The daily morning journal and courier., 1901-01-25

] fore were dark and gloomy with the
 menace of disaster upon every hand. At that time Lord Chesterfield exclaimed ! We are no longer nation" In the meantime, however, under the guidance ! of Lord Chatham, the scepter of the
 seas was given to the country and 'one l continuous victory on land and sea crowned her name with glory" The na- l tion, like a young giant inspired with i the spirit of World-conquest, nerved it.
 self for victory on land and sea. So
 many were the triumphs of war, multi | piled on every side, that Horace Wal
 pole said, "We are forced to ask every
 morning, what victory there is, for fear of missing one"
 In the very beginning of that memor- ! able year. in a then obscure locality of l southern Scotland. named Alloway. within the parish of Aye, our poet first
 saw the light of day. The beginning of
 his career was certainly humble enough
 to exclude the expectation of greatness. 1 A mud hut, hardly substantial enough l to endure the stress of storm and flood i during the hour of his ushering into the
 world was the unpromising home of a
 household already inured to poverty ] and soon to feel it's pinching limitations i in greater degree.
 These outward circumstances of
 Burns infant life, however, were the
 rough exterior of a moral beauty and 1 refinement within The father and
 mother Of the poet were of that royal, religious stock, that has made Scotland tough and enduring in conflict for mor-
 al and religious principles. It is diffl-
 cult to decide whether Burns would have been benefited by an easier life furnished by wealth and cultured sur
 roundings. It would seem, however, that the fine gold of his nature was smelted and purified in the fierce fires
 of diversity.
 We cannot otherwise account for the almost superstitious feeling of the
 Scotch race for the poet than that the fine quality of his manhood and genius,
 refined in the white heat of his trials,
 helped to make him, in his songs, re-
 vealer and interpreter of our stronger and better selves.
 It is said that Paul Richted once in company of German critics, who were
 discussing the rank of poets, their con- temporaries, hushed his audience, when the name of Goethe was introduced, ex- claiming, ''We are not to sit in judg-
 ment on that sacred head"
 Scotchmen, and large portion of the mass of English speaking people are apt to hold Burns in the same reverent sentiment. Other men of literary rank and fame may be criticized with some sharpness, but Burns has so embalmed his memory in the hearts of his coun- trymen that critics irreverence can not be tolerated. This feeling has in- tensif1ed with years. Tn all parts of the world, wherever an assemblage of Scotchmen may be gathered, the anni- versary of the poet is observed. North, south, east and west, he is honored with almost personal affection.
 There is a certain sort of magnetism ill the exhibition of this race-loyalty that attracts all interested observers, though not of the same blood Burns to-day is looked upon by all English speaking people as no longer the poet of single race but as the heritage of the world. It was only a few years ago that Horace, the great lyric poet of the Roman world, the pet of learned cir cles, and the revered of universities, was more widely read than Burns, but now Horace is gradually being entomb- ed in the dust of library shelves and Burns is read, admired, quoted by stu dent and common laborer.
 The great lyric poet of France, Be- ranger, has often been compared with Burns, and was contemporaneous with him; but it may be questioned whether his popularity has not given way to a wider appreciation of our poet, even in his own country. These three poets have been termed the three great lyric poets of the world, by scholarly au- thor, and of the three, Burns stands pre-eminent.
 He was more of man than the exhi- bition of body five feet ten, with an interesting stoop of the shoulders, swarthy face encircled by raven locks | and full, round eyes that shot lightning or poured forth benignant rays of sym pathetic passion. These were indeed the rude features of a wondrous soul within
 The programme which gave promise 1 of rich entertainment fully realized the anticipation. It is not too much to say that it was one of the best presented at a "Burns' concert in recent years. | George Fulton was in fine voice and | sang his various numbers in his we'll | known artistic style. His first song, ''The Star of Robbie Burns" demanded | the encore by special request "Of a the | Arts" To his second number, Here's | a Health Bonnie Scotland to Thee" he again received a recall, but the lack of time prevented a reply.
 Mrs. Edith Beers-Jones proved that she still possesses her charming power of song. And to fine appreciative rem dition of Annie Laurie" she replied pearance had an equally warm recep- tion.
 Frank Edgar gave several fine inter- pretatons of baritone songs and got well deserved encores.
 Mrs Georgiana Strachan sang "Auld Robin Gray'' and % Why Left I My Hama" with rare expression and sweetness. The reading by Roscoe W. Reeves, "Uncle Podger Hangs Pic ture," was delivered with fine humor- ous and dramatic effect. He had to re- spond to an encore.
 The dancing of William Cameron of New York was very much appreciated. As also were duets by Mrs. Strachan and Mr F'u1tOn and Mrs Tonee and