The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-01-26


The Scranton Caledonian club, which
comprises among it's members the lead
ing Scotchmen, of the city every year
commentaries the anniversary OF the
birth of Scotland's favorite son, Rob-
ert Burns, the poet of nature and of
the common people. The one hundred
and forty-second anniversary of his
birth was yesterday and in honor of
the occasion nearly one hundred of
the members and their families gath
cred last night in Guernsey hall to
feast and sing his praises.
The banquet was served In the lower
hall beginning at $50 o'clock. The
guests sat down to two long handsome
ly decorated and heavily laden tables
and partook of most sumptuous re-
past. Chief Thomas N. Thomson made
a few brief opening remarks and grace
at the beginning and opening of the re-
past was said by Rev. w. G. Simpson,
pastor of Asbury Methodist Episcopal
church.
The banquet was over at about $50
o'clock and the guests then repaired
upstairs to the concert hall, where the
toast list was gone through with. Miss
Laura Meldrum opened the programme
with 4 number of Scotch airs delight
fully rendered on the plano. Chief
Thomas n. Thomson presided and In
troduced the Caledonian choir, which
sang with much spirit Burns quaint
song, "There Was a Lad Was Born
In Kyle" with it's robin was "a rant
in, rantin' boy" chorus.
MEMORY OF BURNS.
The first speaker Of the evening was
Rev. w. G. Simpson, who kindly con-
sented to take at the last moment the
toast assigned to Clansman Thomas
Russell, who was unfortunately unable
to be present, 1.-The Memory of Burns"
DR.. Simpson said that the real biog-
raphy OF Robert Burns had never yet
been written. There had been stories
of his life, but they had not pictured
it in all it's beauty. 1.-The greatest BIZ
ography of Burns" said he, "is written
in Scottish hearts and Scottish senti-
ment. The memory Of Burns will ever
be treasured In the hearts of Scottish
sons and daughters wherever they may
be found throughout the world.
mo one." he said, with the possible
gone down to the inner heart of the
Scottish peasantry like Burns. Burns"
| said he, had his failings and follies,
but they are covered by the good, the
| beauty, tho elevation, the power and
| the grace of his character"
Rev. DR., Simpson was followed
by eX-Chieftain Lindsay McNIil-
| Ian, who beautifully sang Burns
| IaI nf
| gyle." A comic song describing the
| adventures of country youth in the
| city was next given to great laughter
| by eX-Chieftain Robert Rankin.
Charles Law, of Pittston, a great
| admirer of the late Queen Victoria, was
next on the programme and responded
to the toast, The Memory of the
| Queen" He referred particularly to
her noble life and expressed it as his
belief that no one person in all civiliza-
| ton was so deserving of the respect
| of the world as was the dead queen.
He said that this country owed a great
deal to the queen for her action during
the Civil war in standing out for the
second time in her reign against her
ministry, led by Lord Palmerston, who
favored precipitating England into a
| NdI with llllo SouiillSs
LAND OF OUR BIRTH.
Mayor James Moir, one of the most
enthusiastic Scotchmen in this city and
one of the most delightful raconteurs
followed Mr. Law, and made one of his
Enthusiastically clever addresses or
the general theme, Scotland, the
Land of Our Birth" In beginning his
remarks he referred TO Queen Victoria
who he said was "a great ruler and 6
greater woman"
II think I liked the dead queer
best" said he, because she used tc
consider my native county, Aberdeen
to be the finest spot in Scotland, Sc
fine that she built herself castle il
it and used to spend n part of hel
time there every year. Balmoral Cas-
|. tie was just over the hill from my
home and we used to think of tn,
queen, not as the queen of Great Brit
ain and Ireland and empress of In
dia, but just as plain Mrs. Albert, a
the old Scotchwoman called her.
: zone of the dead queens proudes
boasts was that the blood of tn
Stuart race flowed in her veins. Sh
: cared not for Hanoverian ancestors
| bhN Ntio 5ltbNl W bieiNN ohSNobiy -
the Scottish race, They call the ney
new king Edward VII. but he shoul
be called Edward ], because he's tn
, first Edward to rule the destinies o
both England and Scotland.
The mayor referred to the intens
{ patriotism which is engrafted into tn
3 heart of every Scotch child by hi
y mother. THE Mothers said he, Ear
the real patriots of Scotland. TIL
u fathers don't seem to care so muc
3 about their native land as they
!, Scotland, he said, had one of tn
: longest and most glorious histories c
Y any nation ana a history aboundin
e in heroic deeds. "What man." sal
he, "does not revere the name of Wa
lace, who raised a little band to figi
against tyranny and despotism, eve
though he knew they would lead hi
W country into IA higher civilization.
SPLENDID EXAMPLE.
Il 1.-THE most splendid example of Il
a nobeness of the Scotch character
v found in the devotion OF the HighlaI
is ders to Prince Charlie Stuart who
), price was on the latter's head. tt
A, English government offered 100000 Il
his capture, and though over s.
ID Highlanders knew where he was hi,
inp thara wasn't ona haea anouoh