Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1869-12-08
A Visit to the Home of Burns.
Correspondence Philadelphia Day.

one OF the first excursions I made from
glasgow, was down into Ayrshire, for the
purpose OF visiting the poetic land of
Burns. Contrary to my expectations, the
weather for this trip proved to be delight
ful-belng one of those clear, bright days
SO rare III Scotland at this season of the
year.
Starting from the station of the S. W.
halfway, near the Brownielaw, we soon
reached the thriving town Of Paisley, IA
J nous Tor the manufacture of wooden shawls
ana cotton thread-and farther noted as
the birthplace Of Tannahill, the poet, and
Prot Wilson, The ride from Paisley to Ayr
is accomplished in about two hours, and
passes through an agricultural region of
much fertility and interest.
The universal prevalence of the haw-
thorn hedge enhances the beauty of the
landscape, while the distant Highlands, of
which occasional glimpses are caught,
stretch in dim outline far away to the West.
Indeed, the whole of this country along,
and for miles back of the Clyde, resembles
an an immense park or garden, and con-
stantly surprises the traveller with its Won
derful beauty and richness. Huge fur
naces and manufactures are also passed
which at night, light up the country for
miles around with their lurid flames.
AS the cars have reached the objective
point of interest for the present. / must
now say word about the little seaport of
| Ayr.
"Auld Ayr, wham ne'er a town surpasses
For honestmea and bonnie lasses."
For the honesty of the men I must take
the poets word. Concerning the lasses I
am qualified to testify, having seen several
in the streets, who well deserved the fiat
tering epithet. Ayr is on the Firth of
| Clyde It's bay is much admired from its
! resemblance to the bay of Naples Direct
! ly opposite IS the island of Arran, whose
lofty mountains are visible on clear day
from the coast of Ireland, From Ayr can
be seen the celebrated rock of Allsa Craig,
rising perpendicularly out of the sea to the
height of $50 feet, forming safe resort for
innumerable sea fowl. Pausing a moment
to gaze upon the beauty of such
grand surroundings, and having
nearly whole day before me, proceeded
| leisurely along the streets, lined in many in
stances with the low, peculiar, straw
thatched cottages of Scotch village The
Wallace Tower first arrested nv attention,
on the site of the dungeon where the hero
was confined, having a statue of Wallace in
armor in front, and the clio ok and bells of
the old dungeon at the top. A shop for the
sale of beer and spirits occupies the first
/ floor which rather marred the impression
made by the town, as it seemed out of keep
ing with the original design.
| Inquiring next for Tam OShanter's Inn,
citizen kindly pointed it out to me. Here
I stood before the veritable house where
Burns was wont to meet his gay compan-
ions-a low, white, straw w-thatched house,
with painting above the door OF Tam on
his grey mare, while the landlady is hand
ing him the stirrup-cup, and Soutcr John
and the landlord seeing him off with bois-
ferrous glee.
The name of ga Glass, Proprietor" is
written on the doorway, which struck me
as quite appropriate. Crossing the thres-
hold, l was accosted by the presiding divin-
/ ity of the place in the person Of Mrs. Glass
| herself who at once directed me to the
room where Tam
| SCOT planted unco right,
Fast by an ingle bleezing finely"
! Here in this room are many mementoes
/ of the poet. Here is Tam O'Shanter's and
Souter Johns chair in good preservation,
and the Iandladys stirrup-cup, which seem
ed little worse for wear. Upon my ex-
pressing some misgivipgs as to the cup,
which had apparently undergone some
notifications, Mrs. Glass assured me that
though it had been reduced in size and
]
tity. Remembering the metaphysical pen
knife, and also the alleged fact that the hu-
man forked raddish changes throughout
once in seven years without losing identity,
I was willing to accept her explanations.
From the unmistakable smell of Scotch
whisky which the ancient cup emitted,
inferred that some enthusiastic traveller
had recently been testing its merits in a
practical way and | afterwards had occu-
| lar demonstration of the truth of this sus-
picion. But
"Nae mon can tether time nor tide,
The hour approaches, Tam maun ride"
Accordingly, bidding Mrs. Glass good
day, and promising to call again in the
morning, [ prepared to take the route
which Tam pursued on that eventful night,
when
/ 'fThe wind blew as twad blow its last,
And rafting showers rose on the bias" "
The Burns neighborhood IS about two
miles from Ayr; so, hiring cab for half a
crown, drove over splendid road, thro'
scenery almost too beautiful for earth, to
the Burns Cottage, where, dismissing the
carriage and telling the driver that would
walk back to Ayr, | proceeded to enjoy the
beauties of the place. The cottage is
very humble house. with two rooms, one of
which is fitted up for the exhibition and
sale of fancy articles made of wood grown
on the banks of the Doom. The kitchen
is still preserved in its original state.
Mrs. Alexander presides over the place,
and understands her business well. Two
I bonnie Scots lassies, whom L saw IN the
cottage, shared my attention equally with
the mementoes of the poet, though this is
rather an embarrassing confession. Hav-
ING purchased o souvenir of the place, |
was eager to see what had been the sur
roundings Of this wonderful man of genius
and lover of nature who has bodied forth
the feelings of so many generations of his
countryman, and whose name will live
while poetry finds response in the human
| soul. About stones throw further on
stands ''Alloways Aud Haunted Kirk, 2"
where Tam O'Shanter saw an unco sight.
It's ancient walls still stand desolate and
solitary, forming strange mausoieum for
Lord Alloway, who was buried within. In
the belfrv hangs the old bell, mute now as
the worshippers who sleep their last sleep
in the surrounding tombs. Here Burns
father and mother were buried. Here lies
Souter John and many others, unknown to
Ame. Burns himself was buried in Dunn
fries, where he died at the early age of 80.
The monument to the poets memory is
a noteworthy object; also the grotto con-
! tanning the statues of Souter John and
Tam OShanter.
The Auld Brig O. Doom, not the least
picturesque object in the landscape, spans
the stream here with its single arch. The
age Of this antique structure is unknown,
but its claims to antiquity are very obvi-
Gus. [ noticed an old peasant leaning
over the side of the bridge, apparently in
deep meditation. He seemed old enough
to have been a cotemporary Of Burns him
self. I ventured the question as to the
kind of fish some boys were angling for in
the stream below. ''Troot, he replied in
the broadcast Of Scottish accent, s'and bon
ME troot they are" Wishing to know the
exact locality of the catastrophe by which
Tam's mare lost her caudal appendage.
with such alarming results, he pointed
| % o1nd nt hn