Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-05-29

d00TeSS IN 1908.
Perpetuation of Noted Names.
In furtherance of his patriotic project
with the planting of thousands of ar
boreous and ligneous decorations to adorn
this American Appian Way, he would
name the larger trees for the notable men
who have made the history of our re-
public, and have a record kept for the
instruction of and as an inspiration to
future generations. He has no doubt that
in time national sentiment would at
tach to forest such as this. and that the
endless throng of visitors coming TO the
nations capital as the years roll on
would gather the seeds and carry them
away to be cultivated lovingly at the
four quarters of the globe In his opin-
ion. 1t would turn out to be the grand
est memorial ever erected to man. fit
ting monument to true representative
of the plain people," thus excelling in
extent and grandeur the famous Kew
arboretum in England, the only thing
that could begin to approach it without
really doing SO.
Collection to Remain Here.
By the terms of Mr.. Smiths will An
drew Carnegie and his trustees will fall
heir to this exceptional Burnsiana The
collection is to remain in Washington
forever. "as an aid to preserving the Re-
public in pure democracy-with demagogs
left out" This was the terse answer of
the jealous and learned bibliophile when
asked about the future of his precious
cohection. I would be glad" he went
on, If arrangements could be made to
mouse 1t permanently in the substantial
brick residence of my late friend Senator
Justin 8. Morrill,, on Thomas Circle. as
an appreciation of man who, next 10
the Scotian poet himself, did more for
rural life in America. in my opinion, than
any other citizen within my knowledge.
Rural life is the mains .ay of the ma
ton. and it received its greatest impetus
on this side of the ocean in the enact
ment of the Morrill, law providing for an
agricultural college in every state and
territory of the Union
Among Most Ardent Patriots.
These sentiments readily identify Will
liam r. Smith with the most ardent Of
patriots. lover of his native land and
alike of his adopted country. They reveal
his true character, his deep devotion to
cause As a worshiper of Burns, he
revels in the fine posthumous incense that
belongs to the influence and fame of the
sweetest lyrist of them all. He believes
with Lord Morley that Burns has done
more for democracy in it's broadcast sense
than any other mortal II believe. too
SAID the interesting invalid, as he adjust
ed his pillows, that he has done still
more for religion, for the conservation of
prayer Family worship of God. the
kneellng at the family altar, has been
the grandest thing for Scotland
II Is SAID by Burns admirers that when
ne died (not in poverty, as some of his
traducers have claimed, but as poor
man, like many another Scott the only
debt he owed was the price of a suit OF
military clothes which the poet had pur-
chased to be worn by him in the service
against French infidelity. This
historical fact is cited by Mr. Smith as
a reputation of the charge that he was a
which spurs this resolute Caledonian in
his noble work is reverence of the SUI
preme Being, this and his earnest devo-
ton to his fellow-creatures of earth His
optimism is unbounded The petty dis
cords of men have not been permitted to
obstruct his hopeful view concerning the
Iuture or the human race. His guide to
the divine understanding is the Bible; the
poetry of Burns his rule of mortal ac-
ton-the two agencies that have brought
sunshine into dark places and will con-
tinue to light the way for the advance
ment of the deserving While old age
may have dimmed his eye, it has served
nevertheless to strengthen his faith in
mankind.
Leaves a Priceless Legacy.
He is leaving a priceless legacy. And
in STIMULATING that it shall remain at the
capital of his adopted country, under the
trusteeship of the worlds greatest insti-
tutional founder, he has chosen wisely,
for 1t is here that the endless generations
OF Scotchmen will come to worship; that
lovers liberty O 1f i,,di
vidual freedom and national independ-
ence, will assemble throughout the years
to testify their affection for the genius
who has 'pondered deeply the mystery
OF life and of DEATH" who teaches that
To make happy Preside cline,
To weans and wife,
That's the true pathos and sublime
OF human life.
And, humbly admitting his own and the
frailties of our kind, has left us this in
spiriting solace:
The rank is but the guinea's stamp;
The mans the gowd for a. that