BURNS ANNIVERSARY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17533, 27 January 1919, Page 6

BURNS ANNIVERSARY

ENJOYABLE GATHERING IN DUNEDIN.

It was a foregone conclusion that tho celebration of Robert Burns's anniversary by too Dunedin Burns Club on Saturday evening would bo attended by a great number of persons and would turn out an unqualified suooess. Burns Hall was the place selected in which to hold the celebration, and it was crowded by an audience filled with enthusiasm. The stage was very prettily decorated, and looked as if tho hands of Mr D. Tannock, a warm supporter of tho club, had' been busy. The programme consisted principally of musical items, and included in the singers and players were several of tho best and most favourably known amateur and professional musicians in Dunedin and elsewhere. Tho Highland Pipe Band, conducted by Pipeniajor Grant, opened the celebration by playing an appropriate selection of Scottish airs, which was loudly applauded, and was followed by the hearty singing of the National Anthem. The President (Mr W. Brown), who was supported on the platform by Messrs James Craigie, C. E. Statham, and T. K. Sidey, M-P.'s, in the course of some preliminary remarks, mentioned the receipt of complimentary and congratulatory telegrams, and said he need scarcely tell them that tho object of the gathering was to honour the memory of Robert Burns. It was the 160 th anniversary of his birth. Scotland had produced many good men before Burns's time, and many since his time, but nop© was so widely or lovingly remembered, and well might they all keep his memory green. The part song, "There Was a Lad," was capitally -rendered by the Burns Choir, under the direction of the conductor (Mr J. Paterson), and later the ohoir sang "Duncan Gray" and "Doon the Burn" Mr S. Angell sang "Scots Wha Hae" (by request), and for a recall the " Highlander's Toast'' Mr-' D. Stuart Dallas, better known in musical circles in the past as Miss Mabel Esquilant rendered "Ye Banks and Braes," "Ca' the Yowes to the Knowes," and "Jamie, Come to Me," in excellent style, and had to submit to repeated recalls. A male quartet from the Commercial Travellers' Choir, consisting of Messrs C. O Soott, J. D. Cameron, S. Gilchrist, and £>. Angell, was warmly applauded for its part singing. Mrs John Fraser's vocal contributions—"Mary Morrison" and "(f a' the Airts"—were redemanded. Mr C. C. Scott quite captivated his audience with his singing of " The Lea Rig," and Mr J. A. Wallace played a Scottish fantasia on the violin -with all his accustomed skill, and Miss Beulah Thing's dancing was much admired and appreciated. Miss E. Wright acted as accompanist. _ Mr James Craigie, M.P., during a break in the musical programme, after some complimentary remarks regarding the president and his fitness for the position he held, offered his congratulations upon the standard the club was keeping up. He had on two former occasions delivered addresses to a Dunedin audience on different phases of Burns's life and work, and that evening he craved their attention whilo ho very briefly dealth with the question of how Scotland treated Burns while he lived. It was considered that, like many others, Burns's great genius and worth were not discovered or realised while he lived He thought Burns had a better estimate of his groat gifts and powers than any of his admirers had had. He had said on his death, bed: ■** Oh! Jean, woman, people will think more of me after a hundred years," and that prophecy had been fulfilled. It was very hard for us to believe that people could be made of finer clay than ourselves, and there were many "starters for the tram, but few caught it. A man came along like a bright meteor, and was dazzling for a few years, and his memory uaghtJrre for a few years after his death, and then he was heard no more of. Time was the only test of a man's greatness, and Burns had stood that test. He was one of the immortals. Burns was not only a poet; he was a reformer, and living rev™^ 8 " were seldom popular. Burns knew that 'a prophet has no honour in his own country,) and so it was proved. Compared with many of his kind, Burns's life was happy. Old or young, rich or poor, learned pr ignorant, wo were all transported by Burns. People read and laughed or wept over his songs. Burns had held a subordinate government position, but that did not keep bun from expressing what he thought of the Government. Let anyone who was in a Government position get up and "go lor the National Government, and see if it led to promotion. If Burns had flattered men he could have earned a handsome hying easily, but he did, not. Had others died as young as Burns they would never have established their fame. If Burns found Scotland a poor country for him to live in, it had since proved a rioh country for him to die m. Mr Craigie then touched very briefly on the war. and said he hoped they would not think him egotistical when he expressed pride at the part Scotland had played in it The flower of her manhood was gone. She -was bled white. The men had gone to the war, pro rata.-,in greater numbers than ,any other nationality. In conclusion, he pressed the claims of the men returning from tie war to lasting consideration. .