The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-04-21
ROBERT BURNS At HOME.
The Great Poet eas known by Liv-
ing Men.


Mr.. Tenant of AYR whom / visited to-
| day. has "A perfect recollection Of Burns.
He is "A wealthy man, without cultivated
intellect. but able u convey clear and
correct impress'pus OF what has fallen
under his observation. He first knew
Burns when attending Mr.. Murdoch :
/ school at AYR: he was slen fifteen. Burns
about year and half older. Mr.. Ten
nant used TO visit Burns at Mount Oil
plant, and stay overnight with him.
sleeping in the same bed. Tie father Of
the poet was intelligent; and. having ac-
/ uuainted 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
gel but injured their character in the
country. Gilbert Burns was refused by
a Miss Ronald living at Bennals. near
Tarbolton, in consequence Of her disap-
prevail 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
religion. and his profiigacy among women.
The people of Mauchline gere, perhaps,
the last to allow his merits. Yet Mr..
Tenant says THE Holy Fair is only a
fair description of the scene of the sacra-
ment at Mauchline: 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 Kilmarnock. PEBBLES
of the Newton of Ayr. and -- were
Q
and a set of hypocrites and bigots they
were, according . to Tenant. Mr.. Ten
nant speaks in enthusiastic terms of the
wonderful intellectual gifts of the poet.
Robert had read much. borrowing books
from many. He read quickly. but refnem-
bered all that WIS interesting in what he
! head. Mr.. Tenant was more impressed
in his youth by the powers of discourse
shown by Burns than afterwards by his
poetry His elocution.s he says, was like
that of kean; so deep. so thoughtful, in
tones so emphatic. Whenever he entered
into controversy he carried everything
before him. Mr.. T. says that Burns
never could endure business. II 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
find that on July 6. 1893. he visited Mrs.
Thomson. formerly Jessy Lewars. cele-
hrated as the heroine of the song "Jessy."
The following is an account of the inter
view:
Mrs Thomson Gessy Eewars) still sur
wives, as kindly aud-amable as ever. 1t
was interesting to bear her speak of
Burns from personal acquaintance. and
it is remarkable with what warmth of at
tachment and respect she speaks of Mrs.
Burns. She first became acquainted with
Burns at EIlisland When they were
about to remove to Dumfries he express
ed a hope that she would he kind to his
wife when they came to reside there.
. Mrs. Burns had few acquaintances in
nunfries. and any little attention that
Jessy could show To 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 simplic-
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 book IN his hand, reading
while he ate-an old habE of mis-, as we
know.
one day Burns called Upon her father,
hr. Lewars. when Jessy was at home I'M
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 5nlrrtediateiy wrote
upon 4 pane:
We Powers above "a shat nE earth