The Evening Star TUESDAY, JANUARY 28, 1873

Evening Star, Issue 3102, 28 January 1873, Page 2

The Evening Star TUESDAY, JANUARY 28, 1873

It is not surprising that in Otago the memory of Robert Burns should, bo cherished by his countrymen with an affection that has not fallen to the lot of any other poet, not even excepting Shakespeare. It has been truly said that “ The strains of Burns touch all hearts. He has put words together, as hardly any writer did before him.” Thomas Miller predicted in words which he attributed to

Coila—the nymph who round his brow Twined the red-berried holly bough Of Highland hut and Lowland homo, His songs shall float across the foam, ■ Where Scotland’s music ne’er before Rang o’er the far-off ocean shore. To shut of eve from early morn, They shall be carolled mid the coni, While maidens hang their heads aside, Of Hope that lived, and Love that died; And huntsmen on the mountains steep. And herdsmen in .the valleys deep, And virgins spinning by the fire, Shall catch some fragment of his lyre. And the whole land shall all year long Ring back the echoes of his song. The world shall in its choice records Store up his common acts and words, To be through future ages spread; And how he looked, and what ho said, Shall in wild wonderment be read, When coming centuries are deacL 4 “ And wear thou this,” ’ she solemn said, * And bound the holly round ’ his ‘ head ; The polished leaves, and berries red, Did rustling play; And, like a passing thought, she fled In light away.’ No wonder that annually there is a gathering on the anniversary of Burns's birth to commemorate an event which has had so great au effect upon the national mind. But we consider it very remarkable that, no matter .what the occupation of those who meet to express their common admiration of the Scottish bard —no matter whether they are rich or poor, hard-working men or persons of independent means, shepherds or ploughmen, all have made themselves masters of his principal productions, and can interpret them in song or recitation. There is amongst them, therefore, a bond of nationality such as exists amongst no other equal number of our Colonists. They speak the same language, and desire to .preserve its peculiarities; they think the same thoughts, for they are derived from the same fountain of thought; and they are animated by the same spirit. Scones may change, but they compare jthem with the pictures of Burns, and sec features in common with them in their new homes ; occupations may change, but the spirit of Bur>’s impels them to energy and industry in their »e>v pursuits; fortunes may change, hut in success or adversity the pride of manhood sustains them when they recollect that

A man’s a man for a’ that. Englishmen may he equally energetic, equally highly cultivated; but they are not hound together by one common current of thought. They do not each represent a sentiment that in the aggregate builds up a national mind: there is no common feeling impelling them to meet £or a purpose in which each takes an These Burns gatherings have uses far beyond the mere recalling to rpeiwoi’y tho master spirit in whose name they have met. They draw together men to whom are entrusted the expression of thoughts, not only of the past but of the present. If the literary mail is supposed to honor the toast of the evening by reviewing the effect that tho writings of the Scottish bard had upon his own and succeeding generations, tho man of science points to what may bo expected of the country in which the meeting is held, the politician is there divested of his party spirit. Ho can look into the future, -and in general terms, devoid of -controversial bitterness, comment upon means ol advancing ,t,ne

prosperity and extending tlie influence of the country. Ho there meets apolitical opponent on ground on which they can unite in sentiment, and although m the forum they may diverge in their ideas ot what is host to he done, they know they have hut to return to the shrine of Burns to divest themselves of all feelings of asperity, and learn that —There shall spring above each vice Some golden flower of Paradise, U Inch shall, with its immortal glow, Half hide the weeds that spread below.

The common feeling at the Burns gathering last evening was that Hew Zealand needed a nationality. It seems to us that the Caledonian Society is showing the way to create one, and we should be glad to see its influence extended in that direction. There is enough in common between the English, Scotch, and Irish elements of our population to _ bind them into one, and therefore it is highly desirable tli at on every hand this unity of spirit should be cultivated. The writings of Burns are sufficiently cosmopolitan to find acceptance with every heart, and if, through their influence, a population like that of Otago can become of one heart and mind, the foundation of a nationality is laid that must ultimately permeate and amalgamate the whole Colony. It must be remembered that to thoroughly understand one poet is to hold the key to the comprehension- of the -writings of all. The lover of Shakespeare can better comprehend and appreciate Burns through having mastered his favorite author : and the converse is also true, that those who understand Burns will be equally'ready to do justice to Shakespeare. Imbued, therefore, with common sentiments, drawn from a common literature, and animated by a common Protestantism, there are in Otago the elements of a nationality that pc shall be glad to see united —for unity is strength. We trust next year the Caledonian Society will bo able to enlist beneath their banners the aid of their English and Irish fellow-colonists, among whom are admirers of Burns equally enthusiastic with our Scottish brethren.