The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1872-01-19
From Appleton's Journal.l
FLORA MACDONALD.

An interesting illustration OF how
that which In one generation is arran'
treason becomes in another an heroic
myth, is presented by the erection, on
the Isle of Skye, in Scotland, of 8
monument to Flora Macdonald. He
who reads history but to giean its
romance, cannot tail toremember the
significance of her name, and the
dramatic incidents in which she be.
came the heroine of the famous
Scottish rebellion of AS. In those
days, to be JacobIte, and even to
sympathize with the Pretender
Charles Edward, was to risk personal
liberty; to act for him, not improba-
BILE death. More than one proud Scot
tish chief suffered the extreme penalty
after Butcher William Duke OF
Cumberland, throttled the rebellion
on Cullcdsn Moor. Gradually, how.
ever, the bitterness sgainst the Jacob
ties who clung, almost hopelessly, to
the house Of Stuart, soitened and
faded, until at last Sir Walter Scott,
an historical partisan OF the Preten-
der, though en obsequiously loyal
subject of George ~, could, with
popular applause, publish prose epics
of fiction which embalmed the Jaco-
bite chiefs as heroes, and Flora Mac
donald as heroine to be worshipped
for her courageous treason: -c-
1t was she who when Charles Ed
ward, defeated at all points in his
rash enterprise, was hiding on the
western sea5oard, saved his life, by
embarking with him on q stormy
night among the dangerous Hebrides,
and conducting him to place OF
safety. Her resolute heroism fasci-
mated the young prince, albeit be was
worn out with the excesses of dissipa-
ted life and long after when he had de-
ger e -atedinto mere drunken sluggsrd,
whenever Fors's name was mentioned,
he would raise his hat in veneration
for the Scottish beauty who had pre-
served his life at the peril of her
own. Gruff DR.. johnson, that "co-
lossus of cockneys,' on his memQIa-
bic tour to the ''canny land" which
he was always sneering at, visited the
Isle of Skye, where Flora Macdonald
was still living, now in the ripe prime |
of womanhood. "She is a womaD,'
says he, in his notes of the journey,
''of middle stature, soft features, gen.
tie manners, and elegant presence
Indeed, Flora was far from being
one of those ideal heroines who
boldly use physical as well as moral
exertion in performing notable deeds
and who are strong OF body and
stout-minded; she was slight and
frail, shy and shrinking, inexperienc-
ed, 3 high-bed Highland lassie; and
what she did she achieved by that
spirit of selt-abnegation which On oc-
casion, sometimes shines out and
startles the sterner sex in weak and
,imid women. She believed Charles
to be her proud Highland
blood taught her that loyalty was q 4
religion. Thesreward of thirty thou
,and pounds for Charles Edwards
;ead, offered by the government
only nerved her the more for her at
tempt, and she gloried in encounter
ng for him the dangers of q tempest
lous island-studded sea, in counting
nartyrdom, and risking life itself,
hat the truer monarch might be
saved from the hand Of the usurper.
Flora was taken prisoner after the
success of her venture, and when
Charles Edward was once more safe
q France; and even then, her sincere
leroism and loyalty to her belief so
,utshone her treason. that the officers ]
VI the war-ship in which she was
brought to London always stood in .
Ter presence barehesded, and the '
ough old British captain showered I
comforts, in his uncouth way, upon
Ter. She was released after a short |
Imprisonment, by the Act of Indem-
lity; was thereupou lionized to-
yeariness by Jacobite lords and Scot n
ish chiefs, returned to her native
j ke and quietly married her cousin, s
Macdonald of Kingsborough; lived t
long and peaceful life, and died in s
green old age. leaving behind her
i've stalwsrt Highland sons, who &
ought for King George as Loyalty as 8
heir mother before them had served
Ter crownless prince.