SONGS OF SCOTIA.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LVII, Issue 8778, 8 June 1907, Page 7

SONGS OF SCOTIA.

At the Wellington Town Hall, last Friday night, under the Caledonian Society's auspices, Mr George Hart, IprChr'istclmrch journalist, delivered an interesting lecture on "The Sougs of Scotland." He maintained that no poet of eminence had appeared in Scotland between the periods of Ossiau and Robert Burns. The speaker dwelt on the diversity of Burns as a song writer, as expressed in the various sentiments of songs ranging from the Ituinirou-: lilt, "The Deii's Awa Wi The Exciseman,' , to the martial ■'Scots Wha Hae," and the pathetic Water.'' He considered there but one song better in point of emotional feeling than "Ye Banks and Braes" (Burns), and that was Lady Nairn's "Laud o' tlr Leal." While dealing with "Comiu" thro , the Rye." as an excellent example of Scottish humour, the speaker pointed out that the rye referred tn was not. as was generally supposed, a field of corn, but a small burn or stream of water, which was crossed on stepping-stones; and for carrying the lasses across dryshod the lads demanded a kiss as their fee. Mr Hart referred to the grand old song of kinship. "Auld Lang Syne." the origin of which, lie said, was lost in the mists of antiquity, and was probably snug by the boon companions of bssiau, as they drained their drinking horns. This song had done more, he said, to unite Scotsmen in one patriotic baud than any other song to which the lecturer had referred that evening.