New Britain herald., 1923-01-27
SCOTS GATHER FOR
 TRIBUTE TO BURNS
Attendance of 300 at Annual Ob.
 SerVanCe by Lads and Lassies

1 Fully 300 people were in attendance
 at the 18th annual banquet, concert
 and dance of the Burns club of New Britain held in the auditorium of the Y. w. c. A. on Hungerford court last
 night in honor of the anniversary of
 Robert Burns, the greatest of Scotch
 poets.
 Rev. John l.. Davis said grace after
 which a bountiful repast was served
 by Mrs. A. Kronholm with 19 girls
 dressed in white waiting on tables.
 The tables were attractively decorated and arranged. Across the center of each table was q huge strip of yellow
 paper upon which were placed, at in tervals yellow candles in glass candle- stick holders decorated with red crepe paper. Individual palm plants were at
 both ends of each table.
 William Blair, president of the Burns club, presided over the banquet and Steve Robb acted as toastmaster MT. Blair, in an address of welcome, said that he was glad to see so many people had turned out to observe the anniversary of the greatest poet who ever lived"
 Steve Robb introduced Mrs. Jo- sephine Koch as the first singer of the evening. Her rendition of Flow Gent ly Sweet Alton" was well received by 70 My Love is Like Red, Red Rose'' by John T. Dowd.
 The Truth About Burns
 Rev. John r. Johnstone, of the Presbyterian kirk, Hartford suburb, delivered most interesting address on 'The Truth About Burns, the im- mortal poet"
 Describing the conditions under which Robert Burns was born and lived, Rev. MT. Johnson said that the poet was not entirely at fault for his condition in later life.
 The speaker said that the great poet was born poor but came of good brainy and made names for them- selves in their older years. He stated | that the father was God-fearing, | Bible-loving man and the mother was a woman of great gifts.
 Continuing Rev. MT. Johnstone said | Burns childhood was decade of | gloom and despair. At IT years of | age he began to feel that he had abli- ty and left his home. His first ffip turned home to start in business with ] relative at 23 years of age.
 When Burns was 25 years old his 'ather died. This caused the great change in his life of Burns. His great est poems were written when he was '5. 26 and 27 years old. The Cotter,' To a Mouse and TO Daisy were hree of the best pieces written, in hose years"
 The speaker told of Burns unsuc- essful matrimonial experience, of his rip to Edinburgh, his return to the mall town in which he was born and hen his trip to the west highlands there he wrote "A Mans Man for , ' That and "Auld Lang Syne," the tst named considered the greatest of Il farewell songs by the Scottish peo- le.
 The address was received by a 5und of applause and was followed 1, Y the singing of a duet "Ye Banks nd Braes" by Mrs Koch and MT. owd Mrs. Koch then sang "A ighland Lad My Love was Born" Id MT. Dowd Bonnie Lass of Ball. ,hmyle." :. The final after dinner song in hich everyone participated was Auld Lang Syne." The diners form r a huge circle about the hall while Y nging and in bond of friendship :, asped the hand of their neighbors. Professor N. l. kenney was floor |. rector in charge of the dancing for :, hich the music was furnished by the . ott Sextette with Edward Ramage ', ting as leader. The grapd march U IS followed by the circassian circ.e
 single reel. Pipe Major William !, iller played for the Highland ., .. hottische.