Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-01-25
anniversary BANQUET.
THISTLE SOCIETY'S GATHERING
LAST EVENING AT THE
AKRON
IN HONOR OF THE NATAL DAY
Of ScotInnd's Immortal Bard-An
Evening of Scotch Songs, Dances
and Toasis-Synopsis of the Re-
sponses - An Elaborate Menu
Served-Many Guests Hospitality
Entertained.

Entertained.
The Second annual social gathering
of the Scottish Thistle Society of
Wheeling and Ohio Valley, for the pur-
pose of celebrating the 142d anniversary
of the birth of Robert Burns, Scot
lands beloved and immortal bard, was
held last evening at the Arion hall and
attracted large number of Scottish
residents of the city and surrounding
towns. While the anniversary is to-
day, the occasion was observed a day
in advance of the date rather compli-
mentary to one of the performers. Mr..
]. Blackhall, the piper, whose musical
selections and dances added materially
to the success of the programme, will
fill an engagement this evening at
Pittsburg, and for this reason the local
society decided upon the day nearest
the date for the celebration, so that
he could be present.
The guests assembled around the
festal boards in the spacious hall be-
tween $50 and nine O'Clock and part
of the programme was rendered before
the menu was served.
Mr.. McGregor, the chairman, in his
opening remarks, highly complimented
the Scotch residents OF the Ohio Val
ley upon their successful efforts in eff
fecting the Thistle organization, and
said that he felt proud to see SO many
people assembled to honor the mem
DRY of Robert Burns, who was one Of
the greatest poets.
MIR. Waliace's Toast.
Responding to the first toast, The
Immortal Memory of Robert Burns,
Mr.. T. Wallace said that Mr.. Burns
was an extraordinary man and there
fore his character could not be meas
ured by the ordinary standard. This
is not the time or place to give a full
view of his life if such a thing was
possible. Referring to Burns charac
teristics, the speaker said that the
poets thoughts were like current coin.
Mr.. Wallace gave a brief historical
sketch Of Scotland, during which he re-
ferred to the great love of liberty
which Burns possessed and also the eX-
cellent characteristics of the authors
ancestors. Describing his household,
he pleasingly pictured how the poet
had spent many day there re-
ceiving inspiration and conceiving
ideas for further use. Then followed a
portrayal of Burns life. Burns met
walter Scott, continued Mr.. Wallace,
and this man has said of him that it
was sufficient to see Burns beautiful
eyes but once to always remember him.
The poet was described as being man
feet 10 inches in height. with stoop-
ed shoulders and eyes that shown so
brightly that they were fascinating in
the extreme.
me Second Toast.
Mr.. Wallace was followed by Mr. A.
l.. White, who responded to the toast,
THE Lasses." He said in part:
There are great many questions
that do not understand. The one most
pressing for solution is, why so poor
subject as myself should have been
designated to respond to the toast
nearest our hearts The Lasses' O..
While this is delicate but unde-
served compliment to me, certainly so
much cannot be said for the commit
tee man on speakers. | feel that he
should make an apology tonight to the
Lasses, for not having appointed one
OF our number who could have re-
Sponded more eloGuently.
There is no word in the English
language whose mention recalls so
much OF the romance of youth, as the
subject of this toast for what Laddie
has not his Lassie.
The word in its ideal sense, stands
for all that is beautiful, charming and
lovely in young womanhood. 1t espec-
tally recalls to us the heroines of Scot
fish verse and song, some of which
have been immortalized by the peer
less Scottish poet. in whose memory
we are here tonight.
What hardy Scotchman's heart but
melts as he thinks of Mary Campbell,
Burns Sweet Highland Mary What
Scotchman has not dropped a sad
sympathetic tear in her memory.
Some of us can sadly say with
Burns
But oh; fell deaths untimely frost,
That nipped my flower sac early;
Now green's the sod, and cauld's the
clay,
That wraps my highland Mary
Probably the best loved Lassie is
bonnie Annie Laurie who's charms
are described by Robert Douglas. in
one of the sweetest love songs ever
written.
A Camp Song.
Mr.. White also quoted the following
from one of the favorite camp songs of
the British, so beautifully described by
Bayard Taylor
They sang of love, and not of fame;
Forgot was Britain's glory;
Each heart recalled a different name.
But all sang Annie Laurie
And Irish Nora's eyes are dim,
For singer dumb and CORY;
And English Mary mourns for him,
Who sang of Annie Laurie
Other features of the first part of
the programme were a song, There
was a Lad" by a chorus of the men,
bers; dance, the Highland Fling, by
Mr.. Blackhall, the piper; a song, select
ed, by Miss Hervey, with piano accom-
panlment by Mrs Flora Williams