TH
"THE IMMORTAL MEMORY OF ROBERT BURNS."
HONG KONG SCOTS CELEBRATE "BURNS' NICHT."
PROFESSOR SIMPSON LAUDS THE NATIONAL POET.
A distinguished gathering of local Scotsinen commemorated" last night at a dinner, at the Hong Kong Hotel, the memory of" their national poet, Robert Burng
The Chieftain of St. Andrew's Society, Mr. A. H... Ferguson, took the chair and the feature of the function was the brilliant speech of Professor Simpson of the Hong Kong University, who in proposing the toast of The Immortal Semory of Robert Burns," reviewed the poet'e life, and his influence on the political, religious and social life of Scotland. THE HAGGIS AND BARLEY BREE:
comic, were it not for the fact that talking about Burns has its difficul-
tics.
"
The Haggis was piped in during
Scots Resist Americaniam. the course of the dianer by Pips When I say that there are diffenl- Major W. C. K. Maskis. It was ties talking about Burns, I do carried by Mr. J. T. Grant and the not mean that his poetry is not Barley Bree was entrusted to Mr.well known to those who talk and G. Duneam, who, by the way, was to those who listen. Far from it. also responsible for the very effecIt is often declared with awe and tive decorations. Messrs. P. D. admiration that in Italy the com- Wilson and G. Nislet assisted Pipe Major Mackie. to pipe in the
dinara.
The official party was seated at a" horse-shoe" table. Behind the chairman's seat was a picture of Burns draped with Scottish stan- dards and evergreens, the thistle being prominent.
thanked
Before calling upon Professor Simpson to propose the toast of the
Ferguson evening, Mr. those present for their support and attendance. It was pot quite the anniversary of Burns, but, Mr. Ferguson thought, it was better to have it on Friday night instead of Saturday and he was glad the step was taken because it had resulted in a splendid turn-out,
Two Absentees,
THE HONG KONG DAILY PRESS, SATURDAY, JANUARY 25, 1930.
His Life,
When, howevor, we pass from the enjoyment of his poetry to the study
BIAS BAY PIRATES.
The Canton naval authorities are said to be making preparations to round up the pirates at Bias Bay, who have become active lately. Some members of the staff at Naval Headquarters have been dis patched to make an inspection, and as soon as they return, a special feet will be organised to deal with the pirates.
of his life, things are not so simple. CHINESE NAVAL ACTIVITY. Those who have expressed their | admiration for Burns" by writing books about him have introdued the usual critical complexity. I is not that the facts of his life are vague or uncertain. He wrote straightforward atcount of his own life. And when the generations of curiosity began after his death, there were plenty letters to friends, and plenty of his acquaintances left to supply the fullest details. The facts of his life stò as well known, from week to week, as the facts of any man's life can ever bo known to any other man. Scott, his son-in-law and biographer Lockhart, Carlyle, R. L. Stevenson, Principal Shairp and the poet Henley are among the great writers who have written books or essays on the subject. They have each in turn written something in contradiction of the writer who proceded them. It is a question of interpretation. And interpretation is a question of em- phasis. Which was the most signi- |ficant stage in the career of Barns!
Sir Walter
entailed
RED RABBLE IN FUKIEN.
EXPLOITING POLITICAL.
DISTURBANCE.
(Wah Tex Fat Pao.)
AMOY, Jan. 24. Taking advantage of the coup d'etat in Fooshow, the Reds under Chu. Tak and Mo Chak Tung in souther Fukien have been very netive of inte. Fukien troops under Chang Ching have been detailed
for their suppression.
war
HAINAN REBELS
BEATEN.
www
MERCHANTS WELCOME GOVERNMENT TROOPS.
A CAUSE CELEBRE AT CANTON,
((FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.]
CANTON, January 94. Kiungchow and Hoihow, two moat important, commercial contres of Hainan Island, fell, yesterday to attacks by Admiral Chen Chak's marines sad gunboats. The insur gents are retreating in confusion towards Five Finger Mountain, hotly pursued by the Government troops.
The merchants of both ports welcomed the entry of the Government forces and said that they had been constantly harroseed by the bandit soldiers.
The capture of Wu Tao Nan, who commands the rebels in Hainan is confrmed. Ho is held prisoner in the gunboat Chungshan and will be brought to Cantor.
