The Republican journal., 1872-11-21
A Day in Ayr, the Birthplace of Robert

' ivy VI NV "ooi mai
ARDRoSS AN SroIlanI Dot

"''"''t'NiiHS 10 you ana your numerous
readers There is no poet in our own
country. venture to say, whose name is
i" "lamllar as household words to the
people, as thai OF Burns Can there be a
person found, whether he has an ear TO,
song or no, who does not admire and
appreciate the sentiment of "Auld LANG
Syne' and Bonnie DOOM When q
wee bairn' as they say here, | remember
well of learning them at my fathers knee
The poet says OF Ayr, which cannot be
said of all
Ne'er town SURPRISES
For honest men and bonnie laSSes.
1t is the principal and county town o
Ayrshire, and is situated 1T the mouth o
The river Ayr; its fine healthy locality
and picturesque scenery bring many pleas
ure seekers for a summers resort. The
town buildings are plain and unpretend-
ing in appearance Its principal front is
ofnamented bya large porico in yelling
ton square. This is adorned by II fin,
statue and monument erected to tn,
memory of Gen. Neil, Il native of AYR, lol
his eminent services in Bengal He fel
"loriouSly at the relief of Lucknow 18th o
September, 1897, aged A years
Wallace Tower is another object of in
trreS, erected in 1892, in honor of Sil
William Wallace brave and loyal man
who remained true to the independence
of his native land through a period o
darkness and danger. His sword is still
to be seen al Dunbarton Castle, on the
Clyde. Ii is 80 heavy that IN ordinary
man ct the present day can scarce wielt
1t.
"Fwa brigs OF Ayr" Burns has happily
worded into a dialogue and verse The
oId bridge is very ancient, having beer
built between l249 and 1899, by two
maiden ladies, who used their whole for
tune, it is said, in building it, 1t has foul
arches, is steep at both ends, very mar
ro", and was only intended Tor foot
bridge
On one of the principal streets, is 4
pitn and old fashioned public house
framed Tam O'Shanter Inn. Over the door
II the inscription, "Where Tam O'Shantel
and Soutcr Johnnie used to meet" Ii
Was from here that Tam O'Shanter start
rd on his homcward ride, on fearful
night las ne'er poor sinner was abroad
M
About two miles from town is Tho
Cottage" rs il is tondly called, where
Burns first saw the light on January 25th,
I159 1t is low, one story matched roof
with no prelcntionS TO elegance. On the
Jeff rs you enter, is the room in which he
was born. 1t remains unchanged as to
General appearance, with IN occasional
Wlnte washing. The old-ashioned fire
place, drcssers, clock &c. were interest
me- 10 see. Opposite this, on the right, is
the showroom, where are numerous
trinkris ion sale, 10 tempt the visitor, in
ttle line OF spool, Jewel and match boxes,
card cases, paper cutters &r. ornamented
Wlth sketches of the cottage, and made OF
Although the prices were high no one
Iceis disposed 20 leave without some me-
lnento ol Il visit there. When Burns was
tbou1 seven years old his father sold the
collage Ia The corporation of the shoe
makers OF AYR. which body still retains
thc ownership of it The growing popu-
lulity OF the nrighhorhood and the large
number oi visitors to the cottage, induced
HE corporations to convert it into an inn.
With tins view, about twenty years ago
they built a large hall ut the back of the
premises, capable oil seating one hundred
t,nd fifty persons. A literary society
meets here annually, TO celebrate Burns
uirthday; toastS and speeches are made,
and a great dinner given in his honor
The walls are adorned with pictures
medals and memcrtos Of the poet The
blographrrs OF Burns, with one accord
point ont this cottage Us the scene of his
potn, SO much admired. The Cottar's
Saturday Night"
A little inthcr on is the monument, Il
tlnc piece Of architecture, situated ON
IN cminenre, among highly cultivated
chamber lighted by II eopola filled with
stained class In the center is a table on
which rests a glass ease, in which are
shown relies Of the poet. Among these
are copies OF all the best editions OF his
WORKS, the Bible he presented 10 High
land Mary ON the occasion of their last
parting, and n braided lock of her hair, OF
such 4 lovely golden shade that our girls
would 90 distracted over. Highland Mary
is buried IL Greenock, where she died at
her aunts, Of small poX. A neat and
tasteful monument is erected over her re-
mains. enclosed in an iron fence She is
represented at the top, rs being striker
down with the loalhsome disease; her face
and arms are pitted. Near the bottom is
represented in exquisite carving their
ptfliH1, Slll1ulllS manu- III Hdlu. n NOoi
leads from the basement above alluded to,
to the top OF the monument where, direct
~ beneath the 'banks and braes OF Bon
lie Doom are seen in all their wealth of
beauty, and reminds one of fairy land.
On one side the new bridge of Doom leads
across the stream to Maypole, and the
'sauld brig on the other, now seldom
used, and nearly overgrown with moss
and ivy. IT is famed for beng the closing
scene Of Tam O'Sha nter's adventures,
where, rs the legend goes, he urged his
gray mare Mag across, and was pursued
bv the demon. In Il small cottage, within
u few yards of the monument, are statues
of Tam O'Shantcr and his crony Souter
Johnnie in life like size. They are repre-
sonted as seated, one with a mug OF beer
On his knee, and the other in the act OF
raising it to his lips. Their happy beam