The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-08-21
MIR. j. \. Fairfax on His Travels-Pen
Sketches Of Glasgow, GrennOck and
Edinburg, de-, &c.
InNnnN Anrnst 6 lSII.
Editors OF the Register {:

Edtnburg, Se,, &c.
LONDON, August 6, 1877.
Editors OF the Register:
Glasgow is busy, murky and thriv-
ing city, and next in size to the metro
polls, having nearly 100000 inhabitants
All the world knows how celebrated the
river Clyde has become as ship build
ing point, but it does not know so well
that through the foresight and energy OF
the people the stream has been dredged
and embarked until where the waters
were once but three and five feet deep,
now ships drawing twenty feet and up
wards can lie and take on their cargocs.
There is but little going on now COM
parstively, the strike amongst the ship
builders, which took place last May, still
continuing, and no sign yet OF settle
ment. Besides the loss of wages OF
thirty thoussEd men, engaged IN
building ships solely, the engine
and machine builders, the Triggers,
caulkers, sailmakers, foundries and roll
ing mills are all affected. About TWO
weeks since the ironmasters decided To
blow out their furnaces until the yield
WAS reduced one-third, and now the min
crs, considering the measure TO be aimed
at their interests, are going to stop work
so that their wages may be kept at It's
present figure. Meanwhile many axe
fearing that their special industry Will be
driven away, rs II was from the liver
Thames through similar strikes.
Many of the poorer women and chill
dren 60 about The city in their bare feet,
and the fact of 1t rsining-whlch 1t usu-
ally does-did not seem to make any
difference to them. The people gener-
ally are stoutly built, and of rather
quiet, elfrespectful manners, as indeed
Is the case with the Scotch generally, but
il is best not 10 arouse their animosity. L
saw but little of the drunkenness which
has made Glasgow notorious, owing per-
haps 10 the hard times, but was glad to
hear there were fewer public houses, as
saloons are called, than there were ten
Years ago. There is u very good cathe-
dral here with remarkably fine crypt,
in one corner Of which is St MingOs
well, whose cell, built about 500 years A.
ID. is said TO have been the foundation of
this city. A chemical works in the out
skirts OF town boasts the highest chimney
stack in the world; it is 40 feet in dame
ter at the bottom and 463 feet high,
about three times The helghth OF the
cathedral spire IN your city. About
three miles from the city is Grennock,
where are the principal docks, and it was
here that James Watt was born; the man
who has done more than any other TO
deyelope the worlds resources, through
ms lnvention o. the steam engine. They
have erected bronze statue OF him in
one OF the squares In Glasgow IN which
are number of monuments to other cet-
ebrated men.
Edinburgh Is certainly the most besuti-
'ul. and NJ the same time, the most PIE
turesque city ever saw. The old por-
tiOn of the town was built upon very
lly ground, and nesting tor protection
close up to the castle, which stands upon
bold rock, rising about $50 feet above
the sea level, the rock being precipltous
upon three sides. The fourth side, lead
ing up TO the castle gate, protected by
y small mOat and draw bridge, Is built up
with quaint old houses fronting on the
street with tive and SIX stories; here and
there laterSpersed with modern buildings.
The backs Of these houses being on much
lower ground show eight and ten stories
nigl, and ~ they soar above the many
gab.rd and turreted houses they have y
very peculiar aud striking effect. The
old TnlbUuth used to stand upon the castle
h.fl, but was torn down some wears since,
and John knCx's house is still 90 be seen
about hAi way down the street which
tA!eEQs 10 the square IN front Ot Holy
rood palace. The lower part OF this
luor0ughiare is the famous canon gate,
r-annirg where an old abbey form rly
sod. A number of the houses are
%. nd have the stepped gables the
S.J,Ch are 80 found Il, and which are
E.own by the name OF crow-slalrs.
lnere are abundant evidences hanging
outside the upper Windows tn, tine family
washing Is done ~ home. A number OF
.leNs, cailsd wyndS, or closets lead oil on
-.ch side t. still other houses crowded
together below They are very narrow
and have number of steps, and the air
which rushes through them is
not very inviting 10 u stranger. In fact
tue whole place is as tncllly populated
~ rookery On the streets were
several New Haver fshwives pursuing
their caiLHg, which WAS that OF behring's.
They have very good faces, but surely
women were never 50 broadly builS be-
tore The herring fishery is very i'm.
; .,ant TO the people, and | heard one
g. a party Of well-to do gentlemen dis
cI>-ing the coming prospects, say, take
ae,s the herring and where do we
sLand."
In the valley between the Cation
Hill aud Salisbury Crsigs, and at the foot
OF Canongate, stands Hollywood Palace
This building Is comparatively modern,
but the Chapel Royal adjoining and now
nothing but ruin, is IF eleventh and
twelfth century work. The principal At.
traction OF the Palace, especially to the
ladies' is the apartment OF Mary Queen
o. Scots. | have never been able to dis.
ever why they waste SO much sympathy
UPON the tate of this woman,
especially as thGy scarcely mention
the name of Lady Jane Grey, one who
was equally unfortunate, quite Is beau
uluI, and an honor 10 their sex.
There is some very fine tapestry,
worked IN Germany, adjoining the
walls of most OF the above apart
lnents, the bed in which the
Queen slept, scrap of n blanket belong
ius. and small mirror hanging in one
oil the rooms, with so little silver on it
that a girl of the period would turn up
her nose ut it. The so-cslled blood
stains of Rizzio were pointed out behind
n door. and il is told that the attendant
was oRce Mortified ut a man proposing to
take them out IN ten minutes with his
pstent stain annihiIator. His nationality
may be guessed at Ii Is worthy Of nete,
however, that the Queen hsd that por-
ton OF the room partiuoned OFT to sRut
ont the sight of the spot. The picture
gallery has about 100 portraits of
scotch kings. and noticing a suspicious