Edinburgh, Sept. 16.
To Edinburgh, after an absence last week. In an, age when Seotsmen-are said to be neglecting their Burns and forgetting their Scots tongue and literature, the proofs and evidences to the contrary which the delegates brought in their hands fare heartening. At the last Federation meeting in the city, little more than two decades ago, 70 delegates were present, representative of some 40 Clubs. The numbers assembled Inst week were between 600 and 700 delegates from 140 Clubs. It is among the most remarkable Phenomens of literature that a Poet who had not the aid of educa-on or wealth or influence to push him into prominence, who, on the other hand, ran counter to the currents and the arts by which men are accustomed to.rise into notice and favour, should be found, more than a century and a quarter after is death, still growing in the affection and admiration of his own people and of the world without. It is a quality in Robert Burns—in the heart and soul of the man 3 well as in the medium in which if found expression—that has not found, and probably will never find, full elucidation in all the speeches made at birthday gatherings or in the discussions at Federation meetings. One explanation of the universality of the appeal of Burns is doubtless that hinted at by the United States Consul who was present at the gathering. Burns, he said made people feel that they were of one kin; he spoke straight from the human heart to the human heart. The elements of the worship of Burns by men of Scottish birth and descent are more subtly compounded, however, and in great measure the secret ie incommunicable.
But it resides in and is insepat from the language—call it dialect in which Burns thought is best work, and over which he had " power surpassing that of any who had gone before or who has come after him.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.