French; that he had a strong sense of the "auld alliance;" that, when an exciseman in Dumfries, he tried. to send a present of four guns to
Nanking has accepted General France; although afterwards, when Chen Ming Shu's proposed changes Britain declared
against in
the Provincial Council. Mr. France, he joined the volunteers to Taiang Kin Ching has been ap fight the French. It should also be remembered of Angellier that his pointed Commissioner of Education book is one of the biggest written in placa of Mr. Hau Chung Ching. about Burns; that he seems to have General Chen's suggestion that the read everything over written by or about Burns, and to have visited latter be shifted to the post of Com- every spot in Scotland ever visited missioner of Civil Affairs has been by Burna; and that he translated
accepted. nearly all Burn's poetry into French. I am sure you would be amused if I tried to quate some of his translations, but I might fail to do them justice. If ever Scottish troops go to fight in France again, I hope they will be given copies of then translations. It will be the quickest means for them to acquire knowledge of the parts of the French language most useful to men in rural billets.
Some write as if the great period in his life was the two winters he spent in Edinburgh, before the age Part of the Red rable is rallying of thirty. They make much of his nt Kwangohang in southern Kiang dilemma between the intellectual si. This force numbers about eight aristocratio society, which was thousand and they are menacing above his moans, and the bohemia | Nanferg. "Crochallan club" society, which was beneath his gifts. While many are sure that the summer tours be mon people still sing the songs of
tween those two winters." tours to the borders and to the highlands, their great poeta. The same can be were "of much greater significame. Laid of Scotland, Scotland is pro-
Others are attracted by the difficul- tics of his life at Ellisland, where bably the only country in the world
be settled after marrying Jean that has resisted the contagion Armour. It was there that he tri of "coal-black maromies" anded to combine the cultivation of a ukelele_honeys" and "saxaphone family and a farm, with the duties susie." In Scotland 'there is n body of an exciseman, which of popular native song strong riding two hundred miles a week, enough to stand against this inva
over ten parishes. No wonder he sion. Because our children make failed. But mostly the writers and their first. acquaintance with song speakers are concerned with the last five years of his life, which and poetry in their own homes by earning Ye banks and braes O
he spent in the Wee Vennel and ibe There, bonnie Doon," or "Of a the airt Mill Venuel of Dumfries.
as you know, he tried to combine the duties of a civil servant with an interest in republican politica; writing immortal songs for which he refused the publishers' payment; rejecting jounalistic offers from a London daily paper, und generous- ly giving his good fellowship to whoever sought the inspiration of And there he fell his company. sick, and after five months of ill- tess, died at the age of thirty- seven. Some writers base their in- on, that terpretation of "Burns period, and will not let us enjoy his poetry, in reminding us of his sad and early death. In this they would have received little encour agement from Burns. No knew better than be that lifa is years, but by achievement. No man not to be measured by length of was more certain than he to joining the conditions of the poor. I
the wind can blaw” or the address to "A Mountain Daisy" of even "Tam O'Shanter,”
A perfect Requaintance with the works of a great poet like Burns, whose works include, elaborate epis tles, satires, descriptive and nar- Mr. Ferguson went on to say rative poems, as well as dozens of that they missed their Vice-Presi- | world-renowed lyrics, is not attain- dent, Mr. Greig, and they all symfed by having once and for all pathised very sincerely with Mr.studied them. It is the result of Greig, in his being unable to turn frequent re-readings throughout the up. It was pleasing for him (3r. years. I have never yet known a Ferguson) to be able to say that Scotaman who does not do these Mr. Greig was now much better.re-readings at least once They were all thankful that his And so the poetry of Burns comes, strong constitution tad carried him to be, as poetry is meant to be. through a very serious illness, part of our lives. (Hear, hear.) and they all hoped he would normal health (Applause.)
soon be restored to
2 year.
in that exultant shout,
"Sound Sound the clarion
Fill the fife,
man
To all the sensual world pro-
cloin,
One glorious hour of crowded
life.
Is worth an age without an
aim." (Applaused),
Strength of Scottish Idiom. Although we may not make daily The Chairman then referred to use" of such wonderful words as the illness of the Rev. F. Ç.wanchancic " and " tapsulteeric,' Young, saying they were all vory we have them ready when a worthy glad to know that Mr. Young was occasion presents itself. We re- getting better. At one time fears member a phrase like "Whistle ofer were entertained, but happily, the lave 't," on the many occasions though Mr. Young was not yet out when "Maskee" is not strong. of danger, he was definitely getting enough. (Laughter.) We know that better. Mr. Young was a man of there is no English equivalent fur genin) disposition and members of unco guid."Nature" and man the St. Andrew's Society" were and beast, are illuminated for us glad to have him amongst them. by the glamour which Burns threw For True Appreciation of Burns.. He hoped that Mr. Young top, over them. We see in our dogs the For the true appreceation of would soon be restored to health Luath or the Caesar of that poem. Burne, we must turn to that time
Coming to the question of the which opens the Kilmarnock edi
which was his "glorious hour of principal toast, Mr. Ferguson said tion. When old horses are to be erdweed life." And, that was the that at one time it was suggested sent to the knackers, we see in them
last year he spent as tenant of that he should propose it. One what Burns saw in his old mare blosgiel near Mauchline. From reason why he did not, was be- Maggie, when he wished her a guid the middle of the year 1765 to the cause he had heard Sir Henry new year. To a Sectswoman, a middle of the year 1786, Burns, be- Gollan do so fast year and he felt mouse is not an excuse for hysterics, ing then about twenty-five years of convinced that is needed a bigger but "Wee, steekit, courin', timor, age, spent the must brilliant years
When we man than himself (laughter)-tous henatic."
