BURNS CLUB

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 12, 13 July 1935, Page 5

BURNS CLUB

SUCCESSFUL EVENING

A large and congenial gathering oil the Wellington Burns Club, presided over by Mr. R. H. Nimmo, took place in Nimmo's Hall on Monday. Eany in the evening an enjoyable musical programme, arranged by Miss Jeanette Hriggs, L.R.S.M., who acted as accompamste, was given. Songs were rendered by Miss McKinley ("Waiata Poi"), Mrs. Wiltshire ("The Island Mermaid"), Misses Bennell and Thomas (duet, "Venetian Boat Song"), Mr. Stoivens ("Wi* a Hundred Pipers"), Miss Sawyer ("Agnes McDonald" ), Miss Thomas ("Oh Can Ye Sew Cushions"), Miss Bennell ("Villanelle"), Mr. Seaton ("Flow Gently, Sweet Afton"), and Misses McKinley, Coulson, and Sawyer (trio, "Pure as the Air"). Four members of the company also sang a quartette, "I Would That My Love." An interesting feature was an address, under the title of "Wanderings in Scotland," by Mr. Will Appleton,' who gave a graphic description of a motor tour through Scotland, ■ accompanied by his wife and two New Zealand friends. The speaker took his hearers in a westerly direction from Carlisle to John o' Groats, and brought them back through Inverness, Aberdeen, Edinburgh, and other important cities of ''Caledonia stern and wild." He dealt particularly with that part of the land made historical by the immortal Robert Burns.

"Although Robert Burns was born at Alloway, near Ayr," said Mr. Appleton, "he spent the later and most productive years of his too short life at Dumfries, where he is buried with his bonnie- Jean. It was on the banks of the Nith, which flows through the town, that he composed the immortal tale of the tenant of Shanter Farm. This lyric poet of humanity is still a warm living force in Scotland, and is loved by Scots the world over. That international anthem of friendship, the poignant song, 'Auld Lang Syne,' is his best memorial."

Speaking of Edinburgh as the "show place of Scotland," Mr. Appleton deeply moved his audience with an inspiring description of Scotland's national war shrine. "One could spend hours in this hallowed spot," he said, "and despite the number of visitors, there is a spirit of reverence which it is difficult to convey to those who have not visited the memorial. Words are all too inadequate to describe the effect on the heart and mind of this Stupendous monument to the agony and triumpTi of man." ■

The programme concluded with a vote of thanks to all those who had contributed to its success, and an excellent supper was served.