THE BURNS ANNIVERSARY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17216, 19 January 1918, Page 11

THE BURNS ANNIVERSARY

Nearly all the songs and recitations to ho given at tho anniversary gathering will bo from tho works of Burns. This is as it should bo. Tho singers havo every choice, with such trumpet blasts as " A Man's a Man for a' That," and " Scots Wha llao " ; such joyous lilts as "Corn "A' tho Airts," and tho touching pathos of "John Anderson My Jo," " Bonnio Doon," and "O Wert Thou in the Cauld Blast." No singer of modern times has touched tho "far ben" strings of the human heart Hko Robert Burrts. The song writer, whoso lifo in a worldly sense was a failure, is held very close to tho hearts of tho people. Lord Rosebery, speaking at a St. Andrew's dinner in London some years ago, said "That Scotsmen kept two festivals —one in honour of a Saint, tho other in honour of one who was the antithesis of a saint, in that ho was tho idol of his countrymen." Much might be said about the genius _of Burns, his manliness, his wide sympathies, his wonderful love of animato and inanimate nature; but tho leading trait in his lifo and works is his high-soulod fervent patriotism.