“A GUID SCOTCH NIGHT.”

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 23, 25 January 1913, Page 2

“A GUID SCOTCH NIGHT.”

TARANAKI SCOTSMEN CELEBRATE BURNS’ ANNIVERSARY. SOME OF THE SPEECHES. “Our Monarch’s hindmost year but ane Was Five-and-twenty days begun, M'vvas then a blast o’ Januar’ win’ Blew Hansel in on Robin.” Once more the Taranaki Provincial Scottish Society scores a decided success. Last year the first Burns’ dinner produced a gathering of Scotsmen that !i vd probably never before been equal--1.31 in the province, and now, ti e second celebration in memory of the poet, last night, eclipses a former record, and adds ’fresh laurels to a Society already widely’ known for its enterprise, enthusiasm, and hospitality, to which last quality the fact that visitors attended not only from all parts o! Taranaki, but from tiie Wellington province as well, is striking testimony. Congratulations must be extended to Chief Kennedy, to Secretary Henderson, and to tho Executive, for the faithful manner in which their duties were carried out.

There is no function to be compared to ar Burns’ Dinner; it has customs peculiar to itself, a language all its own. Reproduced in cold, hard type, it loses much of its charm and romance, and conveys but little of the atmosphere which pervaded the Town Hall last evening, when, heralded by pipers, the chief marched proudly to his seat; when the Haggis was laid upon the table, wi’ a’ the honours; when the Scot recited his beloved Burns; and last, when “Auld Lang Syne” broke up the old friendships, which for one'short evening had been renewed.

The hall was beautifully decorated with festoons of many-coloured flags, and, in a prominent position, Robert Burns’ portrait Avas displayed. On the right of Chief Kennedy was his Worship the Mayor (Mr. W. P. Kirkwood), Chieftain A. Morton, Inglewood, on his left Mr. Robert Bruce, and Chieftain James Davidson (HaAvera), and Mr. McKenzie Forbes, secretary of the Caledonian Society at Wanganui, and James Grant, Hawera. First came the dinner, ushered in Avith the Selkirk Grace: “Some hae meat and canna eat And some Avad eat that Avant it; But avo hae meat, and Are can eat And sae the Lord.bc thanket.” Then folloAved that wondrous procession of such delicacies as “Gigots o’ Mutton Roastit,” “Sautit Soo’s Leg Roastit,” “Boiled Bubbly Jocks,” all served Avith “Ingans,” “Sybies, “TaAvties,” biled and champit, “bashed neeps” and “itser ’prra vegetables” And then the Haggis, a genuine Scotch haggis, which it Avas whispered came even from Scotland'. Not a halt was made until the desert: “0 Lord since avc have feasted thus, Which Ave so little merit, Let Meg uoav take aAvay the flesh,. An’ Jock take in the, Spirits.” And then the tune changes, and it is; “Happy ave avc a’thegether. Happy AA-e’JI be, ane an’ a’, Time shall «ee us a’ the blither Ere avc rise to gang aAva’.” A HEARTY WELCOME. Chief Kennedy proposed “The King” and when the toast had been loyally honoured, he extended a hearty avclcome to the Society’s guests, expressing the hope that they Avould enjoy themselves, in just the same _ way as the guests at last year’s function had done. (Applause.) the imperial forces. Mr Robert Spence proposed “The Imperial Forces of the CroAvn,” and in doing so, stated that he felt sure tiiat such a loyal toast Avould meet with a hearty response at such a meeting as this, for in matters of loyalty Scotsmen yielded -to one. (Hear, hear.) Our Army and Navy meant so much to us, that it would.be beyond his poAver to do honest justice to it. It Avas fitting that such a toast should be drunk, and should be given such honourable prominence, fclloAving that of “The King.” He Avas asking them to do honour to our Imperial Forces—those protectors of hearths and homes —and to our oAvn unit, our own Territorial army. He Avould ask them to drink the toast heartily and loyally. (Applause.) Lieut.-Col. W. G. Malone, replied, regretting that this toast was one Avhich Avas commonly drunk in a perfunctory manner, as if it mattered not very much. Colonel Malone Avent on to refer to the tidings of peace, heralded only that day. The Balkan struggle had produced a great objectlesson—the value of an array to a people. We AA’ere the only country that relied on a small army and a great navy. Unfortunately avc had not the army that a great nation .ought to have. It took but six avcoks to finish a nation that for centuries had been looked upon as one of the greatest people under the face of heaven ; they Avent doAvn like «iav re-

