DUNEDIN CATHOLIC LITERARY SOCIETY.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XIX, Issue 50, 18 September 1891, Page 5

DUNEDIN CATHOLIC LITERARY SOCIETY.

A vbby interesting paper on " The Poet Bums and his Worka," was given by Mr T. Drumm at the ordinary meeting of the above Society on Wednesday last. This great poet was born on January 25tb, 1759, in a cottage near Ayr. Although his father never rose above tbe position of a small farmer, he obtained an education considerably above that of the average peasant's son, and at a very early age he attracted notice in the district in which he lived by composing poema in the Scotch dialect. When about 22 years of age he and his brother Gilbert started a farm at Mosgiel, but the venture was not a success, and he lost nearly everything ha hai. An the result of a love affair he was on the point of leaving for Jamaica when the favonrable reception an edition of his peems which he published in 1786 met with, induced him to remain. He went to Edinburgh and was introduced by Lord Glencairn into fashionable and literary circles ; here, although he astonished all with whom he came into contact by the vigour of his intellect and the versatality of his genius, yet he still retained his old Bimple manner After some time realising a considerable sum from a new edition of bis works, he contracted a marriage with Jean Armour and settled down in a farm near Dumfries. Burns died on the 21st July 1796. Although he injured his health by imprudent excesses, he was never in any sense a drunkard. The paper treated very ably and at some length, on the poet's work and was throughout plentifully interspersed with extracts. " The Cotter's Saturday night " was dwelt on as being one of his best efforts. A vote of thanks to Mr Drumm was carried with acclamation ; the paper was criticised by Messrs P. Hally, C. E. Haughton, Carolin, Mooney, J. J. Dunne, J. Cantwell, E. Eager, J. Hally, Popplewell and Columb. Father Lynch in summing up said the paper gave evidence of careful study, the matter being well selected, and having a nice easy style about it.

The only oiher item on the syllabos for tbe evening was a recitation by Mr Mooney, who has a very natural style of delivery, and who received a hearty vote of thanks on tbe motion of Messrs Popplewell and Carolin. A vote of thanks to the chair terminated the meeting.