of his life. In the summer of '95 he was writing verses for the amuse- do so. For that purpoce he had proached by beggars in the street we turned to the local sent of learning wonder whether they have anythingment of a parish; by the summer and was happy to say Professor in common with that jolly crew who of '56 it was discovered that they Simpson would propose the toast, foregathered in "Poosie Nansiés."
were poetry for the admiration of The memory of lines from Burns the whole world. It would be dif THE IMMORTAL MEMORY. colours our social outlook. Our Scult to find in the whole history national enthusiasm for education of literature a period in the life of any author to equal these months in energy,
"1
Professor Simpson, of the Univer; sity, who gave The Immortal Memory of Robert Burns," said:
Mr. President and Brother Seets, it is a great honour for me to pro-
The Immortal Memory.
pose
The honour is all the greater in the presence of a president called Ferguson. Everywhere in the life of Burna ode
across that
comes
familiar name. Fergusson was the Dame of the gentleman who wel- comed Buras's Father froin Kin- cardineshire to Ayr, and leat him a hundred pounds to set up farm in Mount Cliphant. (Laughter.) Fergusson was also the name of a young Scottish poet, born nine years before Bums, who died a youth when Burns was only a ind, but left behind him some local Scota poetry which was the earliest and the strongest poetic inspiration of our national laureate. Them again it was in the house of an Edinburgh professor called Fergusson, that Sir Walter Scott, when a boy of fifteen, met Burns in the first glow of his fume, Fergusson, moreover, was the name of the winner in that famous contest between ** three noble chieftains," which Burns dea
"The cribed in a poem called Whistle-Reflections-like these are an added inspiration in the present
company,
are 4-
is tempered by watchfulacas lest those who go through the process may gang in stirka and come out asses. Our respect for the press is quickened by the warning,
"If there's a hole in ae yer coats
I rede ye tent, it.
A chiel's amang ye takin' notes An, faith, he'll prent it."
If we have to play family bridge can consolo ourselves during the post-mortems by reflecting,
"Ah. gentle dames! it gars me
greet
To think how many counsels'
sweet
The husband free the wife
despises."
Must We Look For "a Purpose" In Books? Nowadays it has become a habit to be duatisfied with iterature which is purely literature. books are expected to have a purpose. A great writer is expected to infu- ence his country as well as toe tertain it. You all know how, after enjoying Dickens, we are asked to observe the effect which he had in reforming schools and in improv
am not sure that it is necessary to apply this test to our authors. But i we apply it to Burns he anawers thoroughly. As in the case of Dicknes, his realistic and humour- bus descriptions of life worked to forms. How he has influenced the Religion, the politics, and the Soci- 1 conditions of Scotland is a long story. But allow me to mention one instance. Scotland is justly proud of what textbooks call her democratic institutions and her spirit of equality. The ideal of Social equality, which so many countries have tried to achieve by political revolutions, was achieved in Scotland by the poetry of Buroa. Since the time of Burns, it" has been impossible for any ture Sects- man to luuk down on any man for being poor, or to look up to any
being for
rich. merely Scotland need have no fear of soei alism, communism, or bolsheviam so long as she remembers that
The rank is but the guinea
man
samp
The man's the man for a' that" Nor need she ever fear that other grent modern "ism"--pussyfootism while she remembers that Rubbie Burns wrote the greatest of known bacchandian songs
"O, Willie brewed a peck o' maat
And Rob and Allan çame to
TWO DOCTORS, ON TRIAL.
Drs. Breitlander and Liang Pool Ei again appeared before Judge Cheng Shing Yan on a charge of conducting an illegal post-mortem examination on the body of Wong Tak Long in the Canton Sanitoriam early this month. The Court was packed over a thousand persona being present, among them" many medical practitioners and lawyers, who have been attaching the great- est interest to the ease. There were also a number of foreigners present, many of them German doctors. Ad- mission to the Court was by ticket only, and every precaution was taken to avoid a repetition of the disturbances which resulted in con- siderable damage to the windowe and furniture of the Court. Over two score armed police were on guard.
The case opened at 2 p.m. and with Judge Cheng were Messrs. Tang Chang Wan, Lam Long and Lo Bo Wing. Mr. Wong Chuan Hoi acted as interpreter and Mr. Mok Pui Yuan conducted the pro- secution. For the defendants were Dr. Tain. Shue Fan and Mr. Chen Tai Ning The proceedings laated about four hours.
