Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-13
ITO Mary IN Heaven"
Sold for a "Spree"
Special Correspondence Of The Star.


LONDON, January 8, 1907.
" HAT poor Bobbie Burns was Ger
fond of a spree has been repeatedly
asserted and not few of his
| poems, descriptive of the joys Of conviv-
| iality, have undoubtedly produced a con-
| siderable increase in the consumption of
Scotch whisky. But his touching lines ad-
dressed ITO Mary in Heaven do not be-
| long to the category. They appeal to the
tenderest emotions; they inspire sobriety of
| feeling. Yet by the~strange irony of fate,
according to the evidence just given In a
law suit, the proceeds of the sale of that
beautiful poem were to be devoted to
spree.
John Savage, a farmer of Downpatrick,
Ireland. was for many years in the employ
| of clergyman, the Rev. Mr.. Fallon, a col
| lector of Burns relics. He made Savage
| his residuary legatee. On going over his
papers Savage found envelope addressed
| to himself containing the original manu-
script of ITO Mary In Heaven and a note
asking him to accept it. He had no knowl-
edge OF Its value and showed 1t to a Mr..
Murphy, who, with his daughter, school
| mistress of Troon Ayrshire, CHANGED to be
visiting him. In the course of the general
conversation that ensued Miss Murphy. 1t
| Is alleged, suggested that she lived in
the Burns country she might be able to sell
It. She sold 1t for $3.50. Savage sued her
| for half the amount. declaring that the
manuscript had been intrusted to Miss
Murphy to sell on the understanding that
the proceeds were to be divided equally be-
tween them. This Miss Murphy emphat-
ically denied, asserting that the only pro-
viso made when the manuscript was given
her was that If it proved valuable Savage
and her father were to have a spree out of
what 1t fetched. However, before the case
was given to the jury it was agreed to &C
cept the judges suggestion, that what re-
manned of the money after paying the law
yers should be equally divided between the
parties to the suit. 1t is satisfactory to
learn that the joint spree never took
place. Probably what would have surprised
poor Bobbie Burns most about the affair
was that the manuscript should have
fetched $3.50. Little could he have imagined
that when he penned the lines. And yet
according to experts, 1t was cheap at the
price.
Literary fame Is generally of an evan
escent character. Mrs Humphry Wards |
novel, Robert Elsmere," made a prodgious
stir in the world years ago when 1t first ap-
peared, but little is heard Of it now. 1t is |
not improbable that the gifted authoress
will be better remembered by posterity be- |
cause Of the work she Is doing for the poor
children Of London. She started here the |
recreation schools and play centers. OF |
these latter there are now ten in London !
with an average attendance Of 10000. They |
are designed to afford healthy and in |
structve amusement after school hours for
elementary school children, whose only |
Fairgrounds otherwise would be the streets |
games gymnastics, singing. dancing, clay |
modelling, wood carving and other things |
which in after life may be developed into |
useful handicrafts. At the Poplar Chill
Humphry Ward was the recipient of a |
pleasant surprise. She was presented with. |
q paper knife. to the purchase of which |
half a cent The Offering was an entirely |
voluntary one on their part 1t was their |
own idea and the teachers had no part in |
i; No doubt it afforded Mrs. Humphry |
Ward quite as much qualification as she |
would have derived from a eulogistic |
column review Of one of her novels.
Lady Catherine Mines Gaskel, when dis |
tributing prizes at a girls school the other |
day, told new story about Charles Kings |
ley, which will be greatly appreciated by |
his admirers.
Kingsley" she said, twas dear old |
friend of my mother. 1 remember him stay |
ing with us when my sister and were little |
girls, and he used to take us fishing and |
tell US pretty, funny tales. The last time |
/ saw him was when, broken in health, he |
was saying goodbye to my mother. He |
had just kissed her hand-an old-time |
eyes moved and fell upon group of chill |
dren In the room. He then drew himself up |
and said impressively: Teach them the |
love Of God-theres nothing else worth |
learning in the world -
These almost last words of Charles |
Kingsley in striking contrast to the |
last message which Thomas Hardy has |
given to the world in the form of a poem |
entitled New Years Eve" In it God is |
represented solioquizing on the close of |
another year, and the poet propounds to |
Him this astonishing query:
"And what's the good of it?' said.
What reasons made you call
From formless void this earth / tread,
When nine and ninety be read;
Why naught should be at all 2?
Hardy in his old age has become sar- |
donic .pessimist. He views the world as
the product of some ironic power ignorant |
of the,meaning of his own jest, who sticks |
to his 'labors logicless'' and goes on |
working evermore in his unweeting way" |