The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-08-10
BURNS
BELOVED IN
SCOTLAND
Monuments and Statues Pay
Tribute to Favorite
Writer.
Bv John w. RAPER.

|
one, 1t seems to me, can remain in
Scotland many hours without feeling
that the country's great national fig
lIre is Robert Burns, the farmer boy
who wrote the songs of the simple
folk of the farms and villages and
grew to be the bard Of the nation.
You can hardly say in Scotland that
BURNS was" In Scotland Burns is"
The Scotch have not wasted a great
deal of stone and bronze In monu-
mental form in tribute to generals
and rulers. Preachers, scientists, in
Ventors, writers and statesmen are in
statue many times more frequently
There are a number IL monuments
| to Wallace and Bruce, ancient he
roes. Then there is a long gap until
Nelson and Wellington are reached.
They are remembered occasionally. In
all the cities 1 have been have seen
| the statue of only three rulers Of
Great Britain. one of George " three
or four of Victoria and two of Ed
ward VII.
The statue OF George, in Edinburgh,
gave me a laugh On it was the in
sciption, George " Visited Scotland
MDCCCXXII." Which probably was
the only thing that he did in his reign
worth mentioning
! Edinburgh's most conspicuous
monument is to Scott and l saw two
| tablets marking his connection with
certain places. And one Of Haig.
came near forgetting all about that
hero. OF Haig, something at more
length in future letter.
Burns Tablets
But Burns Monuments to him
are everywhere. All Scotland has
paid him tribute with statues. busts
and tablets. The houses in which
he lived. soma in which he visited,
are remembered with tablets that
tell the stories.
Even some Of the saloons in which
he spent many a noisy evening are
marked and the fact that he fire.
quented them has given them a sort
OF historical value.
No one can afford to visit Scotland
and not see his birthplace, his monu-
ment and the town Of Ayr, associated
with his name in many ways
Ayr is an ancient sea town on
the Firth OF Clyde. Archcologists re-
Gently have found there articles
that belonged to the Romans in their
days OF occupation 1t was the home
of the ancient King Coyle. who &C
cording TO tradition was none other
than our old friend King Cole. the
merry old soul who was always call
ing for his pipe, his bowl and his
flddlers three.
Burns cottage is two miles from
the center OF the city. Many Scots
cast doubt on the cottage. They tell
you that the real cottage stood on
the other side of the road. but went
to ruins before Burns became widely
appreciated; that an old cottage was
fitted up with parts of the remains OF
the real one. the roof being used, and
that for years the house bore the in.
scriptlon. Under this roof was born
Robert Burns" literally true. but mis-
leading.
Ancient Bridge
short walk from the Burns cot
tage Is a Burns monument. overlook
ing the River Doom. and the ancient
bridge over which Tam 'Shanter took
his famous ride
The monument is in a setting of
wondrous beauty. II any reader OF
these lines ever visits IT, he is ad-
vised to form the acquaintance of
the superintendent. one OF the most
charming men have met in many a
day. Ask him a question or two about
birds and you will find a Scotch John
4 Burroughs.
NEXT: What play has lived hun
dreds Of years and been successfully
presented thousands Of times each
year? What, indeed, but Punch and
Judy" the puppet show? Raper sees
one