The Canton mail. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 18??-1882, 1875-03-13
Anecdotes Of Sir Walter Scott.

Anecdotes Of STR Walter Scott.
| trEssr rTJ-sfi 74f 49,.
/ [t..some Cid. Letters,' in ScribHer's fc
March, are accompanied by Hitherto unput
fished life-sketch of Sir Walter Scott. by th
celebrated artist Gilbert Stuart Newton.
this installment of " Old Letters" we find th
following anecdotes Of the author of " WI
verley:u ~ gssf tftfA -
cat half-past six We went to din
with the Fergussons. The doctor wa
quite ill with cold. Sir Adam Fergus
son. Sir Walter Soott's intimate ant
confidential friend. dined. there our
selves, Mrs. L., and one of her daugh
ters.. ~ r'f''t
We had very. charming dinner. TO
Sir Adam has the most marvellous DOW
ers Of description. He made MS lauel
heartily, and told us, too, a great many
interesting anecdotes about Sir Walter
Scott. He is . very remarkable person
himself He is the original of Dugald
Dalgetty." This is all I find in the Old
letters about the dinner, but I must tell
| what I can recollect of the account
Mrs. <. gave me In later years, Sir
Adsm, she said, was tail, gray.haired
man, with a bDad Scotch .accent, He
described how one early morning, in
Sir Walter Scott library, iwhsn he and
Sir Walter tried to make the fire of peat
burn, and, after many efforts, succeeded
in soma degree. At this moment one
Of the dogs, dripping from plunge in
the lake, scratched and wi1ined at the
window. At last Sir Walter let the
"puirg creature" in, ,fwho,, coming up
before the little, fire, shock his shaggy
hide, sending a perfect shover-bath
over the Ere and over great table of
loose manuscripts. Sir Walter, cycling
the scane with his usual serenity, said,
slowly: i"Oh dear, you We done'a CREST
deal of mischief 1t reminds us of
the tale; related of Newton. On this
same occasion. of the dinner, Sir Adam
Ferguson told Of travelling, with Sir
Walter on the continent and going to
see the troops on donkeys, and he per
formed both donkeys and riders with
his fingers on the table until his audi
enee was in anagony of laughter.
ferguson passed the evening With
as, and We had some music asked
him, as he was so fond of ,isteping.s if
he didn't sing little. himself. 'I1l
tell you an anecdote of Sir Walter |
Scott, said he. that will answer your
question. One night, when I was stay.
ing at -Abbotsford, Annie Scott had |
So0u 6tuSAux W tuo accompaniment Oh Il
her harp Scotch ballad with wall for !
The chorus. Sir Walter Turned to me,
saving in strong Scotch accent:
'' Moo. Ferguson, gle us howl. =
's'Durisg one or MY visits there
continued Dr.. Ferguson, among other
.uesos Was Hogg, /" Ettrick Shepherd.
heard a horrible noise in an adjoin.
ng room, and. after listening some
- 4
'aid to my host 81 What is that roise ?"
his verses. He always sings
hem as he writes them"
"Thoueh he liked some rude strains.
scott could we'll attune his ear to softer
nusicy sanl was very fond Of Moore
ong x. sings. that ends: ~ i"I
: Shot IS the Persian's prayer, his prayer at
close Of day, vfiT2r .s''%-.I
hould be- each vO~ Of loves repeatins. ''ii
!uiok lst him yorship beauty's precious ray, |,
He used to say, Come K, let me
7ould listen with great delight TO the
ibgipg Of il. !.sts,-.s7.,i4 .s-{
"They recalle an amusing. story of
q old sergaut who had lived with Scott
Dr. nearly a lifetime, and became very
,uch spoiled. Sir Walter at last, Ionts
y,atience with his sins Of omission. l.
aid: at : -'ss' Il
".Donald, Think we must part
"'Psrt! why? Where's your honor .
"Of course peace was made, and
Donald remained. --,-g n
"They told sadly OF the dear old.
ian returning from Italy (where he
'ent for his health), with his memory II
nraired. Mrs. Arkwright, Who had
ct his Pirates Farewell to. Minna to-
,nsic, sang it to him. Those are very
retty verses, said Sir Walter. Who +,
rote them?' a...s o., 49,, ss."s1
Cherries Scott, Sir Walters second
On, 10 Q very clever, agreeable man., III :
30 good deal OF him at the Lock
arts, here and elsewhere. Sir Walter
as most proud Of his eldest con Wal.
sr, Who is rather q dull fellow, but
arge and fne-loaking. Il His father |
.ed tor say thatitsvas enough If hoy y
new how to ride and speak the truth; :
bose were the most importans things. :
/" Charles Scott made me laugh about /
ne visitors at Sir Walters house and ..
[elrose Abbey See the Abbey by /.
Moonlight they must, because' of the ;;
neg: ~fs7~ ~ ~ SGfi,.4tr- Igss
4" =. Il thou would st view fair Melroee Alright, !
Go visit it by the pale moonlight"
''sf And many q time said Charles !
colt, when the moon was not con-
snlent, I took lantern to produce the
.-,E III 90 sTsa ,
Modern Statuary. H.
The modern sculptor has . hard time ,
it with his portrait statues, it must &
g confessed Wuat is he to do? Shall
Q dress Q gentleman Is he finds him ;, ,,
o back to the togs ;, or go farther back ,
ill to the altogether natural man :? Or 4