The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1899-07-26
ARTHUR ROPES. General Editor.
Robert Burns.

One hundred and forty years ago, on
the 25th day of January last, was born
in clay.built cottage, near Ayr, Scot
land, peasant boy whose fame has en-
circled the earth, growing brighter
with the passing years, and in whose
honor memorial figures have been
erected in many lands beyond "Old
Scotia'sn shores. To-day, in the city
of Barre, in far away land, seven
score years after the time of his birth,
up among the Green Hills of Vermont,
the Scotland of America, his country
men of the Burns Club further perpetu-
ate his fame and add to his honor.
The peasant child became the nation
al bard of Scotland. While he fol-
lowed the plough and titled the land
his genius developed its native ener-
gies in those strains which have made
his name "familiar to all future times,
the admiration of every civilized coun-
try, and the glory and boast of his
own" He was the poet of the people.
His genius was harp of a thousand
strings, and each string vibrated re-
sponsive to soul that felt every pas
sion or emotion that stirs the human
heart. In no conventional sense, he
has been the peoples poet for GEN.
fury and quarter, and will continue to
be for centuries to come. Scotchmen
long ago Lost the monopoly of his
name. He has acquired citizenship in
the affections of every people under
the sun. The Burns Club, in honoring
the poet, is simply an exponent OF the
feelings, an agent by the right of blood
kinship, of the people both of this i'm
mediate locality and the whole State of
Vermont. Scotch hands have CHS
elled the statue and Scotch contribu-
tions have provided the money, but
Burns is presented to this people in
Barre granite, and the union of popular
interest in the poet is thus substan-
TALLY exemplifed.
Three years ago on July q, the
world was observing the centenary of
the bard's death. At the age of thirty
seven years his star was quenched, but
its light,
"Still streaming downward from the sky
Shines on our mortal sight"
In the space of some ten years the
foundation was laid, more enduring
than Barre granite, of his abiding fame.
Millions have laughed over his satires
upon those who had incurred the poets
resentment, sometimes 'sas much dis
tinguished for their coarse severity and
bitterness as for their genius; been
merry over the adventures of Tam
O'Shanter, led to the serene heights
of homely virtue and piety by "The
Cotter's Saturday Night" marveled at
the poetic resources in "Wee, sleekit,
cow'rin' tim'rous beastie" of mouse,
felt his manhood ennobled by "A Mans
Man for a. That" thrilled with pat
riotic impulse by "Scots wha haze wi
Wallace bled." An exquisite pathos
and humor, a strong manly sense, a
mastery command of felicitous Ian
guage, graphic power of delineating
scenery, manners and incidents, are
conspicuous in his various poems.
Whence came these qualities to the
rustic poet, to the humble holder of an
excise commission at seventy pounds q
year? What brought to him the inter
est that at the time of his death drew
ten thousand people of all ranks to his
grave? What was the source of a per
ennal fame achieved before the men
tai powers of man have ordinarily
reached their maturity? They were
not the product of education, rank OF
wealth. The poet was born, not made,-
born with an abundance of mortal frail
ties, endowed with heavenly genius
The grosser parts have passed away
what was divine survives. To thi
men pay reverence and build monu
ments.