Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1876-10-21
NOTES BIZ THE WAY,
..pondence of the Washington Standard

Ia the vicinity OF Hoiyrood Palace
~ its Park, by virtue of an ancient
,riyiiege, there still exists what is
known as
THE ABBEY SANCTUARY.
This is legalized sanctury for debt
=, and here at any time may be found
. small number of =" Abbey Lairds,"
tho have taken advantage of the pro-
,.ct;on it affords in order to shield their
,ersons, for time, from the grasp of
= the law. An individual claiming its
rrotection must become "booked"
r;tbin twenty-four hours after entering
The sanctuary, otherwise he becomes
snbiect to the ordinary operation of the
law. The Sabbath brings with it a
double blessing, as they have then the
nriyilege of free range over the whole
c;ty for the space of twenty-four hours.
But woe to the unfortunate man who is
tempted to trangress beyond these
limits. In days gone by, many amusing
incidents are related by those who were
thus unfortunate, and thereby exposed
to all the perils of the chase. On one
occasion an individual, after tremen-
dious heat, with the officers of the
law, close at his heels, stumbled and
fell, and in falling, his body was on the
,afe side but his legs were captured.
Il was finally decided, however, that as
the mans legs would be of little use
without the body, he should be allowed
% lake his legs along with him.
Behind the Abbey and Palace of
Holyrood are the open ground, styled
the Queens Park, which embraces that
rugged eminence known as.
ARTHUR's SEAT.
This noted place derives its name
from Arthur. a British Prince, who
gained an important victory over the
Saxons in this neighborhood in the
ninth century. It rises to a height of
700 feet above the meadow at it's base,
and is encircled by grand carriage
way, called the Queens Drive.
From Holyrood Palace to the Castle,
a specious thoroughfare for about a
mile in length intersects the Old Town.
Going westward, the Canongate is ira
yersed with melancholy interest. This
was once the court end of town, and
occupied by persons of distinction. It
is now abandoned to the meanest of the
mean. Many of its houses are delapi-
dated and the street futters in rags and
wretchedness. Some way up the street
on the left, stands the.
QUEENsBERRY HOUSE,
A dull mansion formerly the residence
Of the Dukes of Queensberry, but now
occupied as House of Refuge for the
destitute, and Reformatory for inebri-
ates. A little further on is
THE CANoNGATE CHURCH,
more than two centuries old, and
which cvrries on it's fore front deer's-
head and cross, the emblem with which
the founding of Holyrood Abbey is as
sociated. In the obscure cemetery
surrounding it, lie the remains of the
illustrious Adam Smith, Dugald
Stewart, and Robt. Ferguson, the poet.
One Of Burns first acts ION visiting
Edinburgh, was to erect suitable
monument over the grave of Ferguson.
Closely adjoining is J
ToLBooTH AND COURT HOUSE.
The Tolbooth is the prison of the
bu1gh, and on the street at its east
end, the stone pillar is still shown to
which such offenders as scolds and
slanderers were formerly fastened by
means of the longs or iron collar.
Nearly opposite on the south side
stands
THE MORAY HOUSE, 5"-s-
which was built during the reign of
Charles l., and where Oliver Cromwell
took up his quarters in 1648. Emerg-
ing from the Canongate into High street
very peculiar house projects into the
street, known as
THE KNox's HOUSE.
Many grave consultation, pregnant
with great national issues, has been
held in this homely old building, which
is kept as far as possible in it's former
condition. Above the door on the out
side is the following inscription: "Lufe
God above all and ye nychtbor as vi
SELF" A small fee gains admission on
certain days of the week, when a lady
attendant is in waiting to show visitors
through the premises. The preaching
window. parlor, study, and the room in
which he died, with some objects of in
terest are all left just as they were
when they were occupied more than
5oo years ago by one who it was said
never feared the face of man."
ST. GILES CHURCH.
This large and conspicuous edifce
occupies prominent situation at the
centre of the town, and is of unknown
antiquity. It was dedicated to Saint,
supposed to have born in Greece and
ol whom an arm-bone was presented