JOURNALISTIC QUALIFICATIONS OF BURNS. Yet I do not think there can be any doubt at all that Burns would have succeeded in journalism. He possessed the qualifications which would have made him an acceptable writer to the newspaper and periodical press at any period of its history. There was no event of public interest which he could not have made the theme of what has come to be known as "topical verse." His ballads on various Parliamentary elections are quite good evidence of the value of that statement. It is true that these productions are not the highest efforts of genius-it may be questioned if there is anything of genius about them-but they were clever, they served the purpose for which they were intended, and, having done that, there was no particular reason why they should be remembered. If he had written on 66 the side of the Government-but that would have been against his conscience his worldly position might have been improved. Such was the opinion of John Gibson Lockhart. "Had Burns," said that biographer, "put forth some newspaper squibs upon Lepaux and Carnot, or a small pamphlet On the State of the Country,' he might have been more attended to in his lifetime." As a literary critic Burns would have excelled. His correspondence shows that he always read with a very critical eye, and whatever the subject matter was, if the volume was his own, he carefully noted his opinions on the margin. know very little of scientific criticism," he wrote to Miss Williams, London, a well-known litterateur of the period, who had sent him her poem on the slave trade for his consideration; but the long letter which he penned in reply, pointing out the passages which struck him as being "uncommonly beautiful," or where the expression seemed to be "perplexed or faulty," proves that the art was one which he would soon have mastered. What is equally important is the evidence that his criticism was based on reading of the most painstaking kind, and it is pretty common knowledge that every critic is not quite so particular. But I think a study of the life of Burns makes it clear that if he had adopted the profession of journalism it was as a political writer he would have gained distinction. His interest in politics, home and foreign, was profound; no one could have been better informed than he was on that subject, and no one could see more clearly than he did the truths that underlay the events of his time. For an example of the knowledge he had of current politics, and of the historical incidents which led up to them, and of his ability to write upon them, I refer the reader to the letter which he addressed to the editor of The Star on 8th November, 1788, on the centenary of the "Glorious Revolution." The man who could compose such a letter could handle any theme, and did not need much training to become an expert writer of leading articles. As a journalist Burns, with his pen freed from the shackles of the Excise, would have attained the liberty of action which was idealised in one of his political poems :— "Here's freedom to him that wad read! Here's freedom to him that wad write! There's nane ever feared that the truth should be heard, My opinion is that Burns might have been quite a good journalist without in any way suffering as a poet. But that was not the opinion of Burns himself, and there again he had the right to be the sole judge. Burns knew better than anyone his powers as a poet; he could not be certain that an official appointment on the press would not weaken the spontaneous expression of those powers. He, therefore, chose to be a poet and not a journalist. It is vain to regret that he might in this way have achieved the life of literary leisure which he sometimes so much desired—those who love the man and honour his work are content that the journalist was lost in the singer of sweet and imperishable song. ANDREW M'CALLUM. SONNETS. (To JOHN SMITH, President of "The Cambuslang Wingate Burns Club "). Ecce Homo ! I. Child of a noble race, born in a clime Where adverse forces fill life's little span ; 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.* TH HOUGH there have been no formal meetings of 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. No 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 language is used. 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. one 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 any-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, |