The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-01-26
m HONOR OF BURNS.
.~~rTsH SOCIETY OF SEATTLE
~~rEBRA TEs POETS BIRTHDAY.
pyexramme of Appropriate Songs
ssA Recitaffons-Goiiins' Hall the
scene of a Characteristic CeIebrs-
sfea of the People Who Love 10
call Him .Bobby--Rex. Donald
poss Euiogfxes Him I'm an Able
AHdress-Ths Affair Winds I'D
with "a Bsii.

/ sareNafxe between 80 and 51N mem DFS&
= tie Scottish colony OF Seattle ard their
s,s,r1s gathered a. Collins hall isst sven
| - 10 celebrate the i5sfh anniversary Of
- birth Of Bobby" Burns. whom Rev.
1,onaId Ross characterized In an eulogy as
eeo;la'k prince Of poets
| That Seattle should commemorate the
saspscious event was determined a. meet
M OF the Scottish Society held about ten
Axrs ago al which time COMMITTEES WAS
s,eosnted. consisting OF MessrE j. J..
Provin. J. r. sfirrat. William CHISHOLM,
MATTHEW Dow, james McCaligm and
T.onsd McRae, 70 formulate a scheme for
rroperiy reminding Scotchmen and all the
,s>t OF the world OF the honor and loving
remembrance in which the poet Is held.
These patriotic sentiments found express
ebsn last night "a an elaborate affair, con-
ssstlng OF q banquet and an interesting
srogsamme, at the c0Elelasi0n OF whlch the
seor gas cleared of ne tables and chairs
ana ball carried the festivities far into
he time that. considering tbs event. may
b. Iegifimaieiy spoken Of as the wee. ana
kours.
me bonntifufly spread tables we're ar
ranged at the east end OF the hail. and
cd and young did ample justice TO the
portion OF the programme allotted to feast
.ag There was nothing Characteristic OF
the big gathering beyond the feeling that
was expressed In ths programme and the
selections from the writings OF Burns
mat hung upon the wal. II was a repre-
sentative. well dressed, thoroughly Amer
lean crowd. ioyal 70 American instifu-
nons. bat with an Unborn love for the poet
EhoHn they had gathered TO honor.
Following the feasslug Judge Me6siivra.
chairman OF the evening. called the
laughing. goasiping aAsenbiage 20 order.
aud ia a few well chosen words remind
ed his hearers OF the occasions igupor-
lance 70 Seofchmen, and saying thar the
committee had arranged a place fer him
on the programme IN which be was 10
speak on "Rambles Through Scotland"
he reviewed a trip that he and Mrs. Nc
sslivra had taken a few years ago. he
gave graphic description OF some % this
seenes through which they had passed.
emphasizing those incidents associated
with the life and work Of Burns.
The remaining part OF the progrs mime,
which Judge Mcsiiiyra announced. was as
follows:
''.. ........'..s.,..'...',.. REV. Donald Ross
Song. Rantin' Robin Mr.. Joseph stlrrat
Gong. Mary of Argyle" Misc Mary Gray
Song. SCOTS Wha' Hae" ....-..........
'.................M r. William Blanchard
Recitation My First Bawese ..,. 49,
Song. 'Blue-Eyea Lassie' ....... 800.
.......................... Mrs. G. NJ. Eddy
Song. The Gold D!gEer" .....t.....s....
Following Miss Gray's song Mr.. Ross
spoke upon the matter OF psFfecting an
organization OF seotchmen and ali others
Who had any Scotch blood In their veins
h the city OF Seattle. The suggestion met
sith fsvor but no steps were taken last
night 10 effect such an organization.
The decorations OF the hall were limited
10 a portrait Of Burns. surrounded by
sreaiD OF thisties. fanked by the notices:
And there's a hand. my tTusty friend"
and gies a hand o. thine"
The honest man though ere sac poor.
+ KING q men for a that
On the opposite side OF the han Was
picture OF the birthplace 81 the poet. and
farther along one % the AUD brig
o Doom" made famous In Tam o'shan-
ter
The address on Robert Burns by Mr.
Ross was A long and comprehensive paper
en- the life 81 Sootl8nd's greatest minstrel.
whom be spoke Of first as a man I'm human
characteristics. individual. intellectual
and social. second. as 70 his poetic mys-
seriousness or cemplexity. Mr.. Ross said
thar Il he spoke of him IN the latter sense
he would not be tho Burns that al Scotch
men admire. lie defended his faults as
soiiews:
The HIGHER a man rises IN mental or
mofal strength. the greater do his faults
appear II faults he has. But some one
xl!l say BurnR' failings are very bad. 80
they are looked al from our standpoint.
But please remember the surroundings.
In hts day society WAS Just emerging from
3 sent-bRrharous condition. wars. eNtcf~
aai wars internal conflicts. civil. reiig-
BUS political. had prevailed for years.
Their effects were stlll felt II you call 20
remembrance the social condition or the
rsasautry. Living in mud houses. poor,
srerant, 80 Tar as general Information
i concerned. rude method 0f huEhandfNi
Isolated in their little giens from the rest
u mankind. means OF Intelligence largely
sananed 10 the village Inn. churchyard
and xosslpers OF the community. newspa-
rsfs rare, n luxury which only the rich
ea8it obtain: books scarce. hence means
q Information limited. The father ~
Burns. however. WAS an exception his
HhTafy. though small indicating his liter
Afy tastes and attainmeuts Methods OF
travel were slow. roads bad, days. weeks.
months ware consumed In travelling from
enc point OF the country % the other
Women and men tolied together In the
Heid az the forge. everywhere. and lived
tegether IN q one-roomed cottage. Add 10
iaese disabilities supcrstttions. prejudice,
wHchcTaft, hatreds. strtfes. and the
erawning carse Of all I'm the social GUS
lam or drink. strong drink. FOR a full pic
taFe OF which refer You 20 Dean Ram
avs account of Scottish lie loo wears
go. and history OF progress IN Great
britain. when ministers ana people drank
y excess. Three fourfhs OF the nation
we're In a stupcr OF self-satisfacfiofi-fo
sc protesting against any new idea pro-
Fesed or method suggested or improve
mset desired IN industry srt or COM
Ae9ce. resisting - blood any changes and
fehdac', saving, Ask for the old paths