The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-01-26
Several Celebrations Held in
Various Parts of District
Last Night
BRIMNER DELIVERS
ADDRESS AT ENSLEY
Yesterday Was 154th Birthday of
Famous Scottish Bard Whose
Songs Will Live
Forever
BY CHARLES II. MANDY

Let me make the songs of a people, :"
said Fletcher, "and you shall make its
laws" 1t Is the song of Burns that shall
perpetuate his memory forever for while
not set to music they are music In them
selves.
When the laws of nation are forgot
ten, and the nation itself is but MEM
ory, its songs live on. Yesterday In every
part of the civilized world or wherever
the English tongue is spoken. the mem
ory of the immortal Burns was kept green
by suitable exercises participated not only
by his countrymen, but by all who have
listened to his matchless songs-songs
that embrace the entire gamut of humor,
wit, good sense, satire, independence.
sympathy-but above all sympathy.
Saturday, January rs. was the one hun
dred and fifty-fourth anniversary of
the anniversary celebrated in the Bir-
mingham district. At Ensley the Sons
of Scotland" held a celebration at which
large numbers of Draw laddies and sweet
lassies made merry until the wee sma
hours" At Wylam the Caladonians met
to do honor to Scotiss beloved poet, and
with true Scottish cheer gave honor to
his memory At Pratt City tho repre-
sentatives of the Scottish clans with song
and story gave expression of their ap-
probation of their sweetest singer. There
were many other smaller affairs for wnon-
ever two or three Scotchmen can get to-
gether on the twenty fifth of January the
name of Burns is toasted and his glori-
Gus songs are sung.
Address at Ensley
The following stirring address was given
ner chief of the clan:
Just 154 years ago Sootland's great
national poet first saw the light of
day.
He was born on January rs, 1853
in a wee thatched cottage of which he
himself whote as THE Aud Clay Biggin."
Biggin."
This cottage consists of two apart
ments, called. in the Scottish dialect,
a but and BEN In 1880 1t was bought
by public subscription and converted
into a museum containing some in
teresting relics of the poet and an
nually vast multitudes sojourn from
all countries to pay homage at this
shrine.
That such is the case is no rea-
son for surprise, because he was the
poet of humanity, and although we
rightly claim him as our own, never
theless his message was sent forth
ON the four winds of heaven. in truth,
| fire and e1oquence, touching all hearts
in It's world wide career. gaining hon.
| or for his native land and a love and
| worship of his own memory which
have reached the altitude of the high
est veneration.
Among the inspiring galaxy of
| great gifted minds which the world
who left, to all the people, more
priceless legacy than Robert Burns, the
ploughman bard.
Harrassed by Penury and Want
During his short lifetime of 80
| years, harassed by penury and want
| he poured forth his great soul in
| ira nscendent strains in superlative
| harmony with all kinds and conditions
of things, animate and inanimate. ev-
| cry note and chord of which finds a
| sympathetic echo in every human
heart. What marvellous and sacred
| relationship exists between Rob-
| ert Burns and the people; what
| an enhancing harp he piled
himself intense instrument of in
Vulnerable strings. Some one has said;
Whether there be histories, they shall
fail. whether there be systems. they
shall pass; the true epoch ma lSer and