SCOTLAND’S BARD

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 105, 28 January 1935, Page 4

SCOTLAND’S BARD

Burns Chib Celebrates His Anniversary “MONARCH PEASANT” High tribute was paid to the memory of Scotland's national poet, Robert Burns, on Saturday evening at the annual anniversary supper of the Wellington Burns Club, held at the Y.AL.C.A. Few gatherings could have demonstrated more strikingly in enthusiasm and numbers the clannish spirit of the Scots. Three hundred people, men, women, and a few bairns, gathered to remembei- the poet. It was Wellington's contribution to the celebrations which, on Burns’s birthdate, January 25. encircle the globe, receiving recognition in the most remote territories where Scotsmen arc to be found. Mr. R. 11. Nininio presided, and among those associated with him at the ofiicial table were the guests of honour, the Mayor and Mayoress, Mr. and Mrs. T. C. A. Hislop, and Mr. L. R. Partridge; Mrs. A. McVicar, of the Gaelic Club; Mr. J. Burns, Mr. David McLaren and Airs. McLaren. Mr. P. C. Watt, Mr. W. Benzies, Mr. J. T. Reid, of the Shetland Society, and Mr. G. 11. McLeod. Inoarnation of Scotland. A striking panegyric was paid to the ‘‘monarch peasant” by Mr. David McLaren, a former Mayor of Wellington, in proposing the toast, ‘‘To the Immortal Memory of Robert Burns.” “The sturdy stock from which he came were not ignoble. In truth, Burns was very proud of his peasant ancestry; their plain honesty, independence, frugality, homely fellowship, simple piety, patriotic fervour, and rich strain of humanity, were virtues he highly prized,” said Air. AleLa ren, “From the race of true Scots; from the national character of his country, was born in Robert Burns the spirit of proud independence, passion for liberty, and love of truth and beauty. He came to being as an incarnation of Scotland. Wallace and Bruce went to the making of Burns, though they had little time for verse in their lives of stern warfare. He was both nationalist and internationalist, someone we might learn from to-day. . . . He gave to mankind what others of lesser gifts squander upon party. Proud, yet humble; fierce, yet tender: sagacious, yet burdened with human frailty.. ‘He was a man take him for all in all.’ “Ancient Enemies.” The toast of “Scots at Home and Abroad” was proposed by Air. L. Partridge. The response was made by the Mayor. Mr. Hislop, who said he had nothing' but pride for the clannishness of the Scots, and for their immortal bard. _ Speaking to the toast. “Time English,’’ Air. Nimnto said following the generous references to the Scots by Air. Partridge, he must return the compliment in toasting “Our ancient enemies and present friends—brothers by adoption.”