The Approaching Anniversary To the Editor of the "Nosa-Cuwa Dancy News"
Sm=—It is now just exactly four weeks from a particular date in the calendar which, for more than 3 century past, has been held in the highest honour by Scotsmen the world over and reverently observed Wherever Scotsmen are to be found.
Trefer to January 23th, which in the coming year will be the 176th. anniversary of the birth of Scotland's national poet, Robert Burns.
Before coming to the main reason which has impelled me to address this letter to you, I wish to crave your indulgence in granting space to me for the purpose of making somewhat lengthy quotation from the me. "Wr sometimes tnducreet in her mnguage, her heart Is pure' she never introductory pages of "The Songs virtue, thou thy she, sometimes Scotland," "written in October, 1877, ioo hing at hypocrisy: her Tauetter by the Editor of the collection, the ihe retresing ae her tears: and ber late Dr. Charies Mackay. It runs as umout sas genuine as her tender follows:—Despite the fact, that during the "Jacobitism was hardy dead—and whole of Shanghai's existence was certainly not buried either in oF ut of the hearts of the people—when place of residence for foreigners, the Robert Burns arose upon the poetical Roots have played a leading part in horizon of Scotland, the greatest poet the life of the community, 1 is a that up to hie time Strange thing that it was only about Seen. The publica rey year back thet. the Shanghai Burns cliques of Ancient English Poctsy? and the wide Infuence. which that Git was founded. by few "en thusiasts. A supper was held on ork exercised on the popular mind, Sh January last, "at which the had prepared the way for the imple, Writer unavoidably was not present, hhature, as" aistinguishea "from the alroot "and unalfeced pouty but he understands the function was a successful one. -As a member of the Club, he is now desirous of voicing death of Milton: a poetry. im which some sense of disappointment that, the 'Muses and' Graces—Cupid™ and leo far as this present winter has run and all the Gods. and. God-its course, nothing seem to have been done bythe Committee towards footering the aims and objects of its foundation and existence. "The parent Club—that of Greenock, of which the Swriter's grandfather and father both Were memibers—used to, and 1 think' Stl' does hold quarterly meetings of its members, and these were very live eighteenth: century who affairs. Before I came Bast, Laitendthe slavery, of the "period, oda number of them in the espacity fof a best, and T shall never forget fehoo!, drew his Inspiration. what delightful evenings they were ing" fature, and" not. from. dead now wish to ask for information antiquity: and books. "Sprung from the to whether any steps are. being Tanks of a sturdy. independent. and ken, either. by the Burns Club oF the St. Andrews Society of Shanghai to. see that the approaching annie sary is accorded az carefully thought. but were fully' shared fut and-worthy a celebration as was by, the Tordiy' and" highly" placed ftecorded in. memory of Scotland's fondued with strong common sence, Patron. Saint afew weeks ago. It lively' imagination, a" playful" fancy. nothing has yet been done in the matter, may I respectfully urge that {no time be lost in getting things imated. in the moving: otherwise it will be too late, female form or impressed upon the as celebrations take some time to Dhysleal features of the landscapes Of organize well. To my mind, a dinner his motive land, and blessed moreover jor supper is the ideal form for a with a Bnely mi The was the Hume Nicht celebration. If it can very "inearnat that was hecestary to form a cal and tre poet be preceded by a matinee concert, to the peopl 'He burst like " meteor be held, say. in the Union Church vision of his astonished Hall, so' much the better. But what not to, much astonish 11 do say is this, that those who in fad preceded him the fashions after time. the. superiority iyreal poets who Scotland. Unltke nesters of a previous "who sane as cage, Biras and were. new he jor of a Countess dimmed. the ancient fame of Scotland lamond the nations, must not, as unfortunately so many of ther predecessors in office have done, allow: the birthday of Robert Burns to. pass by without being celebrated in the adequate monner it so richly deserves.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.