Mr. Lo Bo Wing urged that both Dr. Breitlander and Dr. Liang Pool Ki, defendants, were guilty of criminal offences and should be punished according to law. The prosecutor then went on to call evidence in support of his conten-
tion.
The Court reserved its decision, the judge declaring that there were still technical pointa requiring in- vestigation. No date has been fixed. for the next hearing.
NOT FINISHED YET.
varied activity, en thusiasm, and inspiration." But they were not months of enay joy and assured success. His crops failed; his Jean refused to marry him; Highland Mary died: he was engaged in a struggle with the in- quisition-like power of the Kirk
том these memories and these KWANGSI-VIRONSIDE" TROOPS Session; he found himself an out- cast and he decided to migrate to Jamaica. Meanwhile he wrote his thoughts of one who was not only our greatest poet, but also a great great epistles, his Hallowe'en, bis address to the mouse, and to the reformer of our politics, our re daisy described the cottar's Satur-ligion and our social insituations, day night, and laughed the devil 1 give you The Immortal out of countenance. While his mis-mory."
How many lengthened sage fortunes reduced him to despair,
advices
his genius carried him up to fame. It was during this period, more than any other, that be fulfilled that great prophecy of manhood,
"He'll hae misfortunes great and
ama'
stanza
Even our enemies credit us with remembering that famous from the Epistle to a Young Friend, "To catch dame Fortune'e golden
stnile
Assiduous wait upon ber; And gather gear by every wilo That's justified by honour; Not for to hide it in a hedge
But ay a heart aboon then a What mattered, after that, the social comedy of Edinburgh, the practical difficulties of Ellisland, or a poor man's dying sickness in Dumfriesl
And so gentlemen, sharing with
Me
CHAIRMAN'S THANKS TO
PROF. SIMPSON. ·
The Chairman, following Profes sor Simpson's proposal of the toast, said he was indebted to the last speaker for his wonderfu; revelation of Burne. He thought, when he beard Bir Heary Gollan last year, that that was the finest speech he bad
heard about ever
Bums. Professer Sümpeon, however, had shown them something new and he (the Chairman) had learned some- thing more. There were people who thought Burns' Nicht was a repetition of the same thing, year after year, but that was not his experience. (Hear, hear!) He heard something new last year, and something now again this year, and if they celebrated the Poot's
MENACE WUCHOWI
According to the vernacular Press, the situation on the upper course of the West River has become serious owing to the defection of Lui Woon Im's troops. Lui's men and the Kwangri forces under Li Tsung Jen captured Ping Nam to the west of Wuchow on Thursday and are now menacing Wuchow. Meanwhile, the Ironsides" are planning to re-capture Pingle. Large numbers of Canton troops are being rushed southward from the Kwei River where the main force of the Kwangtung-Nanking troops is mass- ed. Severe fighting on the Kwei- and the West Rivers is imminent.
According to the latest report, the Kwangsi troops from Ping Nam have captured Mongkiang, about thirty-five fi above Tenghsien, where thoroughly as & Frenchman
strong defensive works have been called Angellier. It may surprise
erected by the Canton troops. Four you to licar a reference to a French
aeroplanes were dispatched to bomb eritic. It has been said that "oriti.
the Kwangai troops in Mongkiang cism of Burns is only permitted to
on Thursday but with little result Scotchmen of pure blood." There is much truth in that idea, but it memory for a for more years, be owing to foggy weather. The anti- (the Chairman) might then know Nanking forces on the upper course is also somewhat selfish, And we must look at the other side. What something about Burns. (Laugh of the West River are estimated at about 10,000, and are all Kwangsi, ter.) would Burns himself have thought
Other toasts of the evening were-men, the 80th and Glet Divisions of of it. It ust hautemebered that
the Casten oops have hesp-tie Forsyth and replied to by Dr. M. patched by General Chen Taal Tong Nicholson...
to Tenghsion.
French Oritica Insight. Few of the critics of Burns have
Nor for a train attendant; But for the glorious privilege
Of being independent." May-they-alaseredit-us-with-described, that last year at Mos following the advice,
Then gently scan your brother
man
The peoples of the world neu an eighth wonder in the annual celebra- Still gentler sister woman: tions of Burns's birthday. They Though they may gang a kennin also ice a paradox They aco
wrang nation, which is anxious to be con-
To step aside is human." sidered dour and ailent, chocsing as But most of all do we revel in the their national hero one who, was a legacy of Burns, when we hear the ranter and song writer, tru-singing of his songs as we shall hear eelebrating him with specches and them to-night, and the singer gives songs, The paradox would be new life to words learned long ago.
as a boy he eagerly learned to read (Continued on next Golumn.)
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