A LINK WITH BURNS.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16585, 26 July 1919, Page 5

A LINK WITH BURNS.

LETTER FROM AN ADMIRER. Lady Stout has forwarder! to tho Robert Burns Club, Wellington, a copv of a letter written by her cousin, Sheriff Dunlop, of Elgin, Scotland, which constitutes a remarkable link with the days of Robert Burns. Sheriff Dunlop is a great student of Scottish literature, and a devoted admirer °f Burns, and is now over eighty yeare of age. Ho writes as follows: — "It is now over 160 years since Burns was born—certainly a long periodbut yet in my early youth I was acquainted with an old lady, a native of Maucliline parish, who resided there as a girl of sixteen when Bums and his brother Gilbert were in MospcieJ, about 17SG. The old lady, Mrs Mason, was hale and hearty during the time I knew her. and told many stories of the poet, whom she knew well. In describing his appearance, she always spoko of his largo, dark, glow-ing eyes and swarthy j complexion, and always referred to his i fascinating manners and his love of the fair sex. Burns did not seek to con- i ceal his faults. Perhaps it would have been better had ho been more reticent. However, wo know the Best worst of him —and the latter he told himself. "One of the finest qualities of Burns tvas liis puro and anient patriotism, and we may be sure that had he lived in modern time 3ho would have boon amongst tho first to join the ranks in support of the cause of liberty and justice. Burns was a passionate lover of freedom, and in his day strongly counselled thi> nation to keep united in the face of danger:— 0 let us not like snarling tykes In wrangling bs divided, Till slap one in an unco' loon And wi' a decide it. Be Briton still to Britain true Amanjj oursels united. For never but by British iuwids Maun British wrangs be rigbted. "The spirit of unity amongst all classes of the community and our Allies during the war has been most admirable. Without it, we could not have won: and without its continuance we shall not be able to reap the full fruits of our yifetorv. Let us hope and pray that common-sense and reason will prevail during the present time ofunrcst, and that the fruits of the grea«< and triumphant victory may bring us nearer to the time when Mm to roan the warld o'er t| Shall brithers be for a' teat.

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