MR JOHN BURNS AT HOME.

Timaru Herald, Volume LV, Issue 5658, 11 March 1893, Page 4

MR JOHN BURNS AT HOME.

In the Idler a series of biographical articles i« begun entitled " Lions m their Dens." The first " lion " interviewed is Mr John Burns, who, according to a suggestion of the inter viewer, is a descendant of the Scottish poet, and though Mr Burns does not died aim tho suggestion, he remarks that he fanoies there is little real connection between him and the poet. He began early as a demagogue, aud when he was sixteen hie first effusion appeared m the columns of a morning newspaper It was a letter entitled " Mechanios and the Unemployed." He desoribes the inoident : - "Ah !" said Burns, ' can't I remember sitting down to that letter, and my mother laughing at me. "You write on the 'Me ohanics and the Unemployed 1' Why, they'll ldugh at you !" I said, " I'll have a try any how." And I did, and ever since the wrkleja have been my chief care. That was my first etep towards where lam now. Mother was here the other day, and I showed her this. A year or two afterwards I got into trouble for addressing a meeting on Olapbam Common, and was taken before the magistrates. 1 was struggling with the police, when that young lady, oontinued John with a smile, and pointing to his charming wife, who eat betide him, ' caught a glimpse of me with my rough hair, flushed face, and torn jacket. Sbo was coming from ohurch with her father, John Dale, a Deptford shipwright. I looked at ber, she looked at me. We met again and again, and at last she became Mrs Burns, and I won't tell you all she has been to me. WellWithout ber, I shouldn't be where I am to day. Well, m 1880 times were bad, and I had bo work here co I aocepted an engineering engagement on the West C}»st of Africa. Here I worked for a year or two, bud it was m that tropical, death-bound region that I found m the sand of the river Adam Smith's " Wealth of Nations," which I devoured. It was a revelation to me. It was that book and Robert Burns' saying. "It is the most sorrowful thing m the world to see an honest man willing to work, and unable to get it," that really set me firm on i.hta work of mine for the labouring manses. Adam Smith, Robert Burns, and my own bard lot have built me up into what I am. WhiUt m Afrioa I studied very cloaely the habits of the natives and from their primitive tn"thods of life I deducted certain principles I thought would be applicable to civilised institutions pluß that artistic and scientific knowledge that civilisation ought to give us.'"

Mr Burns oame baok from Africa with "a little money," which he spent m travelling all ov.T the Continent, studying the great gal'imes, wandering about the cathedrals, after awhile he oame back to work m England :—

" ' The times grew very bad. Distreis oavsi* -the Trafalgar Square rioti. I was the ' man with the red flag " then, Then came jny imprwopfi}eiMs> I bold it M ft OUdißftl

principle that every man should go to prison as part of his education. 1 " The interviewer goes on to describe a norn ber of visitors, who for some time interrupted the interview — " Jast at this moment Barns' daily string of visitors began to pour m. A country council forest ranger asking fcr John's advice on certain improvements. Then tome lade out of work seeking his help, readily promised or given. Then, m came an old lady, a most direot and amusing person. She walked up to his little table, plumped down a bag of clinking sovereign*, and saiti, 'There I John, is £86. all my savings j whatever you 'do with it, Mr Burns, I shall be satisfied.' A poor thin-faced girl came next asking for a tioket for a convalescent home." And so an. By and by bis interviewer snggested that he might shortly tie called to office m the Government :— *" No,'he replied, with great simplicity ' I have oot the slightest deeire for office. It is for me to give hostages to disinterestedness. The balance of advantage lies for yearn to come m the mere working man like myself exploiting the administrative ability of the middle and upper classes, we oonfioing our■sire* to its guidance and direction. I hare done my best, and loyally tried to dignify the art of the demagogue, and my only way is by reaching and preaching and oonvinciDg the people that the hunting for tho loivea and fishes which one denounces m other people ha« no oharm forooetelf. I would eoonor be plain "John Burns " than the Bight- Horourable John Boms, Premier of England. There's a new tola for fellows like me —the old fashioned role of ffldile or syndio, a job not neoesiarily sought for material reward so muoh as for usefulness and the honour it confers on reoipient and giver' ' But yet tho loaves and fishes are not to be despisid by anyone, and much less by one who haa boron the burden and heat of the day,' I objected. John shrugged Ms shoulders with n oomioal smile, as he replied, ' Oh ! I don't know ; the fishes of office of tm stink. 1 d.-olare to you,' he oontinued very earnestly, leaning his arms on the table and looking me straight m ths face,' money hasn't a particle of attraction for me ; I have had temptation enough that way, God knowi. Within the last year or two I have returned to good hearted men enough but who don't understand me, something like £6000 which they hava offered me to help me m my fight far the people. But I don't want money or office either. Office!' he cried, with a fine soorn ; • lam prouder of my present office, Judge Advocate General of the poor, than I thould be of the Premiership itself.'"