Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1900-02-03
COUNTY NEWS.
The Memory oi'BurnS.

club hall, that place, Thursday even
ing of last week, 18th ult.
The exercises began with song by
the club
There was a lad born i'll Kyle
To this was added vocal solo by
George Chapman
The place where BObie was born.
James Chapman was called to the
char at all opportuue stage of the JOY
GUS exercises and at once delivered, on
behalf of the club, an eloquent address
OF welcome to its hOspitalIties Mr..
Chapman said
Gcntleue,s aud FciIor Uemberx-
feel highly honored in having the oppor-
tunity of addressing you this evening" be-
cause | think | can say | am the first of all
our chairmen that has been asked to make an
address of welcome. Others older and better
qualified to perform the task have occupied
the chair, yet the Club has passed them by
and imposed this duty upon me, one of its
youngest and humblest members.
In looking around this evening | see those
who are III the full bloom of manhood, who
will have to carry our banner long after the
noble fathers Of our Club have passed away,
never forgetting the sage advice of those
whose gray hairs honor this presence.
We have met here this evening to celebrate
the birth of one of Scotand's noblest sons
and best poets, and am delighted to extend
welcome to all of yOu-to those strong in
their youthful might us well as those whose
mature age is denoted by the silver threads,
warning them of advancing years. With
this thought | hesitate to ask-how many
will be around this board at our next cele-
bration? | sincerely hope all. and while we
are gathered here this evening to enjoy our
selves i'll peace, surrounded by friends and
within the walls of our club room, let us not
forget our brother Scots who, one year ago
no doubt, were happy as we, but are now
under the burning sun of South Africa
some around the campfire whose songs are
su5dued by the cannon's roar or hushed by
the sutferngs of the wounded on the battle
field, while Others languisn in hospitals and
long for the days Of auld lang syne"
gladly turn from those sad pictures and
tender you hearty welcome.
Mr.. Chapman then announced the
fist toast
The immortal memory of Robert Burns
and called upon Duncan Sinclair,
president of the Board of County
School Commissioners, to respond,
which that gentleman did IN the follow
ing eloquent terms:
Mr. Chairman amd GeHtlemen-.
fear you have made a very unfortunate
selection in assigning to me the duty of re-
spending TO this toast, and that, too, without
the consolation Of the old Scotchman who
was wont to declare i'll every trial of his life
that there's nae Il bad but there micht be a
waur."
Besides, there is not, i'll my humble judg
ment, Burns club between Maine and Cali
tOrnIa, or Lands End and John O'Groats, or
elsewhere, more deserving of an orator capa-
BILE of doing full justice to this toast than our
own Midlothian club. | am sure no more
persistent loyalty to one Of Scota's most
cherished memories is demonstrated any
observance of the event we are here to COM
memorate, and if our modest surroundings
suffer by contrast with the splendor of the at
fractions which grace the occasion elsewhere,
there IS yet no warmer or more enthusiastic
welcome given to the day than we offer.
And how deserving Of loyalty and en-
thusiasm the OCCASION is. Ruling the heart
of -, Il,
could it be possible for u.s. or will 1t ever be
possible Tor Scutchmen anywhere, whose
hearts i'll sorrow and i'll joy have been stirred
by his poems or his songs, to forget the ever
lasting debt of gratitude they owe to the poet
of the people?
1t is not for me, | say, to do justice to the
toast Your own knowledge and experience
of his power will give more and better in
spiration to the sentiment than | can, but
my pride in being IA brlther Scot tempts
Inc to pay a tribute albeit a feeble one, to his
worth and genius
The works of Robert Burns are part and par
Gel of the mother tongue-not only of Scotch
men, but Of ali who speak the English Ian
guage. HIS songs and poems have brought
both solace and cheer To prince and pauper,
10 hut and hall, making lighter every burden
and enhancing every joy. 10 Nature, Love
and friendship, Patriotism and War, Hielan
WhIskey and hOmely swats--he lends to
each the inspiration of his genius. Respon-
slve TO the touch OF every chord, the Scotch
man feels his heart grow light, his purpose
strengthen, and though numbered not among
the great, finds consolation i'll his honest
manhood.
The power the poet yields is due, think,
to the absolute sincerity of his expressions.
No trailicking with sham nor indulgence for
hypocrisy, noble ideal in the man is APP
parent i'll the poet and, however humble the
subject Of his muse, it is elevated and refined
by real sentiment and homely truth.
Well named The Poet ofthe People" for
who has goriled with light more Respondent
the joys Of the humble home, the real centre
and circumference of earth happiest estate,
than he in his "Cotter's Saturday Nght?'-
His wee bit ngle, binkin' bonilie,
His clean hearthSane, his thritie wfies
smile;
The liSplng infant prattlng on his knee
Does a his weary carkIng care beguile,
An maks HIM quite forget his labor an his
toll.
Who i'll such words can fail to see the very
scene, to feel the very emotions which are