The Independent. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1895-1905, 1897-01-26

GAS Burns heart was big enough,
so was his genius comprehensive
enough to embrace and illustrate all
subjects, and that is just why he
was real poet, which means true
poet, for verso that is not true, that
does not see nature face to face with
out coat and without affection may
be iaultless as rhyme, but it is not
poetry and is doomed to oblivion.
sit is his intimacy with and thor
ough understanding of nature that
enables Burns to reach all hearts.
He does not stand apart and tell
how the Cottar's Halloween is cele-
brated or what happened when
Willie brewed a peck O. maui. He
actually sees it all and is taking
part as he writes in the devotions,
the frolic, or the conviviality, and
so enables the reader to picture it
to himself and see it, too, and en-
Joy it.
eminent men whom she delights to
honor, but none other, i think, at
once so loving and 80 gifted as
Ro bert Burns, her favorite son. His
big heart sympathized with all sorts
and conditions of men, from the
Earl Of Glencairn to the jolly beg
gars, and his splendid genius en-
abled him to express that sympathy
so as to reach all mems hearts; that,
| take it, is why all sorts and condi-
tions OF men unite to do honor to
his memory on the 25th OF January.
There are many sides to Burns
literary work. have briefly sketch
ed what | think is the great feature
OF it, and shall not attempt anything
further in that direction.
81 should like, however, to say a
few words about the man, and let
me say at once, and L take the
liberty OF saying it on behalf of the
Thistle Club, that we are not met
here tonight to apologize, in the
slightest measure, for Robert Burns.
mo doubt, there is still remnant
of the 'uncoguid' that think or affect
to think that the celebration of his
birthday might with advantage be
left alone; that his was not q good
example; that he was this, that and
the next thing-and by no means
worthy Of being celebrated Burns
being mortal, was not perfect, but
with all his imperfections we are
proud of him, and let me say that
it took just the sort of man that
Burns was to do what he did and
place him on all but the very high.
est pinnacle of literary fame,
ave may regret the rantin' roar
in episodes, the pints o wine and
gowden locks, but we must admit
that it took them all to produce
Aud Lang Syne' and MY Nannies'
AVA, as we'll as Tam o. Shanter'
and the There Was Lad Born in
Kyle
"'Hell hae misfortunes great and
sma'
But aye a heart aboon them a.;
He'll be credit till us a.
Well a. be prood O. Robin"
At the conclusion, Mr. Cation re.
ceived hearty round OF applause
for his eloquent address.
"Scotland-Our Native Land" was
the next toast, and this was replied
to by Chieftain Thos. Black, who
recalled TO his hearers memory.
Some of the many names who had
made Scotland famous the world
DER: James Watt, Nasmyth, Napier,
in science and mechanics; Scott,
Burns, Campbell, Carlyle in litera-
ture; Livingston Bruce and Mungo
Park as African explorers, and the
gallant lads who had destroyed the
French guards at Waterloo, the
then red line of Alma's heights, and
the stormers of Lucknow.
The Chairman himself made few
remarks in response to the toast
| ,yb;ob follouad HJawaii N N; tba