emits, like rabble. And the reason was they were not prepared and had not taken the matter seriously, as, unfortunately, some peculiar politicians in the Old Country are now doing. Those gentlemen said, “lime enough when war is declared; six months’ training will lick them into shape.” But that which they relied upon was a horrible fallacy. (Applause.) Here’ in New Zealand, we had universal training, and every mother’s son would he trained to fight and defend his country. People in the Old Country were conservative, and Lord Roberts’ warning fell on ears that would not hear. Our Army, he was very glad to.say, was at no time in Ruch'an efficient state, and s o prepared to do its duty. But what were its numbers? A mei’o handful, compared with the numerous armies of other countries. In these days when war moved tso quickly. no erne knew what the next few months might bring. We hoped that war would not come to this country, hut it would he a brave man who could say that even within the next twelve months, it would not come. But if every Britisher were a soldier, we would have Universal peace; if every Britisher were a .soldier, no nation would attempt to disturb the peace', knowing that England was going to stand for freedom.” (Applause.) “CALEDONIA.” ?,1r A. Morton (Egmont Village), in proposing the toast, said he felt that it should have been placed in more

honoured hand#. Ho confessed that ho had not yet seen al-, though lie was the son of a Cale-j doniau on both sides, but ids dearest 1 ambition was one day to sot loot where, ids fathers had trot I before him. (.Applause.) But although lie had not beenj there, he very much honoured her/ sons who were here—the grey-headed veterans who had borne'the burden ol the day in New Zealand and had done their utmost to build up their young country—and when he saw those sons ho admitted that Caledonia deserved) to be highly honoured. From time) immemorial, Caledonia, or Scotland,j had produced a race of men who have, made their mark in history in such a way that- will never lie effaced. ■ Whatever walk or life they entered,) Scotland’s men have been to the front. As politicians, statesmen, generals, authors, poets, or travellers, wherever they have gone, it would be found that Scotchmen had advanced the world o’er from time immemorial. The position to-day of the .British Empire, which stands out as the greatest power of Europe, was due to the fact that Scotchmen had helped to build her up. (Applause.) Possibly the power of Caledonia in the country was because her sons were somewhat hampered at Home, and they went out to earn an existence in more favoured parts of the Empire or of the world, and when there, rose to the highest positions by self-reliance. They in New Zealand had much to be thankful for what Scotchmen had done here. Their work and ambition was such throughout the British Empire that Scotchmen were honoured in all parts of it. Mr Morton said he did not know anything finer than the description of Caledonia as contained in those verses, commencing: “0 Caledonia, stern and wild," elc. Jn conclusion, Mr Morton said ho would couple with the toast'the name of one who had done much for New Zealand—the home of hie adoption—Mr James Davidson. (L° l >d applause.) On rising, Mr Davidson received an ovation, the cheering and applause lasting for Some time. He thanked the company sincerely for the cheers, but told them that if they felt as shaky as he was they would not do any cheering. (Laughter ami applause.) They knew what Scotchmen had done for their country for a long tinic, and they had tried to build up a name for New Zealand and for Caledonia as well. They were to drink to Caledonia, but he did not know why it whs called Caledonia, because it was not expressive of the whole community. A long time ago it was understood that Caledonia was bounded in the south by the Firth of Forth and by the bills in the north, but now to get the boundary they would have to strike about John o’ Groats house in the South, Land’s End in the north, and other wcll-knrtwn points around the compass of Great Britain. (Applause.) But from those hills and mountains had sprung a race of men that had distinguished itself in its sons the world o’er. Mr Davidson referred with pride to Scotland’s National poet, Bums,- 1 -whom they had met to honour that, evening, but he also uphold the hopopr of Sir Walter Scott, whose works,! particularly the Waverley Novels,' were fit to be read anywhere. He said this with all due respect to Burns, but whore could they get better than “The, .Lady of ( .the Lake,” ‘Marmioin, and “The Lord of the Isles.” In ‘‘Marini on,” thb 1 description of Floddeh' 1 Field by : Scott was the finest that (could be secop anywhere. Mr Davidsoir, quoted l\is favourite author at length, but though the spirit was willing,''the flesh was weak, and when memory failed lie resumed his seat amidst loud applause.

