ANNIVERSARY OF ROBERT BURNS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVI, Issue XLVI, 26 January 1911, Page 6

ANNIVERSARY OF ROBERT BURNS.

SCOTTISH CELEBRATION IN NjCLSON.

Members of the Nelson Provincial Scottish. Society, to the number of £0 or 60,. assembled at the Masonic Hall last evening, the occasion beingi the anniversary- of the birth of Robert Burns. Chief Barrowman presided, and the vice-chair was taken by Mr. \V. J. Smith. Amongst the visitors were a party from Blenheim, which included Mr. Robert Allan (the laird of Urumclog), Miss Urquhart, Miss Smith. Mrs. F. Bennett and Mr. Young. A first-class spread was provided, several Scottish dishes appearing in the bill of fare—haggis, ahortbread, etc. The haggis was brought in to the accompaniment of tie bayp pes, and there was- much interest amongst the uninitiated as to the nature of this particular dish. The Chairman, in proposing the toast to the memory of Robert Burns, referred to the general want of appreciation of the Scottish poet in the South of Britain, though he had to admit that the only person he had ever met who could recite the whole of Burns* poems was an Englishman. Tihe toast was .honoured in sik-nce. Mr. Patterson (of Ashburton, but well-known to many in Nelson), was called uDon for a speech, and in response gave a most interesting address. He congratulated the Scottish Society on its successful gathering, and remarked that it was established for the purpose of fostering and perpetuating the traditions, legiends, customs and hallowed associations pertaining to Scotland. A Scottish Society appealed to them for manv reasoE?. it was p socal society — and "the social side of their nature was well worthy of cultivation. ' It gave • much happiness to leave the cares and wrangles of the world outside and to conuAhere and unite with, friends and kindred spirts to spend a few hours. They had met to celebrate the anniversary of the birth 'of Robert- Burns.. Scotland's national Doet and a man whom Thomas Carlyle esteemed and praised as the best poetical spirit of the 18th centurv. Although it was considerably over'loo vears since Burns passed through, the vale of the shadow hi* name and fame extended from Pole to Pole. Afe this season, and in every clime thousands would assemble to lay their laurels on his-tomb. History recorded that "Robbie Burns was born on January 25th. 1759, and when six years of was sent to school to learn English" and English sramanar. This no doubt accounted for him m after years giving in his poetry and song many English quotations, which took the true Scottish accent from the verse. Nothing > of stirring moment is recorded until they-found Burns as a youth at the plough. It was then the Genius of poetry threw her mantle over him, and . hTburst into song. Burns first effort -was '"My Handsome Nell —declared to be his first published work—--0! Once I loved ,a Tjbnnle lass Ave, a n* I lo'e her still, An' whilst that virtue warms my breast ~ I'M. love my handsome iNeil. Mi Patterson said he would die all the happier if allowed to add his own little stoae to the ever-increasing cairn ol love and affection that had been raised to the poet's memory. It was good for them to meet- together at least once a yeai to indulge in their love foi B-fus and to revel m his songs. There .vere still a few lofty and superior persona v.h., sneered and became sarcastic at Etras' gatherings and who nev ei ti-ed of throwing a stone at the gresu r.-eo But tbose persons were no: Jie Lc test and most lovable of mortal* The*.* who had nothing but pity foi Burns needed to be. piUed themselves " Scotland had bad many -reat and gifted sons but none had found a way to her heart like Robert Burns. Scotsmen were proud of Sir Walter Scott but thev loved Burns. If ever a man was bom in the divine gift -of song it was 'Srploughmanpoetf Robert Burns Nahim in a liberal mould and given, him more than a spark of her• ow b fire His soul was original, fresh, deep, full of passion and of eloquence—hi* Poems were pictures which rooted themselves in the mind and were never forSSS- So long as there were love and fontow .and mirth a nd friendship in the W so s ?ong.,vould the songs tfßumn live—they were nmmortal. .Burns w?> an ardent pateiotrr-his country lived in his heart. His earliest ambition was to do Something to enrich and exalt ins £tiSw, g to help to make Scotland ereafc:-and grandly he did it. i*** "land's struggle, for independence fired. forth the most stir< rine and arousing war ode ever penned —"Scot- wha hie." - Speaking of Burns as a religious man, Mr. f at *«rZsa held that "The Cottar's Satnrdaj Night'! was the noblest defence of rtihe Scottish religion ever -penned, and showed' a truly religious feeling. It *a» "• his songs-and especially his love songs . —itha't Burns was at 'his best. laKe x \ • Banks and Braes," in which de-'jpondent forsaken love complained of the gladness of surrounding natnre; or Mary Morrison," or "A' the Airts,' or in that sang when*the lover sings— Thro' thickest glen at midnight hour. ~ I'll roam and ne'er be eerie, <J. If-thro' that glen T gaed- to thee, :; I My ain kind dearie, O I Or in dozens of others in which he extol? the lasses. ' For instance : Auld nature swears the lovely dean; Her noblest work she classes, 0. Her .prentice ban' she tried on man And tnen she made the lasses, D. , Air. Patterson admired Burns' de- . meanour in Edinburgh after his trial? there. A rustic . straight • from the plouo-h, he mingled with the elite, and handed down jewelled duchesses to din ner. Burns was calm, unastomshed unabashed, neither awkward nor af fected —showing that "The rank was but the guinea stamp. The man's the gowd for a' that." In conclusion. Mr. Patterson gaves few more quotations, included m -whidb were:—

