BRAW SCOTS NI'CHT

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 11, Issue 29, 16 May 1947, Page 5

BRAW SCOTS NI'CHT

CALEDONIAS NATIONAL BARD INTERESTING BURNS ADDRESS The Caledonian Hall in King Street was packed on Wednesdaynight on the occasion of a Burns’ night programme arranged by the Caledonian Society. The speaker of the evening was Mr A. J. Sinclair, of Te Awamutu, who gave a 35 minutes address on Scotland’s immortal bard, Robert' Burns.

Programme The programme consisted of items by members of the Society which were followed by Mr Sinclair’s ad- • dress.At the conclusion of this a pro- . gramme of old-time dancing was held.

The Chief, Mr Anderson, two past chiefs and the speaker were piped into the hall and after Mr Sinclair had been welcomed the programme for the evening commenced. An item by the band opened proceedings and this was followed by two songs “The Old Scots Sangs” and “Bide a Wee” by Miss D. Stewart. Miss Janice Bell danced the Sword Dance and Highland Fling and Pipe Major Paterson sang “Blue Bonnets Over The Border” and “Sound of The Pibroch.” Messrs. Don MacKenzie and Russell Hirst gave a pipe duo and Mr G. Tweedie two humorous songs, “Forty-two Shillings a Bottle” and “The Hat Don’t Fit.” i Robert Burns In opening his address on Robert Burns, Mr Sinclair, who proved to be a very interesting speaker, stated that Thomas Carlyle had written a book on heroes and hero worship. The outstanding chapter in this book was that on the hero as •poet. This chapter had been based on the life.and works of Robert Burns. Burns was. an outstanding case of hero worship. All over the world his birthday acted as a magnet to Scottish people.

His Humble Life

Burns was a humble ploughman, lax-gely'self educated.and had died in poverty 150 years ago at the early age of 37. His last words to his wife were, “Don’t worry about me Jeannie, in 100 years the people will have more respect for me.” One hundred years later to the day a tremendous crowd composed of people from all walks of life gathered in Glasgow to pay homage to a man whose last hours had been haunted by the thought of a debt of £lO for which a tailor had obtained judgment against him. The speaker on that occasion was the Earl of Roseberg described as one of the last of the great orators. Burns had been boirn in a hovel and reared in struggling pauperism. He was a heavy silent lad who took a pride in his ploughing and was capable of bursting into . exquisite song as a nightingale. He was the greatest national poet'who had ever lived, and it had been said of him ‘when Scotland forgets Burns, History will forget Scotland.’

National Poet

The speaker went on to define what he meant by a national poet. Shakespeare and Moore were not the National poets of their countries. Burns on the other hand was the mirror of his country. Cleopatra had found that a mirror reflected blemishes as well as beauty and such was the case with Burns. He told of the sins and sorrows of his 'country at that time. Of its drink:ing orgies by wandering vagabonds ■as well as the beautiful side of Scottish life he sang because both formed part of the life of the country during the period about which he wrote.

He was one of the people and shared their misfortunes as well as "their joys.

Burns taught the Scottish people "to laugh at their superstitions. His “Address to the Deil” was the outstanding work in this direction. Independent Spirit

The speaker mentioned the proud independent spirit of the Scottish race which was evident in Burns work. It was this spirit which had •caused the Romans after 300 years of fighting to leave nothing but their bones and a few walls in Scotland. 'The same spirit that of the 52nd 'Highland Division which had cover*ed itself with glory in the recent "war.

An English poet of whom 90 per ‘cent, of the English, people had mever heard had been granted an .-annuity of £2OO. The only remun•eration Burns had ever received for his Work was the sum of £5 and a -shawl for his wife. To the publisher who sent the £5 Burns-had written a strong letter stating that he did mot write for money. The simplicity of his mode of life was shown by the budget for his farm expenditure for 1 year. The last item was £7 to cover food, clothes and recreation.

Despite Burns’ contempt for titles .and titled people he had friends

among the gentry. One of these was the Earl of Glencairn upon whose death Burns wrote a lament. Tam o’ Shanter

One of Burns’ outstanding contributions to literature was the poem “Tam o’ Shanter.” Mr Sinclair gave a reduced translation of the poem, originally written in the broad Scots dialect, which he claimed could be understood even by an Englishman.

Burns’ chief contribution was the way in which he polished up- old songs and ballads, originally very crude. “John Anderson My Jo John” was quoted as an example. Scotland had had many sweet singers who had instilled the songs into the Scottish people. Scotland had had many famous men of letters but the judgment of Scotland was that, as a poet, Burns stands head and shoulders above them all. In the words of John Nicol, a professor at the Glasgow University ‘The songs of Burns have passed into the very air we breathe.’ Mr Sinclair was thanked by Chief Anderson who said- that he hoped another* opportunity would occur when Mr Sinclair could address the Whakatane Caledonians on other subjects* In reply, Mr Sinclair said that he was only too willing to pay a return visit to hakatane. He also paid compliments to the Society on their fine hall and pipe band. A programme of old-time dancing' was then carried on until 12.30.