BARRIE MOURNED

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20272, 14 August 1937, Page 16 (Supplement)

BARRIE MOURNED

At Every Window in Thrums. Funeral of Famous Author.

KIRRIEMUIR, ANGUS, Juno 0. High above this little town of Thrums there is a mossy-walled graveyard on whose sloping verge stands a plain granite headstone which meets the winds from off the aloof yet neighbourly Grampians. It was under this stone that the little weaver of enduring fantasies whom the world knew as Sir Janies Barrie, and Thrums called “ Our Jamie,” was to-day laid to rest beside his mother. With a simplicity native to his own character was he The way lay past the humble fourroomed cottage in which he was born 77 years ago. There were sad old eyes watching for him from that little “ Window in Thrums” at the top of the brae through which those simple folk of his tender story gazed down to the old Manse and over the hills and far away. London beckoned Barrie to fame and greatness, but Thrums held his heart through all the years and now will keep it ever. Thrums ceased its toil, the clacking of the jute mills was stilled, and soon there was no sound but that of the wind skipping over the brae. For a few hours he lay in his plain oak coffin on a bier in the rugged castle-like Episcopalian church of St. Mary. Very near the bier on the chancel stop lay a posy of swell williams with a card which said: “ Love from Mary Rose.” This name by which Barrie called that gentle romantic play of his started many wondering thoughts in those who read it there. Had it been written by her he loved and wed—and lost? N'o one couM toll. But its sweetness no one could deny. Not Sorrowful. Presentlv the church filled with men and women who had come from far and near to pay this man they loved the last tribute of reverence. There was Mr Ramsay MacDonald, shading his eyes to glimpse where his old friend lay; Dr. I’aui (’'/.inner, Elisabeth Bergner’s husband and outside, sitting in the car which had brought him too late to the service, sat Sir Harry Lauder. The service was brief and not sorrowful. Everybody sang with a will

and not as if they feared to give lei (o their full hearts. There was perhaps one silent grouj .'.landing close to the bier—Barrie’s ’our nieces. Lilian. Ethel. Dorothy . nd Mollie, his secretary, Lady Cynhia Asquith—and Mr Peter Davies 7, he original and inspirer of Peter Pan A Soaring Spirit. Three ministers conducted the ser vice, Canon Philip, of Auchterarder whose wife is one of Barrie’s nieces the Rev. 11. (J. Rorison, and the Rev Alexander Reaper, minister of th< Barony Church of Thrums. Down among the gleaming roofs o Thrums the flag of Scotland was fly ing at half-mast. Just beyond the graveyard, am near the sports pavilion which Barrii built for the town on the scene of hi: early cricketing exploits, one of tin saddest men here to-day was Alex ander Lowson, who is S 7 and win taught Barrie to play cricket on th< hill 70 years ago. The children o Thrums stood in unwonted silence un til the burial was at an end*. Children’s Wreaths. The children of Thrums put together their pennies to buy a wreath for Barrie, ami there were wreaths also from children in London and elsewhere. One came from members of the Peter Pan League. Elisabeth Bergner sent a large sheaf of deep reel roses bearing just her name, “ Elisabeth,’’ in letters of gold. Others came in from Mr and Mrs C. B. Cochran. Sir Johnston and Lady Forbes-Robertson and Miss Jean Forbes-Robertson —an enchanting “Wendy”—whose tribute was a basket of rosebuds, pansies, cornflowers, sweet william, honeysuckle, and iove-in-the-mist. The coffin was marked simply “J. M. Barrie. O.M. Born 9th Mav. 18ti(). Died 19th June, 1937.” By Barrio’s special wish there will be no additional memorial stone raised on the grave. He gave ini structions in his wil that his name j should he added to the stone already : hearing the names of his father and ' mother, with no embellishment of any kind.