The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1878-09-26

IN IL, anu tnlS IS ali lue HlOuuiutub I-l'
inburgh has yet given to one Of hel
greatest men. 4 visit to the courts o.
Justice was of interest from the fact
that everything was done with the ut
most dignity and formality. The
judges were clothed in long black robes
while they, as well as the advocates, wore
white curly wigs which covered the
whole tops Of their heads. Not far
from here is the plain, three-stOry house
with bay front, which Sir Walter Scott
occupied for twenty-five years. From a
tomb stone in the old Gray Friar's
church-yard, we copied the following
inscription on tomb dated 1867:
' Reader, John Milne, who maketh the fourth
John,
And by descent from father 10 son,
sixth Master Mason TO a royal race
I or seven successive Kings, sleeps in this
place"
But time fails US 10 mention the many
substantial public buildings, churches,
museums, hospitals, etc, with which
| the city abounds. In the old quarter,
| the traveller cannot but notice the
crowded tenement houses, some Of them
twelve stories high which literally
swarm with frously women and dirty
children. These were built when the
city was shut in by its ancient walls,
and were once in the quarters Of the
nobility. But the pride of Edinburgh
/ is its great newspapers, its vast publish
ing houses and its justly-elaimed repu-
tatiou as literary center. It delights
| to be known as the "Athens Of Scot
| land"
The traveller can but think how much
not only Edinburgh but all Scotland
owes to the genius aud labor of Sin
Walter Scott, whose magic pen has i'm
mortalized scenes aud events which, but
for him, would long ago have passed
from public remembrance. As it is
thousands Of travellers from all Ovel
the world come annually to visit th,
places known to them by his writings
and to make real the scenery he has 81
] AAlAuANANN AEHLAluENs EAAlunuku AllAD'
burgh has built to his memory a splen.
did monument, he has built for himself
nobler in the great book establish
ments which are engaged all the time
upon the various editions Of his works.
We can but admire the Scotchman
for his industry, his intelligence, bis
/ integrity, his love Of liberty and country,
and for all those sturdy traits which we
naturally associate with his character
But il you deal with him, remember
that while he is honest to the bottom
Of his heart, one Scotchman is a match
for any two Yankees, aud that while ne
undoubtedly loves his American cousin,
and does not hesitate to tell him so, he
will, with bow aud a bland smile, get
the tcst of 'he bargain every time. As
we see them struggling SC nard tor iiV-
ing on their almost barren hills, and
think of the long, dark, snow-bOund
winters through which they must pass,
we feel like stretching out hand tC
them aud inviting them 10 come home
with us to tue enjoyment Of better
things. But without doubt their ma
tive heather-eOvered hills are as dear "a
them as our wide, fertile fields are to Us,
and If the best place IN our grand west
ern prairie should be given them, they
would soon long for the rugged sides
and cloud-cOvered peaks of their native
Ben LOmond. No matter what the
surroundings under which we are born
and brought up, nature seems to have
wisely placed in every human heart a
response to the expression Of the poet,
"Be it ever 50 lowly, there's no place
like home" In our next letter, we shall
have the pleasure Of taking our readers
to Melrose Abbey, and the home of Sir
Walter Scott. O. r. BURCHARD.