The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1856-10-23
Rough Notes Of Trip 70 Europe from
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Forszn Correspondence Of the Picosss ana D~noerss
AYx. September 49,
This Is an old city containing soDe Gheeu
thousand inhabitants, made historical BY events
Ia the career Of WALLACE, and Bsucg, and
classic, by the genius Of Burns. On our way
here from Glasgow, by railroad, we passed.
through highly cultivated and BEAUTIFUL csun-
try. The distance from Glasgow b forty miles,
ard along nearly the whole route there ia fine
view Of tho surrounding country, with its sub
stantial farm houses, hedge fenced felds Of
oats, potatos and turBps, the standard. and
with grass. almost the only crops. The popu-
lation dense, and mostly engaged 10 the numer-
Gus manufacturing towns. and smelling furns-
ces, which arc in close proximity all over this
part Of the country. This is the principal iron
aud coal district OF Western Scotland. Every
town is celebrated for some particular kind Of
manufactures, rs Palsy, for the celebrated
i'aisIy shawls kiwisning, for silk, &c. At
this place, u traveller related, was the first Ma
sonic Lodge established 10 Great Britain, the
mother OF all other lodges, founded more than
eight hundred years ago.
The farming land in this part OF Scotland
rents at from three TO f5 per acre. the tenant
also paying halfthe taxes. One man pays 81.
teen hundred pounds per annum for three hun
dred acres. Think Of that, farmers of Mime
sofa. and thank God Tor your good fortune 49,
The land Of Scotland is mostly owned by No
blenen, who derive their immense incomes from
its rental. good portion Of which they expend
in beaatilying their estates and decorating their
aas.lea, VI jch seoG 70 be- A. nash -. gfije 8!
the common people A. il they were public build.
ipgs.
Ayr is sea port OF some little commercial
Importance but is chiefly noted among travel
crs rs the early home Of Busss who. while he
lived. was looked upon by the sober people Of
Ayr, as very hard case but bis genius
has trumphed songs are national and his
faults forgiven
On our way through the city to BUKss cot
tage, some two and half miles from town, we
pass an old building, still an ale-house, with u
sign which reads ,hus Here il the place where
TAM O'SmAsTEH and SOUrER JOHNNY used to
hold their meetings" Here il is that TAN lin
gered. too long, and drank to deep on that event
fnl night. by the way, TAN was no creation
of the poets fancy, il his adventures were, for
h. has historical! reality and now lies near
SotrRE JonSSY, in small churchyard near
the town oi Ayr. The original house Of Burns
consisted OF only two rooms, in one Of which
he wins born. Every inch Of wood work is III.
cd with the names Of ambitious tourists. There
is here u copy of the only portrait taken Of
BuRss Since this place has become n fashion
able pilgrimage. additions have been made 70
the original house, in which is large saloon,
hung with pictures of scenes 10 his poems A
large bust in plaster Of himself adorns one end
Of the room The whole establishment Is now
used to retail "guiI Scotch ale" and whisky he
loved too well, The house Is owned by the
corporation Of shocmakers Of Ayr
We pass by "ArLowAy's aud haunted kirk,
on our way TO the monument raised by sub
scription to the memory Of Burns. Everything
here that could be removed has been carried oil
by vandal tourists. suppose the walls will &c
too, sooner or later The monument is taste
inl structure, in the midst OF beautiful garlen
filed with roses and large variety of flowers
and ornamental trees. and surrounded by lux
uriant hedge Of holly and hawthorn. There is
here fine marble bust Of Burns, anil numer.
Qua memorials, with two old bibles he had pre-
scntcd to his Highland MARY; in one of them
was lock Of her hair. His writing was quite
ndistiuct. These articles are protected by a
glass case There is COED view from the top
Of the monument Of the country in the immcdi.
ate vicinity. which is level farm land, covered
now with the golden barvesis, not yet fully gath
cred. Women are cutting grain with sickles,
snd laboriug in the field with as much energy
as the men.
A short distance from tho monument. is
a little ivy msntiei hour, in winch arc life
size figures of TAN O'SHANrER and SourwR
JousSS, Ibis ancient. ,raty, drouthy crowny'
They arr seated. the one with mug, the other
with pitcher in his hand. and had they been
turned into gray stone, with the jest and laugh
ter s,ill upon their broad faces. they could not
have looked more life~like and real than now
These figures were executed by Tsos, a cole
bra,cJ sslttaught, Scotch sculptor Copies
were exhibited some y,ars ago in America
Near by is the aud brig Of Doom" We were
here joined by merry old fiddler, who, when
ever he played, bobbhd his head. grinnej, and
danced oil over. shall never forget him. |
cannot think Of him without laughing. bis
whole appearance was 50 irresistably eomical.
II seemed as il drawing the bow across the
strings st the wholc establishment man and
violin. into motion As we loitered along. he
daucci by us. his iacc towards us, down the
hill When We came up with him. there were
dozen people dancing with life and mettle
in their herls. The mos, active woman Of the
group had great, FAT baby in her arms When
the rest were quite exhausted the old fiddler
danced ap to our company and told us We were
in dangerous place. We moved quickly
and be a1d,d that w had stood On tie rery
TI where Maggie los, her tail he then