BURNS CLUB

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 53, 31 August 1934, Page 14

BURNS CLUB

LECTURE ON THE POET

INFLUENCE OF ENVIRONMENT

There "was'an attendance of about a hundred at last night's meeting of the Wellington Burns Club, Mr. E. H. Niinmo being in the chair. Mr. D. McLaren gave an address on " Burns's Environment and Inspiration."

The factors that moulded and iv some degrees marred the character . o£ Robert Burns, said, the speaker, were mainly the historical setting of his country, the natural ,-;fcaturcs ot: the land, family connections, ' religious teaching, conditions of life, intellectual opportunities, and human associations. That he drew from all of theso to build the edifice of his manhood and wonderful genius was beyond Question. Manhood was to him the high peak of human value standing above all else. One of the most important influences which went to tho making of Burns was his home life and family relations. Amid tho arduous heartbreaking toil ■and worry which ho was forced to undergo, he yet had the inestimable blessings of a'good father and mother, the earnest love and respect of his brother and sisters) and a wise home training such aa many who are wealthy might well envy. His mother was a good country housewife who kept her house well and leaned upon her husband because he was ever worthy. Burns said about his father, that he had never met anyone with a. wider knowledge- and appreciation of men, manners, habits, and character. The poet drew from him sustainuient, guidance, teaching, moral judgment, and logical habits of observation and reasoning.

"When we think," concluded the speaker, "of the great work this peasant performed in all his too short life (not 3S years) we wonder what were his opportunities for intellectual growth and acquirement of kuowledge; He was sent to school at six years of age, but only for two and a half j'ears; then his father taught him at home. At 13 he was enabled .to. go to a seminary for three weeks. Helped by various persons with books, he road voraciously all ho could get, but the range was restricted aud without order. That he was an apt and earnest scholar in learning English, some French, and a little Latin, is duly recorded. Compared with other great writers, Scott, Shakespeare, Milton, Byron, how very meagre were the supplies he had drawn upon. Remembering, also, that nearly all the time of his mental training he was subject, to the, hardest physical toil and constant worry, we stand jn awe before this miracle. None that we know of has ever produced so much from so little. -Environment' no doubt told, but the seed of genius was strong in him to absorb in nil directions with what has been defined as genius—an infinite capacity for taking pains." An excellent and appropriate musical programme was given during the evening. ' ■ ■