The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-06-26
COTTAGE OF BURNS
ON SK|NKER ROAD
Is Exact Replica of the Poets
Scottish Home
WILL BE VERY INTERESTING
Quaint Cottage viii Recall the Bard
to Many Minds and His Grand
daughter May Preside
For a Week.
WILL BE VERY INTERESTING
BY MARTHA |. ROOT.

BY MARTHA l. ROOT.
st. Louis, June 25.-In the United States
on Slinker road in the worlds talr
grounds is now open to the public. Mr..
Robert Secular Of Ayr, Scotland has ar
rived to take charge of the wee but and
ben and ''byre" of the poet. Mr.. Seoul
lar was born and reared within two miles
of the poets birthplace and is warm
personal friend Of the Burns descend
ants. Miss Jean Armour Burns Brown,
the great granddaughter of the Scottish
bard. visits the Scoulars each year.
When the Ayr citizen sent his accept
ance to the Burns Cottage association he
added the line, II wish Miss Jean could
come over for a little stay and see the
cottage in your far west It is not i'm
possible that she may come. II so,
she would probably preside at the cot
tage for one week. Every one who has
seen her says she looks like the portraits
of the poet. Thousands of visitors go to
her native city and when they behold her,
particularly when they gaze into her
marvellous brown eyes, they exelaim,
Yes it's true! she does look like the
bard"
No less a man than Lord Rosebery
said last summer as he saw Miss Burns
Brown, Though there are other descend
ants living, there is no one so like the
poet
As an added proof of the likeness a
Scotch peasant woman had come down
from beyond Edinburgh that same day to
visit her poets house. Being shown by
Miss Brown into Robert Burns room,
where several pictures of him are hang
ing, the old lady raised her hands and
exclaimed "Ye're like him! the peetl'
Some ones been telling you'll" laughed
Bobby's descendant.
II dinna ken naethin' who ye be, girl,
but you're like him!'
This young woman Is as genuine and
unaffected as If she never had been told
of her wonderful eyes. Mr.. Andrew Car
negie called upon her when he was In the
Lowlands last year, and must have been
favorably impressed. for at Christmas
Miss Jean received a check for $500.
Go to AlIoway.
She and the Scoulars aften go to the
Alloway hamlet, to the "auld clay big
gin where Burns was born. In this deep
ly, matched, small hut is the lowly
bed-chamber upon whose cheekered win
dows filters the light of day There in
meagre alcove, which would just fit
an od-fashioned four-poster bed, is the
niche where the babe OF genius was
brough by the stork on that cold Janu-
airy night in 1859 Next this sacred room
Is peasants but" or kitchen, while
beyond, but still under the same thatch-
ad -fo 60. L.
Only a room removed from a manger
was the birthbed of the poet All who
cherish Burns tread softly In this hut,
and the replica on Sknkers road at the
worlds fair inspires a like feeling of
reverence. The humble structure seems
to breathe the spirit of the poet $, songs
tender, homely, fine, appealing to every
heart.
The man who has charge of the cottage
is thourough Burns scholar, of fine
appreciation. When Americans asked to
place a panel on the Burns monument
In Ayr Mr.. Secular was one of the com
mittee to arrange the plan. The panel
chosen was one showing Burns and High
land Mary and is considered by many to
be one of the most ideal representations
of the poet ever given. A picture of it
will be brought and exhibited at the cot
tage.
Mr.. Secular Is able to tell visitors the
stories of the poems. Thousands of
times has he crossed and recrossed the
"ould brig of Doom over which Tam
O'Shanter rode on that adventurous
night He has visited the Shanter farm
and listened to the tale of how the
poem came to be written. He will ex-
plain to visitors that the poets sub
jects were chosen from life in his own
Y,atsr nor
In bonnie AYRSHIRE to walk where Burns
has walked and thought.
Furniture Is Shown.
Among the relics shown in the replica
at the worlds fair is the furniture as 1t
was in the time of Burns father. There
are dishes similar to the set used by
the poets mother. and later given to
bonnie Jean. the wife of Robert Burns
The sign board of the Tam OShanter
inn Is shown, and it is just possible that
Mr.. Secular may bring the little lug
gle" and the three-legged chair, which
never have left the inn since Burns used
the.
One of the best features In the cottage
is painting of the poet a copy of the
sNaisyth portrait. Sir Walter Scott said
of this picture;
II think his countenance was more
massive than 1t looks in Mr.. Naismyth's
portrait. / would have taken the poet,
had not known what he was for very
sagacious country farmer. There was a
strong expression of strength and shrewd-
ness In all his lineaments: the eye alone,
I think, indicated the poetical character
and temperament. 1t was large and of a
dark cast which glowed literally
glowedD when he spoke with feeling or
interest. ! never saw another such type
of eye in a head, though | have seen
the most distinguished men of my time +"
The cottage contains some rare treas
ures besides portraits and Burnsiana.
The cosiness of this Scotch cot set down
in the most prominent thororghfare on
the fair grounds will appeal to every
body. Great credit is due the Burns Cot
tage association, which has built and
equipped this little structure breathing
the sentiment of Old Scotia. The world
fair management has been interested In
the cottage and has given II one of the
best sites in the Louisinan Purchase ex-
position, Next the Holland building and
Immediately across the Administration
plaza from the British pavilion.
One That Succeeded.
4