SONNETS. (TC JOHN SMITH, President of The Cambuslang Wingate Burns Club "). Ecce Homo ! I. Child of a noble race, born in a clime No praise of mine can merit his rewards, He stands above the meed of poet's praise; Out of respect I tender my regards, And wish him health and joy and length of days. Child of proud Scotland thou! the righteous sure Tower as to the mountain tops, high in the heavens secure ! II. Though he be poor, yet love hath made his own; Felt the warm glow of joyous exaltation In doing deeds of charity alone; Loved righteousness that doth exalt a nation; To raise his fellow-man did inspiration Baptise his fervid lips with holy fire; Or, in his low simplicity and station, Thank God for what his labours did acquire : Then he is heir to all the ages past; His future teems with prospects most sublime; His loving soul no ill can overcast ; He bears a mind above the wreck of Time! This is my friend whose attributes I scan, Child of proud Scotland thou: in thee behold the man! WILLIAM YOUNG. BURNS IN ESPERANTOLAND.* HOUGH there have been no formal meetings of THO Burnsites here for some time, Scotia's darling Bard is by no means forgotten. I was asked by the Parish Church Young Men's Guild to address their meeting on a recent 25th January, and from the success of my attempt to show the appreciation of Burns among people who know not our language, I believe an article on the subject will not be without interest in your annual Chronicle. There have been many attempts to create an international language. National jealousies effectually prevent any existing language being selected; and besides, who has the right to trim a national language, divest it of peculiar idioms, and bring it up to date? No nationality would like their mother tongue interfered with, and there is no necessity. Leave national languages to their respective nations; just as it is better not to interfere with national manners and customs. At the present time an international means of communication between the diverse peoples of the world is urgently required. Look at the international code of signals at sea. Νο need, with it, for any sailor to learn the national code of every vessel afloat. Why not the same simple and cordial understanding among all men and women-irrespective of creed, colour, business, or pleasure. Nothing but profit can follow a complete understanding among all members of the human family. The idea is not new. Old Testament prophets foretold the good time coming, and in Zephaniah iii., 9, we find a pointed reference to the people turning to "a pure language," and its blessed results. I cannot say how many attempts have been * Esperantoland is the whole world-where the “key” made to overcome the confusion of tongues, but two and a half centuries ago two travelled and observant Scots seriously sought to solve the problem. Sir Thomas Urquhart, of Cromarty (whose library included books collected in sixteen different kingdoms), in 1652 published an introduction to international language, which he described as "the discovery of a most exquisite jewel, more precious than diamonds encased in gold, the like whereof was never seen in any age." George Dalgarno, of Aberdeen, a miscellaneous writer, who settled in Oxford, in 1661, published Ars Signorum Vulgo Character Universalis et Lingua Philosophica, but these, and other attempts on the Continent, came to nought. It was in Poland, however, where there are four distinct languages, and where the lingual imbroglio is in consequence very pronounced, that Dr Zamenhof, a Jew with the Christian spirit, twenty-five years ago published his language. It is founded on European languages, is easier than A B C (for the sounds of these letters vary exceedingly in practice), but like the Arabic numerals 1, 2, 3, etc., mean the same thing wherever seen and however placed. This language can be learned by anyone I learned it all alone at my ain fireside, and many thousands have done similarly, and forthwith intelligently corresponded with foreigners without knowing either of their languages. It's like a miracle; the Day of Pentecost didn't come up to this present-day achievement. People sneered at Pentecost, and people have also sneered at the modern achievement. A yokel may still sneer at a circle joining hands with persons connected with a galvanic battery, but the sum of his knowledge does not really affect what others feel. Esperantoland is just the new name for the whole world, the inhabitants of which can satisfactorily correspond with, or if near enough, speak to one another, in one neutral language with the greatest ease. International Esperanto Congresses have been held annually since 1905-at Boulogne-sur-Mare, Geneva, Cambridge, Dresden, Barcelona, Washington, Antwerp, Cracow, and Berne (1913), this year in Paris; and, hurrah! the eleventh, next year, in Edinburgh. There are national Esperanto Societies in many countries, and more than one hundred different Esperanto publications appearing weekly, fortnightly, monthly, and annually, while standard works. of very many nations have been translated for the increasing Esperantistaro.* Besides the national societies, there is the Universal Esperanto Association (with a fortnightly newspaper), and also now an Annual Congress. This society has delegates, consuls, and enterprises-increasing annually in departments and numbers-all over the civilised world, and these manage sections for scientific research, and the many forms of business and social intercourse among the human family. Burns foresaw the good time coming when he sang— Man to man, the world o'er, Shall brithers be for a' that." And I have done a little to introduce some of his poems to persons who do not know our language, but do not fail to appreciate his happy knack of reaching the hearts and making all men kin. When I began to study Esperanto, I found I was in touch with something like a magnified Scottish Society. I had experienced the pleasure of meeting hitherto unknown Scots abroad, and I realised I could now get into touch with kindred spirits among foreigners. To translate "A man's a man, for a' that," strongly appealed to me, for I felt that Burns's prophecy that the good time. would be a capital introduction. The syllables "for a' that, and a' that," were difficult for a novice to translate to foreigners. I remembered, when I sang them to English-speaking, but non-Scotch Colonials, the words. appeared as incomprehensible as "Ta-ra-ra Boom-de-ay," * Plurality of Esperantists. and rather than risk making a burlesque, I deferred. That song has since, however, been very successfully translated by an Edinburgh lady, and completely conveys Burns's sentiments. The song is now printed and published by me, and I know somewhat of its appreciation by foreigners. My first attempt at translation into Esperanto was the introductory pages of Bonnie Scotland's Resorts—an idea conceived by me when mingling with brither Scots and their friends abroad, and written and printed on my return home. That booklet, known as Belega Skotlando, was ready for the second Esperanto Congress-in Geneva in 1906 and has the distinction of being the first national guide-book printed in the international language. There are many and better guide-books published since then, and among them is a book of typical Scottish scenery, printed and published under my auspices. Don't think me egotistical, but I think it only right to say that I have printed and published several of Burns's songs, including "Auld Lang Syne" (three independent translations), "Gae bring to me a pint o' wine," "Of a' the airts the wind can blaw," "Flow gently, sweet Afton," Ye banks and braes o' bonnie Doon," and "Duncay Gray." These songs, as well as others by Harry Lauder (also printed and published by me for customers), are sung with much acceptance at home and abroad. I am presently engaged 66 translating the appended pages of Bonnie Scotland's Resorts, which I am to call La Skoto Alilande (the Scot Abroad), and as it gives glimpses of our kith and kin beyond the seas, reference to Burns bulks largely. One of the most enjoyable excursions after the Cambridge Congress, in 1907, was to Scotland. There were seventy participants, and they represented eight nationalities. They were not all young people in years, but they were certainly young in heart and hope. The whole world is invitingly before Esperantists (which, being interpreted, means" hoping ones"). They were entertained in Edinburgh and Glasgow, and honoured Rothesay with a visit. They lost the beauty of the Trossachs through |