The chronicle=news., 1913-01-25

Scotiand's $ national poet is once again
being celebrated this week by ssmpa-
thlzin. admirers throughout his ma
tive land and In other lands, where
ever Scotchmcn gather. a need OF
grateful worship paid TO no other
British bard OF any age.
The homage TO Burns IL really
marvellous in Its strength In us en-
tcEt and its spontanily. All ma
tions throb In unison VITA Scotland
on the iwonty-iif,h OF January aud
rs has been well said. expressions
OF homage so universal, are their
own Justification.
While men lament that II Is al
most impossible To suy anything new
about Burns. yet they feel themselves
smpellcd to say something. The wor-
shin Of Burns is fittinc, and owing
10 that. there Is a danger OF the modes
OF expression becoming convcntionaI.
But the man who "knowS ana
loves and admircs his Burns. can al
ways impart TO his hearers some
thing OF his hcro's atmosphere.
Something for ais compassion Tor
and sympathy for his fellow man.
Burns. more than any other poet.
leads captive our affection. Burns
never pretended to he perfect. he
had all the faliacics OF human man.
Let him who Is perfect east the
first stone"
In tho widest sense OF III. term.
one OF Burns finest quality was
charity Of thought. He never kicked
the man who was stumbling In the
mirc. he WIS the champion OF the
oppressed and he could concentrate
wisdom and morality in u single cou-
plct. Much is being again spoken
;bis week about NIL his varied quail
tier OF head and heart.
Like all other vrcn, men. h. wa'
iusuired nv women. When Burns had
made his final arrangements for I'M
migrating to the West Indies, de-
spar!nE OF ability To mend his for
tunes VI hine. IL WIS there he COM
posed what het houIh; his las, poem
In Scotland. His farewell to the Ma
sonic brethren Of Tarbolton lodge
Is one OF the mes; pathetic he ever
wrote
Al this time he received a letter
from Dr. Blackjack In Edinburgh.
stating II he would com. there and
issuc second edition OF his poems
his fortune was made. !; was ut the
mouse Of the worthy doctor that the
poet first met Margaret. or rs Burns
delighted TO call her. Peggy Chalm-
crs. She wns daughter of John
rha!nicrs. tormorly OF Finland Kirk
and brightshirc. who lat,criy rent
cd u farm In the vIriPity Of Manch-
line. After his DEATH Peggy became
one Of the brightest ornaments OF
the social life OF old Edinburgh.
where shc and her widowed mother
~ n l,..l.. lat. n
considerably her senior. became. In
| I71.. the wife OF Sir Henry Nc
kcnxie Hart Of Gairloch.
With ltr. BLaQlock Miss Chalmers
WIS supreme favoritc. for she
charmed him with her tuncful rem.
| drring OF the OLD Scottish ballads he
loved 80 we'll Her conversation,
too. was soothing to him In his ter.
ribl. affliction OF blindness. for tho
only about twenty-four on Burns
first visit to the capitol. her mind
was highly cultured in tho hest lit.
crIturc of the time. She is icscrib.
cd AZ being by no means tall and
l possessing an unusually winning
presence. She had read Burns It'll,
book OF poems. issued from the XII.
marnOck Press and cvinccd great On.
thusiasm when she and the author
met. While her many gifts were
met. While her many gifts. person.
nj and acquired. deeply impressed
the Ayrshire bard. he addressed her
In terms Of choicest admiration.
/ love my Pcggy'x angel air
| Her face so truly heavenly fair.
| Her native grace. 81 void OF art:
But adore by Pcggy's heart.
The lily's hue. the roses dye
| The kindling lustrc Of an eye
| Who but owns their magic sway
| Who but kncws they all decay.
The tender thrill. the plying ear.
The generous purposes nobly dear:
| The gentle look that rage disarms.
| These are all immortal charms.
The poets letters to this admired
| correspondent are couchcd in that
| easy confident and lofty strain that
1 charactcrizes his communications to
Mrs. Dunlap.
Tho daily incidents OF his life he
made known to her. The happen
:ngs Of his past. that were beyond
recall. and his prospects for the fu-
turc. Her restraining influence over
him. too. was powerful antidOte
against those .houghtless impulses.
the results of which. brought moth
ing but self accusation and dispeacc.