Thank you for visiting SNEWPapers!
Sign up free
Filler
September 8, 1832
Southern Planter
Woodville, Wilkinson County, Mississippi
What is this article about?
An anecdote illustrates Robert Burns' sharp wit: at the King's Arms Inn in Dumfries, a man asks to borrow Burns' black coat for a funeral, and Burns retorts that the man's bad character would be the blackest coat he'd ever wear.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
Than Burns, perhaps no man more severely inflicted the castigation of reproof. The following anecdote will illustrate this fact. The conversation one night at the King's Arms Inn, Dumfries turning on the death of a townsman, whose funeral was to take place on the following day. "By the bye," said one of the company, addressing himself to Burns, "I wish you would lend me your black coat for the occasion, my own being rather out of repair." "Having myself to attend, the same funeral," answered Burns, "I am sorry that I cannot lend you my sables; but I recommend a most excellent substitute; throw your character over your shoulders—that will be the blackest coat you ever wore in your life-time."
What sub-type of article is it?
Witty Remark
Human Interest
What keywords are associated?
Robert Burns
Witty Remark
Dumfries
Funeral
Character Rebuke
What entities or persons were involved?
Burns
Where did it happen?
King's Arms Inn, Dumfries
Filler Details
Topic
Burns' Witty Retort On Using Bad Character As A Black Coat For A Funeral
Location
King's Arms Inn, Dumfries
Key Persons
Burns
Event Details
In a conversation at the King's Arms Inn in Dumfries about a townsman's upcoming funeral, a man asks Burns to lend his black coat. Burns declines, suggesting the man throw his character over his shoulders as the blackest coat he ever wore.