THE IMMORTAL MEMORY, i;. ■ Tlie' torist 'bf the eveHing," “The Immortal Memory of Robert Burns,” was proposed by Mr R. C. Bruce, who prefaced ins speech by thanking tfioise present for the exceedingly warm reception they had given him. It was nothing but what he had expected, coming as he did among his own countrymen. (Applause.) Hy had the honour that cveiiiiig to propose the toast of Robert Burns—peasant poet, and patriotic bard of Scotland; he who gave eloquent and articulate expression of the love, joys, sorrows, hopes and aspirations of their race. Mr Bruce went on to say lie had come to chat with them about that great genius who held such a singularly warm place in the hearts of their country-men all over the Englishspeaking world. As a matter of fact, Burns’ mana was increasing so much that it was difficult to gauge him by the ordinary standards. Ho would point out to them that although Burns was born in Scotland, and although lie wrote largely in the vernacular of his country, it was a mistake to claim him exclusively as a-Scotish poet, for this reason—the man who wrote :

‘‘The rank is but the guinea stamp; The man’s the gowd for a’ that,” could not be claimed for any country; he wrote for humanity, lie belonged to mankind. “I have often had my feelings outraged,” Mr Bruce went on to say, “by listening to men who speak of Burns ‘as sprung from a cottage,’ and ‘such humble surroundings’—they imagine lie lived in a pigsty.” (Laughter.) As a matter of fact, Burns came from a type of Scottish peasantry which was equal to that of any. country, at any time, in any age. In those parts, and in those times, there happened to be a teacher, a man of very considerable parts, a man of great descriptive powers and attainment. This man said, that of all human beings he had ever known, he had for tin's William Burns, Robert Burns’ father, the greatest respect, more respect for him than for any other man. (Applause.) Burns’ mother was a type, so admirably pourtrayed in the lines:

“The mother, wi’ her needle an’ her sheers, Gars auld claes look amaist as weeks the new.”

So that from Burns might ho expected the very highest. The speaker turned to tiie events of Burns’ life, and related a few of the poet’s hriliant repartees, ilustrative of his ready wit, and conversational powers. In consequence of circumstances at the age; of 21, Burns decided to emigrate. Just then, however, a booklet that he had written, attracted notice from the literati of Edinburgh. At that time there was a galaxy of literati in Edinburgh that had never since been approached in Scotland. (Hear, hear.) In Edinburgh, Burns’ reception was a blaze of triumph; in fact, it had no parallel in the whole of English literature. Not only from the professors' did Burns meet with a great reception, hut, still more wonderful, he was. a great favourite with the fair sex. A great lady had said “Burns fairly carried her off her feet.” And an English lady, beautiful and accomplished, spoke of the “sorcery” of Burns-—an excellent word to use. ( Laughter.) Sir Walter Scott happened to see. Burns at the time of his visit to Edinburgh. What struck Scott most about Burns i.va.s Ids eye. Never, the poet said, line! he seen such an eye in a human head: it almost hypnotised the man that it brought under its infhmnee._ He had seen the greatest inch of his time, but never had be seen an eye like that

of Burns’. Croat as Burns was as a poet, it had been said—and it wad a melancholy’ thought—that he was greater as a conversationalist, and that a great deal which emanated from his brain had never reached this ago in which we live. It was indeed a melancholy thought to think that this was the case. Continuing, Mr Bruce mentioned that Burns took a small farm, on which he was not successful, and took a position as an ex-, ciseman—the latter a very distasteful occupation to Burns —in those dayi smugglers were half-pirate. (Laughter.) > Burns felt his office a degradation, for Burris’ heart was lull, nay,

overflowing, with generous sentiment. It was a great mistake that he should have left the healthful influences of tho country’. The drinking habit in those days was so general that it was a wonder the race managed to live through all these potations. (Laughter.) Tracing Burns’ life through the last sad days, Mr Bruce spoke of Burns’ death in his 38th year. “When Burns gave up Iris spirit to Him who gave it,” the speaker exclaimed, “one of the bravest, one of tho noblest hearts that ever pulsated in human breast, ceased to beat.” This feeling found expression in various directions, and literary men of his time all recognised that the tallest cedar in Lebanon had fallen. Burns’ character was very finely expressed in his works —a character of noble independance, that, as Burns himself said, “might be bent, but could not be subdued.” It was a character that had a hatred of hyprocrisy, a kindly consideration for the suffering and afflicted, not only of his own species, but for all nature. Burns was just overflowing with 'generosity’. He came, for instance, into a paddock and saw a mouse running away over the furrows, and he composed upon that incident a poem which had been carried round the wide range of the world. Who but Burns could have written a poem like that?

