DUNEDIN BURNS CLUB.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13209, 16 February 1905, Page 5

DUNEDIN BURNS CLUB.

. The monthly gathering of the Burns Club last night was a good one. As one speaker put it. .there were present the familiar faces 1 ot tliuse who took the opportunity month by - month .of. spending " twa 'o'ors ;it hanie in auld Sootlai)'," As the programmes admit but • jit tie that is not associated with Scotland, and as. reference is unfailingly made to tho national hard, whose name, in like manner, as tho lens iocnscs the rays of light and heat, seems to draw together the thoughts and interests of. the whole of Scotland's sons; however .widely sundered, the evenings never fail to prove iii source of delight. Mr J. Arkle (tile etub's president), who occupied the chair, said that since the last niglit of meeting the most important gatherings ot Burns cinbs alt over the wor.a had taken place—the anniversary reunions. Their own gathering had proved the .best concert and tlio mcsi successful meeting yet licit], and this in spite of the very bad weather. .' ■ ■ Tho popularity of Burns was increasing above that- of any other man. Gatherings in bis honour were held wherever the English language was spoken, and more statuc3 were being erecbd to his memory than to tiiat of auv other man. His popularity might he ganged from the fact .that of the English speaking visitors to the Old Country,',and especially of the Americans, for every one who paid liomago st the shrine ot Shakespeare there \vc:e ten v/lio visited the " old clay ,biggin'" in whieli Burns was born, a sp.cndid statue to the memory of Bums had recently, been unveiled in Sydney, and in spite of the very bad weithcr, the ceremony had been largely attended by all classes, even ladies in their finery not being deterred by the downpour. Mr lteid had on the occasion averred that when these statues.were grey with ago the songs of their poet, would bo as fresh as thev were to-day. A parson—a Unitarian, he (Mr Arkle) believed—had . prcachcd a sermon in connection with tho ceremony, and had made tlio remarkable statement thai there were two' enigmas m the' world—tho Egyptian Sphinx and the Scotchman. The tatter's claim to be regarded as an enigma was that, whilst he was essentially a believer in predestination, lie yet worshipped the- man who ridiculed it. Scott, the other great Scotchman, who wrote the memorable "Waverlcy J\ovcls," and whose fame would never die, was yet not so popular .its Burns. The secret of this great popularity wits probably found m the fact that Burns wrote for the masses and not for the classes—he was not an aristocrat, but a ploughman. The choir were heard in three part sangs— " Craigilea," " Scotland for ever," and '■ Will ye no come back again?"—and, although somewhat weak in attack and suffering from a paucity of male voices, the rendering of their items, under tho leadership of Mr E.' Ilutton. was creditable. , jfrs Ifonkman was recalled tor her sympathetic rendering of "Janet's choice," responding'with "Kate O'S'hane," and a similar compliment was paid to Miss 1). Croft for her singing of " Rothesay bay." her encore number being Slumber sea." ■ A pleasing number • was Farmer's arrangement for violin- of " Charlie is my darling" and " Au!d. Robin Gray," tlio violinist, Mr J. Crean, producing a good tone anu exhibiting facility of execution for which lie was lewarded with a recall. Miss Clarke recited, Whit-tier's poem " Bums," and Mr A. Sligo sang " The -long awa' ship" which he 'supplemented with a comic number. Mr P. Davie contributed the cornet solo " Bessoniau polka," and Scotch music was played by Stokes's banjo, mandolin, and guitar band. The accompaniments were well treated at the hands of Miss E. Wright. The enjoyment of many sealed towards the rear of the hall was marred by tho incessant talking carried on during the progress, of the items, the offenders being persons-o!< enough to exhibit better taste.