The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1902-12-19
The Land of Burns.

who is one of the instructors in The
Blight School, Philada., spent his vaca-
ton last summer in European travel, and
has consented to give the MIDLAND
JOURNAL, sketches of some of the places
visited and incidents met with on his tour,
in a series of articles. The first of these
is on the "Land of Burns" and as it is
written in Mr.. Reynolds most pleasing
style, we feel assured our readers will
find it of much interest to them.
While the fame of Burns is worldwide, the
sources from which he drew his inspiration are
distinctly local. He was entertained for time
by the scholars and wits of Edinburgh; but the
greater part of his short life spent in the cities
of Dumfries and Ayr. In going from the beauti-
full country of the English lakes to that still wilder
part of Britain-the Scottish ''lochs'-I could not
resist the temptation to drop off the Great Western
train and take look at that part of Scotland
which is usually referred to as the "Land of
Burns"
The town OF Dumfries is not a particularly at
tractive place. A few old buildings relative to
the life of some OF Scoand's half historic heroes
are the only places of historical interest The
streets are dirty the town has public buildings
or squares to speak of, and the people were not
just what had been accustomed to in "merrie
England" l think Mr.. Carnegie must have MOTTO
ed the habits and character of the people when
he visited Dumiries, for noticed that they were
working on a very fine library building which
this ''munifcent iron-monger" had given them.
suppose that every country in the world has
national beverage-that is every country except
the United States. The average American can.
not content himself with any one particular drink
it is his nature to mix things" Our "brither
Scot" takes as naturally to his Scotch whiskey as
the German does to his beer, or our English
cousin to his ale. But the effect is far different;
and am sure we saw more drunkenness around
Dumfries and Ayr during a rather brief stay, than
during three months trip which covered por-
lions of seven countries. am mentioning this
simply to point out that the people of Dumfries
have changed little in their habits since the times
of Burns; for we are told that it was while
resident here that the young poet committed the
grossest follies of his short career.
There isn't much around Dumfries after all that
interests you about the past. very common
place statue is in the center square; his mauso.
leum is there, and uglier piece of art did not
see in Europe; the house where he lived still
stands in a street that until this day retains its
original squalor; and the house where he died
still stands,-all of these really being melancholy
memorials to the memory of one whose life was
drama sadder than any acted upon modern
stage. If there was anything that impressed ME
in all this it was the TACT of the surroundings of
that great soul at the best period of his life
that grand genius working here amidst environ
ments which bespoke only poverty, squalor, 'od'tt
But at Ayr all is changed. Here you are in the
real land OF Burns The commonest viiiager OF
Ayr will speak to you of "Robby" Burns as
though he were Jolly good ieiiow VINO was now
living in their midst and popular with all classes
of society. The general tone OF Ayrls Inherent
from Dumfries that aristocraucal element, at
which Burns so often delighted TO take hing,
was wholly absent. The Glasgow and Edinburgh
holidays were on and all classes OF people, nun
dreds strong were coming from these great centers
OF Scottish activity to worship at the SHRINE OF the
uncrowned laureate OF Scottish verse; Here Is the
humble cottage where that great genus was
nursed to life, and its walls are covered with the
offerings OF the worlds best ana greatest AND
we could not but help admlring those simple and
sad verses which arc pinned to the old CLOCK,
although penned by Americas greatest exponent
VI uSANSsANASt-
Beyond the cottage is Aud Alloway Kirk, that
haunted spot where lived the COLLINS which
frightened Tam's mare. And little further on
are the "banks and braes OF bonny Doom '-about
which Burns loved to sing his gaddest and Wild
est notes. The "auld brig" Is still standing, and
it, reciting to three score or more of attentive
listeners, stands an old Scotchman telling them
the story of Tam OShanter's most dramatic and
mysterious ride.
1t is a holiday crowd and we mingle with them
around the monument and museum. We wander
along the bonny Doom. and then wend our way
back to Ayr drop i'll to see the genial host OF the
Tam O'Shanter'' and then take the train to
Glasgow the Pittsburg of Britain.
We all like the humber poets. Rhythmcal
stories of lowered cities and the busy hum of
men, may please us at times but when we wish
something to Danish the thoughts of day, we do
not reach for the elaborately bound volume of
the old master. but for that of some "humbler
poet whose song gushed from his heart Burns
is distinctly the poet of the moor. He came from
that class. and as has already been noticed. his
surroundings were of the humblest.
Doo,;no tb;, l., ,,,;,a a;d roL o-,,oot 30 -.
around Dumfries and Ayr the same environ
ments. the same marks of culture the same class
avpn and eHnee,ed t "t Fainn~rsh ama