“We, sleekit, cow’rin, tim’rous boastic^ 0 what a-panic’s iln thy T hreastie! Thou need na start awn sac hasty, Wi’ bickering brattle I 1 wad he laith to rin and chase thee Wi’ murd’ring pattle!” But ho went on and said :

“The best laid schemes o’ mice an’ men

Gang aft a-glcy, An’ lea’e ns nought but grief an’ p.'vn For promis’d joy.” Burns, like Byron, had a foreboding presentment of premature end:

“But oh! I backward cast my e’e On prospects drear! An’ forward tho’ I canna see, I guess an’ fear!” Burns had been a teacher as well as a seer; he taught charity, that charity which thought no evil. The speaker continued that whenever a great man died, there was great interest taken in that man’s religious beliefs and tenets. Burns had the whole of the churches arrayed against him, because he lashed with unparalleled powers their vices and their hypocrisies. Burns had been called an irreligious man. What an absurdity that was. No great genius could bo an irreligious man. Quoting hero and there from among Burns’ poems to prove the poet’s deep feeling, Mr Bruce came to the “Epistle to a young friend:” “Perhaps it may turn out a sang, Perhaps turn out a sermon.’ ’ And then:

“Ye’ll find mankind an unco squad And mucklc they may grieve ye:”

Now, lie wanted his hearers to take particular notice of the next couplet: “But oh! mankind are unco weak. . An’ little to ho trusted; jf self the wavering balance shake. It’s rarely right adjusted!”

Concluding, Mr Bruce touched on the poet’s reputation, and on what that reputation was based. In the Valhalla of the poets, Burns would take a most conspicuous position. (Applause.) The toast of the “Immortal Memory of Robert Burns” was then drunk. “THE LAND WE i’IVE IN.” Mr J. Laurenson, proposing this toast, said it was a tribute from an exile to the land of his adoption. Other speakers had gloried in tneir nationality. They Jiad spoken with pride of their being Caledonians. The speaker came from farther north still, from the Shetland Isles, that weird rockhound, treeless land, that land of Norse legend, the land of Norna, “Mother Darkness, Mother Dread, dwelled at the Fitful Head,” the land of the Aurora Borealis and the midnight sun, standing calm, cold, serene on the northern confines of the Empire. That' was the land of his birth and childhood and childhood’s thoughts were the long, Jong thoughts. Turning to pay a tribute to the New land the speaker dealt first with the fertility of its soil, the prolificacy of its crops, its export of wool and meat and oil and gold. Already the new land was helping to feed the multitudes in the Old Land, but, said the speaker, it was as true to-day as when the words were spoken two thousand years ago that “Man shall not live by bread alone,” and in the presence of a company of Scotchmen, men from the Country of Robert Burns met to do honour to the poet of Nature and manhood, it was not seemly to stress unduly the importance of mere material things, what then should he say. What were the ideals and aspirations of the splendid succession of men who had laid the foundations of this New Britain of the South—of Grey, and Featherston and Fox, Atkinson, Ballance, and Seddon. Into the souls of some of- these the iron had entered, and they came here to establish a nation where the conditions obtaining in the Old Land should find no foothold. Religions freedom and equality prevailed to the full; universal suffrage existed. What a glorious country it was where every boy and girl on attaining the age of '2 1 years was crowned with the franchise and received into the councils of the nation. Would it not have gladdened the heart of Robert Burns to have fore- | seen the day when, not the broad acres, ! not the sheep, not the cattle, nor the ; gold, but the man and “the man’s the man for a’ that” was given the vote. Brief reference was made to the system of compulsory military training an to the joyousness with, which the young manhood of the nation had sprung in response to their country’s call to equip themselves for the diry possibility of war- (a voice “not all ol them”). The speaker: “But I am - referring to the ‘men’.” And what would he the effect upon the coming generations of these conditions of life/ Statesmanship would he encouraged, the outlook on life broadened, and iii time the Dominion with its millions of people would take an honoured place amongst the nations of the world. “You tell me,’ the speaker proceeded, “that New Zealand is a liitie conn ! try. 1 reply that smallness of ares, is no liar to greatness. What oi anj cieut Greece, the country that excelled in commerce and literature am 1 j art; that produced Alexander tin | Great, who extended the rc the borders of India, and who loft f

