The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-11-04
Wallace Bruce, Commissioner for
Burns Cottage Association,
Reports on His Mission.
TELLS OF DISPLAY AT FAIR.
Edinburgh Architect Offers to Pre-,
pare Drawing of Proposed Re
production of the
Ayrshire Cot.

Wallace Bruce, poet and lecturer. who
served recently as commissioner for the
Burns Cottage Association to Scotland.
made a formal report of his mission last
night at the Mercantile Club.
Interest In the project to reproduce the
humble cot of the bard at the Worlds Fair
was running high in Scotland when Mr..
Bruce left that country in October. The
best evidence of this statement, according
to the Commissioner, was the great num-
Der of Burns relics which have been prom
iscd for the proposed display.
Every part OF Scotland connected with
Burnss life was visited. Coming down to
the reproduction OF the cottage, Mr.. Bruce
advised the association to build 1t in the
rough. as it appeared before the preserving
hand of posterity covered it with a plaster
that hides the powders and clay of the
original structure.
The association was also urged to repro
duce the barn and other buildings which
really form a part of the house. The Get
itself Is only about twenty-four feet long.
and the other buildings are attached to the
struction suggested to Mr.. Bruce by Arch
ibald Simpson. the Edinburgh architect.
who was consulted regarding the replica
Mr.. Simpson offered his services for meas
uring the original structure and preparing
the drawings, as a gift of love. to assist
In the effort Of honoring the immortal
"eNAiSi Va Nv SoAltl : AoaLuI tdy NiSl
Mr.. Simpson the building OF
nothing but the arch of King James Palace,
the reproduction of which has been con-
sidered by the association. as a Hall or
Worthless, in connection with the Cottage.
This archway is about 30 feet high and
20 feet wide and presents one of the finest
types of architecture in Scotland. The re-
mainder of the Hall Of Worthless. Mr.. Simp-
son believed, could be erected In imitation
of that portion Of the palace extending be
You'd the arch. Mr.. Bruce advocated the
adoption of the Scottish architects ideas.
and 1t seems likely that the association will
carry out the whole plan.
RELICS PROMISED.
Speaking of the relics of Burnss life, which
could be secured for an exhibit. the Com
might be obtained with far less expense.
He called attention to the fact that pic
lures of Burns which were authentic could
only be loaned after much red tape and at
the cost of heavy insurance. Rather than
advise such a course. the Commissions
which had some direct bearing on the
poets career.
Mr.. Bruce was successful in getting
pledges for a chair used by the poet. This
relic is now at Kilmarnock.
A window of the cottage. now in Edin-
borough, a barn door of the poets place
at Loeb Lea, and a piece of rafter from the
same dwelling, which was destroyed by fire.
are among the interesting things which will
be seen in the Worlds Fair collection. A
chair and two pictures on the walls of the
Tam O'Shanter Inn at Loeb Lea have been
promised.
The Town Council Of Dumfries assured
the Commissioner that whatever was want
ed of the collection in that place would be
sent over to the association. Many other
relics. a list of which was too long for re-
counting last night. will be enumerated by
Brother Bruce and delivered to the associa-
ton. Many Burns memoirs now in this
country will be brought to the Fair.
Mr.. Bruce, himself an enthusiastic col
lector of Burns mementos. promised to
loan his museum to the association.
He expressed acknowledgements for the
proffered assistance of United States Am
bassador Choate and Worlds Fair Commits
eioner Parker at London. During the time
of his visit the Commissioner observed
that the newspapers of Great Brintain lad
much to say regarding the Burns display
at the coming Exposition. He added that
this exploitation of the Fair is being re-
peated in the newspapers of the United
States. and that nothing in connection with
the Exposition had so widely advertised it.
Mr.. Bruce departed last night, to resume
his lecture tour in the Wesl. He prem
Used to say something about the Burns dis
play at each of these appearances. In jan
uary lie is booked to deliver a Burns lee
ture at the Y. NJ. C. A. in this city, when
he will spend two days In preparing a plan
for collecting and installing the Burns ex-
hibit at the Fair.