BURNS CLUB.

Otago Witness, Issue 3380, 25 December 1918, Page 43

BURNS CLUB.

The monthly concert of the Burns Club was given in the Early Settlers' Hall last night. Mr W. Brown presided. The Chairman stated that since the last meeting much had happened. In the first plaoe, tfyey had to thank God for a victory* The great staying powers of our armiee had rendered this possible j but the women of the nation., too, had, by their untirinjf efforts, helped to bring victory to out arms. The boasted German power was now broken, end her navy was lying in the harbours of her conquerors. In the second place, much sorrow had been brought to our land by the fearful soourge which had raged throughout the world. Ho then asked Pipe-major Grant to play " The Land o' the Leal" in remembrance of those who had been taken away by war iand pestilence. In his address on " The Factors of Poetmaking," Mr T. J.. Melville said that the common expression that "poets are born and not made" was true, but that sometimes born poets did not have the opportunity to develop their talent. He then showed how the environments of the great Scottish poet—Robert Burns—had tended to shape the nature of his verses. Beside the environment of poets education helped. This important factor was nowadays a' matter of cramming "; but the education of Burns was a different- process: it was a drawing-out process. Traditions and the love of one's country also had their effect on the verses of a poet. A verse of _ the National Anthem was sung, Pipe-major Grant played a bagpipe selection, and the following contributed to an enjoyable programme:—Songs—Misse* D. and M. Colston, Connor, Messrs Gv Swan, P. Holmes, K. Webster, A. M'Leod, J. Paterson, and R. M'Kinlay. The Burns Choir, under the baton of Mr James Paterson, tastefully rendered several items ; while Miss E. Wright acted as accompanist.