a When man to man the world o'er Shall brithers be and a' that. - And finally:— " Frenship maks us a' mair oiappy Frensnip gies us a' delight; Frenship consecrates t'he drappie Frenship brings us here to-night. A lengtihv programme of songs, recitations and'dances was presented, and a number of toasts were honoured. Thanks, were expressed to the firm of Mackie, of the ancient White Horse Cellar, Glas paw and Edinburgh, who sent out tr the Society free of charge- the haggis, shortbread, whisky, and heather, etc., for tfie celebration'of the anniversary. Those taking part were:—Mr. W. Brown, "There was a Lad 1 was Born in Kyle" ; Mr. E. Richards, "O' a the Aitfts the Win' can Blaw". "Oft in the Stilly Night"- (encored); Mis*, Urquhart. "My Nannie's Awa'," (encore, 'Annie Laurie'), 'The Auld Hoose' (encore, "Comin' Thro' the Tive"), "Can vet by Athol" (encore, "Will ye -no 'Come Back Again"),- Mr. B. Allan (Blenheim) recited Sir Walter ScottV .poem on. love of the land; Mr. A. G. Bettssang "Tom BowJing" and "Take a Pair of Sparkling-Eyes" (encore, "The Minstrel Bov"): recitations were given by Messrs Black and Smith; Miss Tyson danced tihe .sword dance and- Mr. Smith * the Highland Fling. All the

performers were loudly applauded. The accompaniment*? were played by Mrs. Bennett and Mr. Naylor. Piper Guthrie accompanied the dancers. The happy gathering broke up with the srnging of "Auld Lang Syne.''

"THE LAIRD 0' DKUMCLOG

(Tune, "The Laird o' Cock-pen.")

The following verses l were written as a compliment to Mr. Robert Allan, of Drumclog, Blenheim, a r°nerous patron of the Nelson Scottish Society, and wellknown in Marlborough and" Nelson a? "The Laird o' Drumclog." The laird has spent nearly half a century in his adopted country, but his love for the land of the mountain and the flood grows stronger with the years. Mr Allan is a genuine speciment of the old school of Scot, a tvpe now pjrncst extinct, but many of whose virtues continue to survive in the present generation :—■

The Laird o' Drumclog he's canty and

croose, Ye'll aye get a welcome to his couthie

bit boose. A leal heart has Rab Allan, tho' namely and free, And he aye keeps a draip o" the guid barley bree.

A true man is i<..ib and his word is his bond. O' new-fangled way's he's no' very fond. But. lilt him a sang o 'his well-loved countrie. And ye'll touch his Scots heart and bring the tear tae his ee. For riches and pleasure he never has socht But the battle o' life he has bravely focht ; And, ajs Rabbie say-, 'He's a king among men," For an honest man' R ane in a thoosand. ye ken. Respected by a' and hated by nane, Tho' fortune denied him baith wife and wean, - And his years outnumber the three score and ten, The Laird o' Diumclog's still a man among men. K