deposit of Greek art and Culture and speech upon all the lands over which tiie deluge of his conquering army had passed. Greece was a little land. And Koine, Koine that had pierced with roads the mountains, estaDlished law and order and laid its iron hand upon all the peoples from the Straits of Gibraltar to the uttermost sea, Koine was a single city. And what of Palestine, the land from which iiad sprung the great old prophets, whose teachings had influenced, and were destined to influence, the religious thinking of the race until time should be no more! There were men who thought that the centre of gravity of the English-speaking race was sliifting from England to 'America; others again predicted that the lands of the Pacific would play an important part in the world’s affairs in the future, should that prove correct who could tell what responsibility might be thrown on our dominion. Turning briefly to the questions of the effect upon a people of the natural features of the land in which they dwelt, Mr Laurenson said that although no poet had yet arisen whose voice was heard beyond our own shores, still the day would come when from amongst the people reared in this land of mountain and river and headland and plain, a poet would be produced. Much water might run under the bridge before that day; the nation might even have to pass through the chastening influences of war, but in the fulness of time a voice across the “cauld rife” water would be heard singing its message of hope and inspiration to the weary nations of the old world, from this solitary sentinel of the southern sea. Concluding, the speaker urged the young Scotsmen present to be true to their traditions, to know their Bible, and their Burns, to “possess their possessions,” then in their hands and in the hands of others sprung from the old land the future of this fair dominion would be assured. (Applause). Mr C. H. Croker, in response, spoke well of his country. New Zealand was only a smp.ll country compared to others, but it was none the less to be valued, on the principle that diamonds were small but valuable. The inhabitants were young, comparatively, in experience, but it had been shown that in commerce and agricultural they had proved worthy competitors. In sport New Zealand had held its own, claiming world’s champions, such as r for instance, Fitzsimmons, in boxing, and Arnst in sculling. Then our scenery was among the finest in the world; so was our climate, while our politics were the cleanest in the world, as also was the Press. As our ancestors had become famous in Great Britain, so should their prowess and noble example be an incentive to the people to be great powers in this country. So long as they remembered as a colony what had been done for them, ,so long as they looked back on history and saw the noble example set up, there was no fear of New Zealanders not doing their best to hand down to posterity the traditions of great deeds for their country. Speaking of Burns, he said, p°rhaps all his hearers did not know that in the Art Gallery in Dunedin was to be seen the original painting of the meeting of Burns and Scott at Edinburgh. Concluding, he told a good story, a true one, of the position of the Burns’ statue in Dunedin. It was situated between the Cathedral and two lintels, and, said Mr Croker, true to his reputation, Burns had his back to the Cathedral, and his face to the pub. (Loud laughter and applause.) OTHER TOASTS. “Our Guests and Visitors” was proposted by Mr A,. F. Grant, coupled with the names of His Worship the Mayor (Mr W. P. Kirkwood) and Captain Stevens. “The Ladies” was proposed by Mr A. Patrick and responded to by Mr Campbell Jackson. /* “The Chairman and Secretary (Mr Hex Henderson)” was proposed by Mr G. Sangster, and duly ‘responded “The Press” was proposed by Mr R McK. Mori son, and responded to by representatives from the “Stratford Post” and “Taranaki Daily News. During the evening songs were contributed by Messrs H. W. Douglas (Stratford), Hooker (Hawera), Captain Stevens (Hawera), A. L. Jones (Stratford), F. H. Wilkie (Stratford), F. T. Hale (Stratford), F. Dunlop (Stratford). Recitations were provided by Messrs Mackie and Sherriff. the latter giving “Tam o’ Sbanter” in fpie style. Mention must be made of the services of the pipers, Messrs McGowan, Sangster, and thanks are also due to Mr J. H. Thompson for his skilful accompaniments, i Among the most enjoyable items of i the evening were the several items by the Hawera Leidertafel Party (Messrs Tan-ant, Searle, Sutton and Hooker). The catering was in the capable hands of Mrs Brooking and staff, and was the subject of many encomiums. The singing of “Auld Lang Syne” concluded a memorable gathering.