YOUNG SCOTTISH POET TRAMP.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9303, 1 August 1908, Page 4

YOUNG SCOTTISH POET TRAMP.

A RIVAL TO GILBERT DIS-

COVERED

Scotland's reputation for lack of humour has been finally dissolved, for a new Gilbert has been discovered in Lanarkshire.

A young poet-traxnp, living among til© bleak moors and coal heaps of the Scottish mining country, has tound' in-, spiration, despite his surroundings, for a comio opera, which has been pronounced a masterpiece. A "Daily Express" representative has road through "The New Oberon," the romantic light opera in two acts which the poet-tramp has written,. Fairies and modern characters mingle delightfully in ' r Tho New Oberon" making it strongly reminiscent of " lolanihe." Hero is part of a song by one Christopher Columbus Page: — When quite a youth I chanced to learn Thai simplo truth 13 no concern Of sxich as. axe Particular To climb tho social ladder. And when that view Had proved its worth I tried a few Things here on earth That might of late Have met a, fate Incalculably sadder. Yet what's the use' of this? or thi3? And where" s iho use of that? "With local fame My only claim My lifa's extremely flat It's hopeless, I can see, ah me! I'll never beosmo tho rage; When I laugh or baTk, Folks merely remark. "Don't bother! it's only Page."

Here is a verso in a- charming little ballad quito in the Gilbert style : — A lovely flower Within a. bower Did bloom, as was her duty; And through the day The sun.- -would pay Hl3 tribute ta her beauty. The; things ho said 1 Quite turned her head 1 (Although he might not mean them), And so ho vowed Until a cloud Uolled! up and hung between them. Oh I request that thoseWill read who mn — 'Tin hopeless for the Rose To catch the Sun! There is a swing about the song of Lord Chief-Justice Dare:— With, epigram nice 'ant! new, And wittily neat and clean, I make myself pleasant To peeress and peasant And everyone in between. Frivolity I taboo, Yet humour's the staple fare, By common report, Served up in the Court Of Lord Chief-Justice- Dare. The libretto throughout the little opera is of a high standard, and the quintets and ensembles are very, brightly written. The author, wßo'Eas been visited by an "Express" representative at his home at Bellshill, said he preferred not to affix his name to hw work at present. He has chosen instead the pen-name of 7l Walden," from Thoreau's book, which he intensely admires. He, is a modest young man, unwilling to speak of himself, but glad to chat freely on any literary or- artistic subject. "My father," lie said, "was a coalminer, and I was born at Wish aw, four miles from Belisihill, twenty-four yeans ago. "I won a bursary, and had two years at Allan Glen's School in Glasgow. "If my owera is a success, I will walk through Britain for a holiday."