The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-05-26
OBJ 1T q a r Y.
simon Lang, the Last Priest or Gretns
Green.

simon Lang. the last OF the priests OF Gretna
Green, and who during many years past has been
tfe lone survivor OF long line OF sefappointed
dignitaries. died April a. at Telling, near Newcas-
tis-on-Tyne tat which place he was staying
with his son over wnter), and was buried in
Gietna churchyard. A brief glance at the history
OfGretna marriages. and of some OF the more promi-
nent priests" who have nourshed In connection
tprewth may not be unnteresting at the present
fine AS place for tying the nuptial knot Tor run
away couples there Is no doubt that It's great poIu
la'ity commenced Immediately after the infamous
''lleet marriages. were suppressed at the middle
OF the last century. Long anterior 10 tAat date
irregular marriages, ali along the parishes OF the
Western Borders of Britain, were far more Ge-
qent than in almost any other part Of
the three Kingdoms AS early as 1868 the rector
sf Stapleton cited many OF his parishoners for
lnlawftly marrying out OF We parish, and chrys-
tening chyldren;" and afterwards mentions one
mir. Armstrong, of CANOPY" on the Scotch side, as
becoming exceedingly troublesome to him by I'M
dertaking such jobs. About $780, one "John Nor
ray the clogger, In the Langtoonu on the English
side gave great annoyance TO the worthy minister
OF Graitney by writing testimonials OF marriages,
90 which fictitious signatures were attached for
the amorons couples of his parish, and receiving
from them "about two half crownsu for each ac-
compishment From the fact that marriages in
scotland were deemed legal If two persons nc.
OF Witnesses, sharp wittcd fellow named Scott,
MI on the ingenious idea OF opening place on the
BORDERS ior uniting runaway couples In wedlock.
He commenced his career at the Rgg in Gretna
parish about the year 1853, and has always been
accounted "a cunning sort Of cbie.n His successor
a rival III trade old soldier, who invariably
appeared at the altar dressed in full military uni
Iorm, having, rather an Anticipated or ''seedy" ap-
Iearance. He wore large cooked hat, red coat,
JACK boots, and generally had ponderous sword
canglng by his side. A pretty picture this for
any laokadaisical parson Of the modern school to
When time had leveed the old soldier there arose
many aspirants for the ONCE of chief priest The
hons share Of the plumber, however fell to the lot
OF Joseph Paisley, fisherman, smugger tobbacconist
and reputed blacksmith Paisley had no claim to
the last mentioned trade, except in a NEUROLOGICAL
sense; and 1t is generally believed the cause OF his
being dubbed "blacksmith arose entirely from his
9uicxnesS in welding or joining couples together.
On one or two occasions he obtained the fee of 100
gnincas for his few minutes work; as David Lang
Paisley was rough, outspoken, boisterous sort of
fellow, who had wonderful How of animal spirits,
stone, swore ike trooper, and drank at least
Scotch pint OF brandy daily equal to two English
quartsl. All these things combined helped TO make
PIP an extraordinary characters and 1t Is perhaps not
70 be wondered at that the old folk at Grena still
look up to Paisley as their representative priest.
granddaughter Of Pasleys, and succeeded him at
MS death In 1911, drove brisk trade In weddings
claimed to have married neither more nor less than
Az Az couples Elliot who was originally hostler
eighty years. David the father was was born in
Early in life he went into Lancashire as draper or
pedler and soon afterwards was carried of by the
ksh service the ship in which he sailed was boarded
ana taken by Paul Jones-Pau being the first
man MAJ ,n VINO stepped on board the captives were
Tor them to join the American SERVICE in which
Paul then served. David Lang, however, returned
sale home to Gretna; donned the priests ceremo-
ulalS In the year 1892; and continued in the we'd
dug line till the time OF his death, nearly forty
years alter. The greatest achievement of his reign
was the marriage of Thomas Lord Erskne, in his
Ola age, to his mistress, Miss Sarah Buck, of York
peted Ss sum Of 100 euneas David IN
Joining several scions OF noble and powerful houses,
: Including the villiers the Beaucercs, the Coven-
cut OFF rather suddenly in 1927 In his seventy
year, from the effects Of severe cold, caught while
attending the great sensational trial at Lancaster
OF Wakefield for the abduction Of Miss Turner,
rich heiress, fifteen years old.
After this event Simon Lang at once entered
npon the duties Of the prlestly ONCE and az his
ia!hers fame was full In the land he naturally fell
however, had his trials among It ali. Some Of his
rivals becoming jealous OF his success resorted to
and annoy him. ia newly arrived couple wanted
e. find out Lang the priest" the nvariable an
swer was, "Deid an buriet lang sen'p' But his
sOn-surely, he lIves!" ask the strangers. "Deid
an a'--deid's door nail" is again the response.
Yet in spite of such unfair opposition Sim iourlshed
sbundanty, following closely his legitimate occu-
pations or marrying and weaving, and occasionally
varying the tone OF these by doing a little SNUG.
Cling on the quiet. He long outlived all his COM
petitors, and saw the decline of the golden days OF
old Grctna; but still be continued In harness to
the last. About twelve months since he went
through probably the last marriage ceremony he
ever performed in complete dis'.dbfue, having
nothing on but his shirt and drawers! The reason
reached Gretna from Dumfries by the midnight
train. and, like 81 fond lovers could brook no de-
bers to do duly at a moments notice A newspa-
per correspondent and two friends spent very
pleasant afternoon with ''auld Sim at Springfield
: IN the autumn of 1871. When they reached the
dwelling of the last of the priests he was busy
-'grubbing" in the garden behind his house
having just finished building huge stack
of peats for the winter fire. He stepped
Forth to welcome them with a light, elastic step,
wearing an extraordinary long-crowned hat OF the
chimney pot shape, and had on quite a. extra
ordinary long tailed surtout coat. He was slim
bnilt man, standing about five feet seven inches
high, with white hair, a spare face, and quick eye.
ON asking his age he laughed and said eighteen"
mot qutel" "varra weel. then" replied he,
lust turn the figures upside down; or rayder, put
the irst last and the last first, an We hev il In
tick-tack" "what, you don't mean to say you
eighty one, do you?" To this latter question he
nodded assent.
At very late moment the HERALD is informed
that Gretna stlIl to have its priest in the person
OF william Lang, the eldest son of Simon, deceased,
thus continuing the link to the third generation.
TsenX-kwo-fan, the Chinese Warrior and
Statesman.
brief notice published in the HERALD a few days
man and warrior Tseng- Kwo-Fan, a scholar and
soldier OF the most brilliant repute, and the ahso-
lutte commander Of sO,Ooo,oo0 of men, He expired
suddenly on the 18th OF March. The announcement
of the dccease Of the great viceroy of the 1.-TWO
Kiang' created a profound sensation through
China, as 1t will among all foreigners having any
knowledge of Chinese affairs. The death Of the all
but absolute ruler Of 500 900 of cannot
but have great practical significance. But that is
only one and the less important aspect of the death
of Tseng- KwoFan. BY long series OF important
public services he raised himself 10 position or
zach commanding influence that eventually the great
majority OF the highest officials throughout China
owed their positons to his interest; the greatness
Of his power and personal character Overshadowed
the Dragon Throne ITSELF while his counses greatly
determined the foreign policy OF the empire.
An additional weight an significance attached 10
his influence from the fact that he was popularity
regarded the head OF the Chinese, as contra-dis
-fin0lIiahad hn thai