdonald John Henderson, Alex ander Dingwall, William Moffat, R. D. Pryde, Robert MacDougall and Andrew Currie. Chief Brown in opening the proceedings spoke of the pleasure it gave him of being chairman of their Burns anniversary at the beginning of the second quarter century of the clubs career. He was chairman at it's third celebration in 1873 and with one excep- tion had attended all of the twenty five that had taken place. He then spoke of the aims and objects of the club and the desirability of all Scotsanen becom- ing interested in it's welfare.
 The concert was opened by MT. Mo Carthy singing Burns Highland Mary" He responded to an encore, giving Annie Laurie, his rendition of which would have taken better had he added less force and a little more sym pathy in his singing of it.
 Our ain Lizzie" came next (Miss Gaffney) and her singing of Belle oTweedside" fairly captivated the au- dience. She gave as an encore in her 'Sair for Somebody
 MT. Miles who has powerful bass voice, which he knows how to use with effect next gave '.Ye Banks and Braes" :" This song is hardly suited for a solo, and MT. Miles was placed at a disad- vantage in selecting it. But his martial and spirited rendering of Scots Wha Hae'' more then regained him his repu- tation Few men who are not Scotsmen by birth can enter into the sentiment of a Scotch song as Mir. Miles can.
 Miss Graves then gave a sympathetic rendering of "Auld Robin Gray" and as an encore Better Bide a. Wee.''
 The samedi Banjo club under the leadership of MT. J. Walker next gave a good account of themselves, which was highly appreciated, Judging from the applause of the audience. The Bonnie Banks of Lochlomonde," by Misses Gaffney and Graves and Messrs. Miles and Mccarthy closed the first part of the program, at the conclusion of which the Rev. Dr. Munger gave his address on Burns which we print below and which speaks for itself The singing of ssAuld Lang Syne" terminated the cele- bration, after which the annual dance of the club took place, the grand march being led by ex-Chief R. D. Pryde and Miss Brown. daughter of Chief John Brown.
 The whole affair reflected the highest credit on the members of the club and scotsmen generally. The following were the committees who carried the ar engagements to a, successful finish:
 Committee of arrangements-R D. Pryde, John Hume, John Thomson, An- drew Pcken, George Wood, Andrew Currie.
 Reception committee-Alex Dingwall David Blackie, Samuel Maclauchlan James Macdonald, John Henderson, w. c. Mcintosh, Alexander Wilson.
 The Rev. Dr. Munger said in part:
 One hundred and ten years ago, in Edinburgh, in the house of Professor Adam Ferguson, Walter Scott, lad of fifteen, met Robert Burns, man of twenty-seven. The boy was stumbling over his lessons at school and the man was tasting the first sip of the cup of glory which Scotland put to his lips.
 Burns was looking at a print of a sol- dier lying dead in the snow, his dog sit- ting in misery on one side--on the oth- CT his widow, with child in her arms. Robert Burns did not comment on the well drawn dog, the accurately sketched lineaments of death on the soldiers features; the folds of the wid- ows dress. He was not critic; he was a poet Beneath the picture were some lines which he read with tears flowing down his face. The poet did not see the picture, he, saw the scene itsef,-the soldier Cold on Canadian Hills, on Minden's plain" the blind misery of the dog. the conscious misery of the wife, the babe that deepened the pathos of the whole Being poet, and such a poet as he was, he was not distanced by the art of the picture, but went past it as though it were not, to the reality and saw it first hand and therefore in its full meaning.