The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-01-26

voyages the great oceans, that does not
carry as stowaway the flavor of Burns
in forecastle and cabin; no camp
pitches its tents, but when its fires be
gin to ember and the night grows. that
his lutte is not touched and the melody
of his song does not mingle with its
slumber and drift the visioned sleeper
BACK to arms ne loves. The anVllS beat
and the giant hammers swing to the
cadence of his measure. Where the
furnaces redden the mantled night.
Burns stalks with the brave specters
and braWny gnomes that fit before
their flaming doors. Down the deep
mines, the cage as it descends. carries
to its nethered abysses the loves and
affections that he has helped to gender
and grow. The mother coos her baby
to his Groom. No sweetheart but has
carried Burns in her heart and no
swain but dubbed him from his lips.
The heavy hand of affection has been
stayed by his stalWart soul, and the
burdens that task humanity to bear
them, have grown lighter under his
sustaining Hand. The pangs of hunger
have been forgotten by a taste of his
sweets. No avarice of a life time, but
what he has halted in its steps and
turned back for one supreme hour to
its forgotten childhood when the
world had naught but kin and life was
lone. On the hard roadway of life to
many he has spread his carpets down.
and made 1t a primrose path. He has
filled all gracious souls with his pity
ing brotherhood. and kings. times and
/ lands have bowed to his passionate
love for the common folk the Lord
Almighty made. A fragment of his
song drifting into the heart Of king
has thrOttled the unspoken tyranny.
There has come between the fancy Of
his eye and the sight upon the soldiers
gun, as the vast squadrons have been
set afeld to wreak some fell purpose
of conquest or ambition. not only his
own Highland Mary, but the Chloris
of his foe, and the bullet whistled its
! 11n1 les sci
heart has kept pulse to humanity
down the freighted years of its tortu-
Gus and narrow span; he has at all
times spoken the humane and cheer
ing word; he has girded up its weary
lOins and worn its weary loads When
it came down in its journey to the ulti-
mate shore of its sail. he has stood on
the confines of the mighty empire OF
death and waited unto the night his
prayer after the departing soul.
Wrote on the Worlds Heart.
THE artist may paint the palace, the
presence room of kings, and gid the
scene with all of title, birth or sta
TONS magnificence, but his picture
fades and the gliding dims the while
be brushes its beauties in; but Burns
has writ on the worlds vast heart. the
Cotter's Saturday Night with pencil
and pigment that as time shall un-
wind the days from off its spOols shall
be a tribute and blessing to labor
family and home but he sounded with
a patriots trumpet that luxury and
corruption are the only menace and
foe to such peaceful, sweet and con
tented scene.
"Oh Robert Burns! The world
must sing the slaves of your song. be-
fore the religion of Jesus Christ can
possess its heart or move its lips in
prayer.
wherever a Scotchman NAV be to-
night, his heart is tender and his eyes
are moist. There is a freshened mem
DRY of its hills. a thought of its green
valleys and familiar streams that bicl<-
er- down to the sea There is a scent
of heather in his nOstri1s and one oF
its blOssOming bells in his heart Tharz
its shores There is a vail nf the
pibroch that recalls him home wher-
ever this night and its stars shall find
him. There are the loved ones around
the ingle- And it is the spell of Burns
the plowman. peasant and poet. thar
evokes them all.
Il join in your toast to as sweet "a
singer as ever started an echo anoues
the hills or floated a melody under :
moonlight or over a lake.
"A breath of heather bell.
A glimpse of crag and fell
A land of song and storvt
hear the pipes afar.
Along the cliff and scar
swell with old Scotia's glory.
The angry seas may roar
Its surges on her shore
Forever and forever
But long as heather grows
Or thorny thistle blows
Her sons forget her neyer4
Then drink a toast with me.
Unbonneted and free
Each Wanderer and rover
10 Bobbie Burns and home
Wherever Scotchmeu roam
Lets drink the wide world overf-