The times., 1901-04-21
ROBERT BURNS At HOME.
The Great poet das known by Liv-
ina Nen
(From Chl56e,vs -Jomaai,)

Mr. Tenant of AYR, whom | visited to-
day, has a perfect recollection Of Burns,
He is "A wealthy man, without q cultivated
| intellect. but able 10 convey clear and
! correct impresstClS OF what has fallen
! under his observation He first knew
! Burns when attending Mr.. Murdoch :
school at Ayr: he was slen fifteen, Burns
about a year and a half older Mr.. Ten
nant used 10 visit Burns AT Mount OH
phant, and stay overnight with him.
(, sleeping in the same bed. Tie father Of
| the poet was intelligent: and having ac-
quanted himself with some scientific prin-
! ciples of farming, attempted improve
ments, but without success. When he
/ died, Burns his brother. and his sisters
! saved themselves from utter ruin by max
! ing up claims for their services which,
! being preferable, left scarcely anything
! for the creditors. This enabled the family
/ to begin on their own account in Moss
! giel. but injured their character in the
| country. Gilbert Burns was refused by
Miss Ronald, living at Bennals, near
Tarbolton, in consequence of her diSap-
! proval of the action and the talk which
! it occasioned Mr. Tenant afterward
! lived in the neighborhood of Mauchline
/ and from his twentieth to his twenty-tifth
| year his most intimate friend was Robert
| Burns.
When Burns returned to Mauchline
from Edinburgh. and married Jean. they
were Stunned by persons of character.
Burns himself was then looked upon with
horror on account of the ridicule he had
thrown on their sanctimonious system of
The people of Mauchline were perhaps
the last to allow his merits Yet Mr.
Tennant says The Holy Fair is only
fair description of the scene of the sa era
ment at Mauchiine; and here, as in his
other poems respecting the clergy, Burns
has treated them with remarkable Ieni-
! ency considering the conduct of the men.
Noodle OF Riccarton. Russell, of the
| Chapel of Ease in KiImarnoCk PEBBLES
Of the Newton of Ayr. and were
the four great prosecutors Of DR.. McGni,
ana set of hEpocriteS and bigots they
were, according to Tenant Mr. Ten
nant speaks Iii enthusiastic terms of the
wonderful intelectual gifts of the poet
Robert had read much. borrowing books
from many He read quickly. but refnem-
bered all that was interesting In what he
head. Mr.. Tenant was more impressed
in his youth by the powers of discourse
shown by Burns than afterwa rCiS by his
poetry His elocution.z he says, was like
that OF hean; so deep. so thoughtful, in
tones so emphatic. Whenever he entered
into controversy he carried everything
before him Mr.. 7. says that Burns
never could endure business. IL Mr.. T.
spoke or any such thing to him. he would
say, Oh, talk to my brother about that"
Returning to DR.. Chambers diary, we
ind that on July s. 1888 he visited Mrs.
Thomson. formerly Jessy Lewars. cele-
brated as the heroine of the song ''Jessy."
The following Is an account of the inter
view:
Mrs. Thomson (Jessy Eewars) still sur
wives, as kindly and~amiable as ever. 1t
was interesting to hear her speak of
Burns from personal acquaintance, and
it is remarkable with what warmth of at
tachmeut and respect she speaks of Mrs.
Burns. She first became acquainted with
Burns al Ellisland. When they were
about to remove to Dumfries he express
ed hope that she would be kind to his
wife when they came to reside there
Mrs. Burns had few acquaintances in
humfries. and any little attention that
Jessy could show 10 her was therefore
much priced. Mrs. Thomson has also a
most kindly feeling toward Burns him
self She admired his amiableness toward
his wife and children. His own simplc-
ity of taste was remarkable Mrs Burns,
not being sure that he was to be at
home would, perhaps, prepare no dinner
for him. He was then quite cOntented
with a slice Of their Ayrshire cheese. /
She has often seen him sitting at this re-
past with a book IN his hand reading
while he ate-an old habk OF mis-. as we
one day Burns called ifpon her father,
bir. Lewars. when Jessy was al home un-
well. LewarS said, Burns, you nave Of
ten spoken OF an epitaph on Jessy You
might do it now. for Yen see she's dying
Oocularly). Burns irnrnediateiy wrote
upon pane:
Ne Powers above sa shat on earth
Uan turn Dcati, ssTiart asiteT
II is not purity or worth.
4U--