The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1869-07-30
LETTER FROM EUROPE.

We passed several towns on the way,
one of the most noted of which is
Paisley, a city of $4,000 inhabitants.
1t is seven miles from Glasgow, and
is celebrated for its large canton
Grape shawl manufactures.
About Two miles from this place
stands tie famous Oak of EZderslie,
under which Wallace hid from the
English.
We pass quite a number of iron
works along this route, among which |
is the Black Band Iron WORKS. |
The land on each side of the road Is |
nearly all under cultivation, the prln-- |
eipal crops being potatoes, hay, and |
oats Mueh of the moist land is used |
for pasture for sheep and cattle.
Occasionally. a field of turnips is
sowed In drills. The soil cannet be
verv strong. The fences are mostly
of stone, sometimes hawthorn hedge.
The land is generally undulating,
terminating in abrupt ravines, skirted
with light forest fresno large trees.
Both sexes are often seen busily en-
gagged in the field cultivating or
harvesting the crops.
Avr is quite q nice little city, con-
tanning some $4,000 inhabitants. 1t
is situated near the ocean beach, on
both sides of the little River Ayr,
from which 1t takes its name. Span
ming this classic stream are the two
bridges, C. tWa briggs }, immortalized
BY Burns. On the same spot
where Sir VIM. Wallace, one of Scot
lands greatest heroes, was once I'M
prisoned, now stands a magnificent
tower lis feet high, erected to his
memory, with his full size statue
standing out in front, some 40 feet
from the ground. In Wellington
Square we see the monuments of Lord
EgglestOn and Gen. G.. s. Mel. About
two miles southwest of Ayr, still
stands the identical little cottage of
two rooms, in which the famous poet,
Robert Burns, was born, on the 18th
day Of January, 1853. It's rooms
are small, l should say about
ten BY twelve feet each. It
fronts directly on the road. There
stands the old chimney with its fire.
place, the rude board upon which the
poet is supposed to have composed
some Of his immortal poems, and
there hangs the painted likeness of
Burns, in a damaged condition, from
which all the recent likenesses were
originally taken. Near this cottage,
on the same side of tho road, stands
the ruins of old Alloway Kirk, I"
where the witches were dancing so
merrily when Tam O'Shanter's mis-
chief led him to disturb them, and for
which he was pursued when he made
his perilous flight over the bridge with
the loss Of old Meg's caudal append
age. The old Kirk is in ruins. All
that is now standing are the walls,
including the gables, and the old bell
hanging in the front gable. The walls
are about twelve or fourteen feet
high. The kirk is about 1880 feet.
Immediately on the right, and adj
Joining the old kirk, is the cemetery
where the father and mother Of
Burns are buried, and a short dis
lance to the west is the we'll where
Mungo's mither hanged herself" A
little further on, to the left of the
1oad, about one hundred and twenty
five yards from the Burns cottage
stands the Burns Monument, erected
in 1920, at a cost of 81, 900. This
monument is about sixty feet high,
and is supported by nine Corinthian
columns thirty feet high. These col
umns support cupola, with railing.
The whole is surmounted by q beau
fiful gilt tripod. The whole monu-
ment is of fine white free-stone,
and elegantly finished. In the
lower room of the monu-
ment are deposited a number of
relics of the past, such as his own
works and manuscripts in his own
handwriting, a snuff box made from
Alloway Kirk; a portrait and finely
finished bust of the poet; also. the
Bible which he gave to his High
land Mary. The monument is sur
rounded by about an acre of ground,
beautifully laid out, and adorned with
the choicest trees, shrubs, and flow
ers in the Kingdom. In richness
and variety this place is said not to
be surpassed In Scotland. In a room
or grotto In the same enclosure are
the celebrated statues of Tam o.
Schanter and his Sauter Johnny,
executed By Tohm, citizen of Ayr,
and Z stone cutter by trade, but fin
ished with such perfect success that
they excited the astonishment and
challenged the admiration of the old
est and most successful artists. The
same statues were exhibited some
years ago, both in Europe and Amer
lea. They are made of rough, brown
stone - the very material to make
tho n look natural. They are repre-
sented as drinking and amusing each
other with stories. must say
that I never before saw any
thing equal to these statues in
making the stone laugh. I'm
mediately adjoining the monument
grounds flows the " Bonnie Doom,
and there still stands that same old
bridge where Tam O'Shanter and his
Maggie made their terrible fight from
the witches. On the opposite side OF
the road from the.monument grounds
stands small hotel for the accommo-
dation OF visitors. Also down AFT the
waters edge of the Doom is a erotto
studded with shells inside and ort
both of modern date.
On the I'd day of july. We laFt
Glasgow for Edinburgh, distance N
some fifty miles. The farmers alone
the way were busily engaged harvest.
ing their grass. The crops are
heavier the nearer we approach Ed
inburgh, until we get in the
immediate vicinity of Edinburgh
where The land becomes more
hilly and less fertile. Edinburgh !,
a very handsome city, containinf
about 10000 or 100000 Inhabitants
This is not a manufacturing place like
Glasgow, and, consequently, does no
advance with such gigantic strides
Edinburgh prides herself upon he
mobility. She was the former resi-
denee of kings and queens. Within
her limits lie the remains of man,
kings, princes, noblemen, earls AM
dignitaries of less note. She is tn