The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1906-02-02
Held a Burns Celebration at
MapIeton Last Evening.
PROGRAM WELL CARRIED OUT
Songs Beautifully Sung; Poems Well
Recited and Stories Entertaining
Iy Told; Tine Banquet.
From Fridays Daily.

From Fridays Daily.
Ali Mapleton was Scotch yesterday
and last night. Other nationalities
were lost sight of in the celebration OF
the anniversary of the natal day OF
Robert Burns, the great bard whose
poems, songs and stories have delighted
the world and made mankind the bet
ter for having read them. For forty
years the Scots in Mapleton and vi
entity have paid their annual tribute
TO their loved poet, Burns. With eX-
ercises of a most entertaining and in
structive character they have added to
his laurels and crowned him with
wreaths that will never wither. The
program carried out yesterday and last
night was the strongest that has ever
beeh presented by the Maple River
Burns club. Every feature was gem
and they were polished off to nicely
The supper served by tHe ladies was ex-
cellently prepared and nicely served
More than 400 people enjoyed this re-
past. Those who presided at the table;
were as follows: William J.. Mcqueen
w. H. Davis, Robert Sharp, Garfield
Ellis, Mrs. j. H. Dobie, Miss Jennie Me-
Queen, Miss Phinea Little, Geo. C.
Keith, Neil Darroch, c. L. Sellers, Gree
ley Dobe, Mrs T. b. Taylor, Miss Jean
Morrow, Mrs. VIM. Howieson, Robert
Morrow, Horace Wishart, Charles Will
Mrs VI. NJ Pratt, Mrs. Robert Morrow
Mrs b. F. McGregor, Miss Nellie Hanna
The address to the haggis, one of the
events which is looked forward to with
great deal of pleasant anticipation,
was delivered by A. j. Ellis, son of the
late James Ellis, who was president of
the club for many years and who al
ways spoke to the haggis. The junior
Ellis gave the address in manner which
readily convinced his hearers that he
was permeated with the spirit of the
speech and understood its every mean
ing. His Scotch is of the purest quality
The haggis was prepared by Mrs. A.
J. Ellis, Mrs. c. S. Ellis and Mrs. John
Taylor. The bearers were William l.
Mcqueen and William Morrow. A Scotch
banquet without the savory haggi
would indeed be a dismal and uninvlt
ing affair.
Program at the Theatre.
More than one thousand people wer
entertained in delightful manner a
the Mapleton Theatre. The exercise
commenced at eight o'clock and wer
presided over by A. J. Ellis, who KEEP
things moving with alacrity. There wer
no waits. 1t was indeed continuou
performance, and a good one. Those VIII
have never had the pleasure of listen
ing to the program at Burns celebra
ton in Mapleton certainly have no con
ception of the enthusiasm that i
awakened among the audience by TIN
rendition of songs and stories, recita
lions and addresses. Everything is O
Scotch origin. The address of welcome
by DR.. F. ]. Bomberger was most fit
tingly delivered and the response by
Professor James A. Howieson was il
good taste.
Every number on the program, ex
cepting one was given. But there were
extras which made up for that one which
did not materialize. The song "Rantin
Rovin' Robin was well rendered by
David Will. He has sung this piece al
these annual events for many years an(
it never grows old Bagpipe selection:
were given during the evening by Major
Sinclair of Minneapolis, who is an artist
with the pipes. This was not his first
appearance before Mapleton audience.
Especial mention should be made O.
the singing of Mrs. T. G. Sykes of st
Paul. This was one of the most inter
esting features of the program and Mrs
Sykes sweet voice captivated the audi
enca completely. Mrs. Sykes is well
known musician and her work last even
ing demonstrated fully that she is en-
titled to the praise which has Away
been bestowed upon her wherever sh
has appeared in concerts or at festiva
occasions such as that given in Maple
ton last evening. Among the song
so charmingly sung by her were 'Th
March of the Cameron Men" and "Cas
ties in the Air. She responded to sew
eral encores.
Another delight was the song, "Bon
ME Sweet Bessis, the Maid of Dundee,
by Dr. J. w. Livingstone of Wells, witt
has a rich bass voice that at once il
pleasing to listen to. The doctor re
sponded to an encore.
The audience was greatly pleased will
the dancing of William Nicol of st. Pc
ter and Miss Mary Sinclair of Minneap
oils. Both are expert dancers of Thu
Scotch figures. Mr.. Nicol favored TIN
crowd with the sailors hornpipe, ant
IL