THE BURNS CLUB

Evening Star, Issue 15268, 21 August 1913, Page 2

THE BURNS CLUB

The monthly meeting of the Burns Club was held last evening, Mr J. Loudon presidIho Chairman expressed his pleasure at seeing so many present to do honor to the memory of Sir Walter Scott. He was sure the Very Kov. Dean Fitchetr-, who was going to address them about the great novelist would deal with his subject in a, masterly manner. He desired to announce that preparations were being made for a Hallowe'en concert in October, when many old Scottish customs would be revived. In "conclusion, ho stated that it was with great regret that he had noticed the death, since their last meeting, of an old president of the club (Mr David Stevenson), who had been an enthusiastic Scotsman and a thoroughly uprio-ht man. "

The Dean spoke on the life and works of Sir Walter Scott, remarking that he was an Englishman, and, having- been born very far south of the Tweed, he would be certain to go clown in any such test piece as 'An Address to a Haggis'—(laughter)— but Scottish origin was- not essential to an appreciation of the writings of Sir Walter Scott. His writings did not exclusively belong to Scot-la-ud, but had become part of the literature Df the world, and even when the "VVaverley series of novels were being produced they ivere being translated into German for issue by the Leipzag, Publishing Company. Scott was born in 1771, and came of a good old Border stock. His childhood was steeped in the romantic traditions of border life its private warfare, its midnight raids, its superstation, and its love tales. The borders were the natural home of romance, and this romance took definite shape in the novels aallads, and verse of Sir Walter Scott. Fortune had favored Scott in his early life, and ne was speedily earning an income of £2,000 a. year, while the conditions under which he lived generally presented a very strong contrast to those of Burns. In the matter of finding a market for his writings he was also very fortunate; and the receipts from the sale of the 'lay of the Last Mnistrel' and the. five or sec other poems that followed it came to perhaps 20,000. Viewed in its literary aspect, the poetry of .Scott was simple sensuous, and passionate, and not overrefined. It was also romantic and patriotic and when all these things were considered H was no wonder it had taken the hnart* of the Scottish people. Poems like 'Lochinvar' and the extract from the 'Lay of the Last Minstrel,' beginning "Breathes there a man with soul so dead," stirred the heart of sven an Englishman, and if ho heard th« termer repeated 45 times over at the Dunedin Competitions he would still admire it. In 1815 Scott's first novel appeared, and was followed at intervals during the nest 15 rears by the 48 volumes of the Waverlev *eries. So groat was the success of these tales that his income was said at one time to have reached £15,000 or £20,000 a year-' The speaker next referred to the "rift, within the lute m connection with Scott's life and stated that though bis liability incurred bv the bankruptcy of the printing firm of Ballantyne amounted to considerably over £IOO,OOO every penny of this was paid off bv the revenue from his books. The "<- e at novelist had died in the belief that°this abject bad been accomplished within his lifetime, but as a matter of fact the final payments were made after his death by the produce of the copyrights. Iu conclusion, the lecturer briefly referred to the honesty of purpose and the stimulating interest of manv of Scott's novels, and rounded off his remarks by reading an appreciation of Sir Walter Scotb that had been penned by Thomas Carlyle.

The musical programme was notable for the fact that in every instance the words of tho songs were by Sir Walter Scotfc. Items *cro rendered by Messrs A. Rawliii'on (songs), A. Westhead (violin solos) J M'Clymonfc (songs), Miss Henderson (son")' iMiss Ethel Carter (seantreus), Master e' Ball (recitation), Piper Blorrison (bagpip» selection). Tho choir, under the direction of Mr S. Patevson (musical director), also rendered several part songs and-concerted items. Miss Wright, acted as accompanist.