Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1900-01-22
FOR ROBERT BURNS.
Boston Making Preparations Tor A4As'
Anniversary.

Next Thursday evening the scotS
of Boston and vicinity will gather III
the Mechanics building to celebrate
in good substantial fashion, the anni-
versary of the birthday of Scotia's
best loved poet and son, Robert BURNS
Most elaborate preparations are
being made for the commemorative
occasion. The evening promises 10
eclipse all previous Burns nights.
1t will be gathering Of the clans
in very truth, as far as it can be with
out the bounds of the land where the
bluebells grow. Chief Munro's own
body guard will be there in full uni
form, patterned after that of the gal
liant Seaforth Highlanders now IN
South Africa. The company is fine
body of men and makes a splendid
appearance.
In addition to this the military Will
be represented by the Boston Fuslleers
and the Ancient and Honorable artll-
lery company. Gov. Crane and stah
will be present to participate in the
exercises.
The program, as arranged, includes
a grand concert, to be followed by as
grand ball. Eminent artists, favor
ties with the Boston Scots, have been
engaged to furnish appropriate music.
The dancing will be preluded by the
grand march, which in this instance
will be spectacular in character.
Calcium lights of various colors will
play on the uniformed and killed
marchers. The effect will doubtless
be both charming and striking.
The feature of this anniversary
will be the statue of the great poet
which sculptor Hugh Cairns has made
not only for the occasion, but also for
lasting memorial which will very
probably be cast in bronze and be
placed somewhere in Franklin park,
SO that the Scotchmen of New Eng
land and all others interested in "the
poet of humanity" can make an an
nual summer pilgrimage and worship
for day at the shrine of the man
who is in the cosmopolitan" of the
| world.
For years the Scotchmen of New
England have been DESTROYS of erect
ing a statue of their great poet, and
undoubtedly this desire will be realiz-
ed very soon. The 'clans" all over
New England will contribute to the
fund, because it is the wish of those
who have the matter in charge that
Scotch men and women all over the
New England states should feel per-
sonal interest i'll the memorial
Burns has more memorials and stat
ues erected to his memory all the
world over than any man of modern
times. The number is said to be
something over 250. The only other
man in history who has been "mem-
orialized" to any such extent was An
tinous the favorlte of the Roman en-
peror, who is said to have committed
suicide in the Nile as a life sacrifice
to the gods to spare the emperor's
life. But the statues of Antinous
were erected at the emperors expense
they were not the result of the gra-
titude of a people.
Hugh Cairns has made several stat
ueS of Burns, in fact, he has made SO
many statues and busts of the famous
poet, that he may be said to be an au-
thority on the subject. Cairns was
born in Scotland and Burns is his
ideal, as he is the ideal of most Scotch
men, and ever since Cairns could mold
clay and give it "expression, he has
been working over end studying the
features of Burns.
The result of all this work and study
is seen in this latest statue. The fig
ute is of "heroic" size. Seated it is
about six feet in hight. The poet is
out doors, where he was wont to COM
pose his famous songs. He is seated
on the stump of tree IN the midst of
his native heather. 1t has the atmos-
bhere OF "outdoors" about it. He is
the simple, inspired farmer, who sees
with his wonderful imagination the
beauties of nature and the JOYS and
sorrows of life.
To these things he gives expression,
and the sculptor has chosen such an
inspired moment for his statue. And
Mr., Cairns has certainly realized in
his work what Burns stands for in
this respect. The face has all the
wistfulness Of a person catching the
soft tones of some deep melody from
the very heart of nature. 1t is beau
tiful in this respect, and the rough
clothes of the farmer boy are a fitting
garb for such man---you can almost
hear the wolds: ga mans man for
a. that"
Around the model of the statue the
Scots will worship next Thursday