Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1878-08-22
EUROPEAN LETTER.


Glasgow has aremarkable history
A hundred years ago it was u small
city of less than $4,000 inhabitant.
and without Importance, but to-day
it is the commercial metropolis O
Scotland, and has q population OIL
600. 900. It's inhabitants have showr
remarkable enterprise in building
up manufactures, and in developing
the mineral resources of the neigh
boring counties. The almost nun
berless tall chimneys with their clouds
of smoke, and the continual noise O
numerous iron works, remind US o
our own Pittsburgh.
To the tourist the city has few at
fractions. The chief Of these is the
old Cathedral, which was built il
the twelfth century and is one of the
few in all Scotland which survived
the mad fury of the populace during
the times of the Reformation The
building is very large, more than
three hundred feet long, and most Of
its carvings and interior decorations
are in fine state of preservation
lts crypts are the finest and most
massive of any in the kingdom. But
the pride of the Cathedral is its beau.
tiful great stained glass windows, oil
which it has fourty-four, from twenty.
five or thirty feet in height, each
representing some we'll known Bible
event. These windows were made
about ten years ago at Munich, and
are the perfection of modern art.
Adjoining the Cathedral is the Ne.
cropolis, or Cemetery, beautifully
laid out and containing many fine
monuments. Conspicuous among
these il one to John Knox, whose
body, however, is buried in Edin.
borough. We noticed also that OF
John Dick, the eminent theologians
Other things in the city, worthy oil
mention, are George Square with it,
colossal monument to Sir Walter
Scott; Glasgow Green containing q
fine monument of Nelson, England's
favorite hero /; and the New Univer-
sity buildings. In one of the poor
est streets of the old city we are
shown the quarters once occupied By
Cromwell.
The most noticeable thing about the
city 80 an American just landed, ID
the massiveness and solidity Of the
buildings, for they are mostly of cut
stone with tile or slate roofs. There
are almost no buildings made Of
wood and but few of brick, and the
streets are all paved with stone
This gives an impression that the
city is built to stand for all time and
accords with our generally accepted
opinion of Scotch thoroug hness. Vet
miles and miles of streets with stone
houses and stone paving, everything
stone, gives the city monotouy oil
dull color which finally becomes
wearisome, until the eye longs for
some bright color, and for even a
little outside paint. Strolling down
to one of the public squares, one
evening, q member of our party
found an excited crowd of two OF
three hundred working men discuss.
ing the merits of Professionalism and
Catholicism. One had been making
speech on the subject and was read.
ing proof passages from small copy
of the Testament. Some ono gave
notice that the next night there
would be discussion on the favorite
Scotch Observation-Disclosures. liz
what American city, or any city in
the world outside of Scotland, viii
you find day laborers discussing un-
til late at night questions in theolo.
gy and metaphysics.
The increased length Of the day
owing to extreme northern latitude
is plainly noticeable, for ] was able tC
read fine print by daylight after II
o'clock at night, while daybreak
comes about 2 O'Clock. Indeed, in
clear weather the morning and even
ing twilight almost overlap. The
policeman with his pot-shaped cap il
everywhere, constant terror tt
evil disposed small boys, who at once
take to their heels when the cry il
raised "Tbe Boobies are coming.
l knew worthy American lady
who on her first day in Glasgow il
an innocent way asked, "What kline
of musical instrument is bobby?'
Leaving Glasgow by early trair
we soon reached Balloch on Loci
Lomond, where we take steamer fol
Inversnaid near the opposite end o
the lake, sail of nearly thirty miles
A Scotch mist, as it is politely called
1--WE should say rain storm, soor
settled down upon us, and although
it was the fourth of July and we hat
on our overcoats, we were shivering
in the cold wind. The Highlander
have saying that "When Benlo
mond puts on his night cap the rair
will come down." and as we looked
up toward the mountain and saw
his head obscured with clouds, ant
the rain falling around US, we decld
ed that there are weather signs
which are true. Sailing up the lake
which is surrounded by Scotland
highest mountains, we are in thu
midst of scenery scarcely equaled by
any lake in Europe, Maggiore il
Italy alone excepted.
Nearly every mountain pass, rocl
and village is associated with som,
of Scott's characters. We see Bal
loch Castle, beyond a ruined fortif
cation, a traditional strong hold O
Fingal; q beautiful wooded island
the deer park of the Duke of Mont
rose Rob Roy's prison; q rock from
which he dipped refractory capt;ve
in the lake until they were willing
to pay the required ransom, and hi
cave, which also sheltered Rober
the Bruce. Near Inversnaid is the
ruin of fort once commanded By
General Wolfe, the hero of Quebec
At Inversnaid we take coaches 70
Stronachlacker, on Loch Katrine
These coaches are the few remaining
from the famous old English coacl
system, the drivers being dressed ii
red coats, plug hats, and high toppet