Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-05-12
HIGHLAND MARY
TO REST IN PEACE
Burns Only True Loves Grave
Will Not be Disturbed by
Encroach of Industry.

Lovers of the works Of Robert Burns
in all parts of the world are happy tfat
it has been definitely decided not to de-
stroy the tomb of Mary Campbell the
first and best love of the Scottish bard's
life and the inpiration for the Highland
Mary" which figures as the subject oi
his most exquisite poems.
Those readers Of Burns who recently
feared that the grave OF his bonnie
and beloved Mary would be desecrated
in order to make additional room for the
extension of British shipping concern
may console themselves with the fact
that by recent official parliamentary
decree the historic spot is To be preserved
After controversy that goes back To
1918 between the shipbuilders and the
Burns federation and other societies
the sentimental objections OF the latter
to the destruction OF highland Mary $
grave and monument have been legally
upheld. with the exception that the
monument is TO be turned around to face
the road instead of the church. in the
course of time il is expected that q second
suitable monument will bc erected on
same site more accessible TO the pub
lie.
Years after the parting Of Burns and
Highland Mary took place on The
| River AYR. the poet showed how his heart
had been touched at the news ri her
death in his "To Mary in Heaven,
| which is considered one of the most
precious hits of writing IN the world.
| The true love of the poet is revealed also
in many other Of bis best works.
The meeting of Mary Campbell and
Robert Burns probably changed the
entire course Of the life Of Scotland s
premier poet. The girl has been described
| as a sprightly, blue-eyed creature OF great
| modestv and self-rcspcct. As q servant m
| the employ of his friend and landlord she
came into the life Of Burns at most OPP
portune time, when lac was low in spirits
| and needed consolation.
REvFRsEs ARE CHECKED.
In the wear. l7S6 Burns had suffered
resycrcs ps the result oi an Inflated
| experiment in farming at Massgicl with
| his brother Gilbert The death OF hls
| father not long before and the confused
| condition III which he had left his affairs
| had also been a source Of worry IN the
/ Young poet who at that time had not
| vet become eminent Ills difficulties were
| further increased due to the consequences
Of love affair with Jean Armour, girl
who eventually became his wife.
He had offered himself rs the hus-
| band Of Jean when she gave birth 20
child, but her famully Ind cast hun.
| Of. not considering him good enough.
| A certificate written hy Burns 10 the
| effect that Jean was his wife had heen
| torn UP hy the father Of the girl and
shortly afterwards when the poet en-
| colntercd MARY Campbell, he consld-
| cred that rs his WISHES 70 amend things
with the Armour girl had been rejected,
/ the latter had no claim on hum
! Niarv. the beautiful young girl from
| the highlands, greatly sympathlzcd with
| Burns and his rnisfortuncs. sympathy
| and friendship rIpcned into love and
4 tie Young bard asked MARY 70 become
/ his wife At this tlmc. however, II
| became necessary for her % visit her
/ father in the highlands and Burns
4 offered ia escort her on the inst part
81 her long walk
| On the second Sunday in May, l7S6,
| the couple reached what he called "A
/ seoucstered spot on the banks Of the
| Ayr. Here the parting took place,
which the poet long years afterward
! conmemorated in touching verses
| According to tradition they stood
| on opposite banks Of the stream and,
dipping their hands into the water,
swore TO be true While coming back
from the highlands Mary stopped at
Grecnock to care for her sick brother
where she fell i'll and died OF fever
Her body was laid to rest in the little
graveyard, the proposed descration OF
which caused such a storm among
the lovers Of Burns. Burns turned
pale and kept silent when her death
was announced, but years after his
immortal poems 10 her revealed his
true affection. Highland Mary" has
come to he a name to coniure with
the poetry of her lover.