"BOBBIE BURNS"

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 89, 14 April 1923, Page 17

"BOBBIE BURNS"

HIS ANNIVERSARY.

TRIBUTE BY A SCOT.

The story ha* been told by a New Zealand journalist who was for some years in Samoa, long before the war., that the Scots in Apia suddenly realised one 25th January that it was Burns's birthday. The occasion was too great to be missed, and they d«termjned to make a night of it. Native messengers were sent round to the Englishmen and Irishmen with the message that that night would be a Burns night, and that the Sscj£ would honour their national poet in a manner .befitting his importance and their zeal. The message as delivered was "Burn night, to-night," and naturally some of those who received it thought there was likely to be a. fire, others, to quote the title of a once popular song, that there was to be " a hot time in the old town to-night." Anyway, as the Scots had the "arrangements in hand—and there was no prohibition in Samoa then as there is now—it was thought to be all right, and so there was sure to be a good attendance. But just before the gathering of the clans il was thought desirable to have a copy of the poems of Burns at hand, in case it' should be called for. Search was made among Scots, English, and Irish, and Americans' for a copy of Burns's poems. There was not one to be had. Now, had it been a corkscrew . But a German supplied the need. He had a copy oi Burns's poems, and cheerfully lent it for the celebration, which was fervent in the extreme, and caiTied on till nest da.y to the alien sounds of the boom of the surface on distant shores, and the gentle rustle of coconutpalms in the breeze. Thus the poet was duly honoured by his own countrymen and others in c a far Pacific island. "A Tribute to Burns" on his 164 th anniversary has been, mid in quite different fashion by Mr. ""David Grant. It is merely headed "Bums," and iVhere printed in full, for it exactly expresses the affection of Scots and other felt for the poet, especially those dwelling in parts far from Caledonia stern and wild: Gin ever Nature wept ior man, Sin' first the human race began For Jftobert Burn 3 she micht hae wept, An lang in weeas o' woe hae kepf Jior never: scholar yet she knew That followed her'with faith so true. An' never poet sang her praise ■ In equal wealth o' tunelu' lays. "The Bank an' Braes o' Bonnie Doon." Sweef Ayr wi' saftly gurgjing soun'; The Kith, wi'-a' the charms that He Neath summer sun or winter sky; The whistling blast, the sleety shower, The budding tree, the blooming flower, The grassy knoll, the daisied lea, The singing bird, the humming bee, Each charm, each voice, o' hill an 1 plain, Made music in the poet's strain. • 'Tis true, nae epic large and lang, 'lis true, nae Bye act drama sprang Jrae Robin's muse,- but his the art To thrill the pulses o" the heart, Each passion, feeling of the soul, To hold within his firm control. Love tuned the string, and to"- his lyre Thrilled all the frame with soft desire, Or pensive grief bade sorrow flow. And all the breast was filled with woe, Ot Pity Cruelty's hand wad stay And wipe Misfortune's tears away. Mirth gaily at his call arose, Or barbed satire whelmed his foes; Or beauty blushed her praise to hear, Or manhood spurned assailing fear. And stood erect in native pride. With Independence by his side. ■ Nor yet in old, nor modern times; Nor yet in near nor foreign climes. His master of the lyric art So strongly swayed the human heart. Oh. Robert Burns! thy minstrel Jam* Will last wi' Caledonia's name. Not through the British Isles alone, An' lands Britannia calls her own, But wheresoever men rejoice To hear a true poetic voice. Oh. first o' bards an' social wits! On ilka pole a Scotsman slta. An' mony a' couthie' Scot is seen In a' the lands that \ie between; An' when thy natal nicht comes round, "Wherever loyal Scots are found. There will the? meet, as we have met, To pay th" memory tbe debt (If eratltude. too oft forcot While tbon didst dree thy 'hitter Tot; T^ere'-wIH +.ny vonm (nsnire the hoard, There, will the. "mountain Hew" he poured, ,4n' wMIp sßch heart to ScoHa turns Will Senfamen tomt "TmmoTf.nl Hums." (The publishers are Messrs. William Smith, . Bon Accord Press, Aberdeen.)