Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-12-06
NV Trim to EurOpc.

each did what we chose. Some explored the
city, and some rode out to Roslyn castle
and chapel. was one Of party of 22 ladies
and gentlemen who determined to go to Alb
botsford and Melrose Abbey, 81 miles from
Edinburgh. We obtained excursion tickets,
81 so each for the round trip, in third class
cars, which on this road are very comfortable
and pleasant, and started at half past ten. At
Nelrose, we engaged carriages for the party,
at about half dollar each for the ride to Abb
botsford and back, and then to Dryburgh
Abbey and back, distance in all about ten
miles We had a fine excursion by rail. The
day was charming, the first one of the kind
we had had in Scotland. In the distance
could be seen many of the famous old hills
referred to in history, and in SCOTS novels,
the Pentland hills and the Cheviot hills on
the border between Scotland and England
The ride from Melrose to Abbotsford was de-
lightful, by smooth road bordered by hedges
and fanked by fine landscapes on either
hand.
ABBoTsFoRD
has not commanding position, but stands
on low, fiat land, not far from the banks OF
the Tweed The grounds were so walled in
that we could see but little of them, except
what we saw from the windows of the house
The house itself is shut in by high wall,
British fashion. The wall was thickly COW
cred with ivy and other climbing plants. The
rooms Scott occupied are in the second story
The entrance fee was an English shilling
each. Only ten or twelve were admitted at a
time. There were many other visitors besides
our party.
i The first room we were shown was the Ii
brary, large high room, surrounded by cases
of books, said to include 10000 volumes.
Here were several busts and pictures. SCOTS
study is smaller room. His chair and writ
ing desk, where his wonderful novels were
written remain as they were in his life time.
Another room is adorned with stays heads,
and every species of trophies of the chase.
! Another, called the Armory, has hung on
the walls all sorts of weapons, new and old,
ever used in war, chivalry or hunting; guns
swords, spears, battle axes, pistols, bowie
knives, tomahawks, &c. In one room. look
ing out upon the grounds and the river, is a
beautiful marble bust of Scott. The counte-
nance is noble and intellectual. Also por-
traits of his father and mother in their we'd
ding dresses That of his mother shows that
she was a beautiful woman, of high cast OF
character. Other portraits of his ancestors
| and of famous persons are here, also paint
ing of the head and face of Mary Queen of
Scots, made after she was beheaded. In
a case are contained hundreds of valuable
presents given to Scott, by individuals, cities
and towns, kings and emperors. There are
gold boxes, silver boxes, and every variety
of Jewels, ornaments and trinkets that can
be imagined. Everything in and about the
house is kept in the most perfect order. 1t
belongs to SCOTS granddaughter. 1t is a
large mansion, built of stone, in very irregu-
| lar shape We were only admitted into the
rooms connected with Scott. A lady attend
ed each party, and explained whatever was
shown.
We then returned to Melrose, a small vii
lage, and spent an hour or two in viewing
MELRosE ABBEY.
Scott saws of this, one of his favorite re-
Sorts
"If thou wouldst view fair Melrose Alright,
Go visit it by the pale moonlight;
| For the gay beams of lightsome day
| Gid, but to fiout, the ruins gray"
| We could not follow his advice, but were
glad to see it by 1.-the gay beams of lightsome
dav." The abbey is in ruins, but some of
the exterior walls are standing in much of
their height and beauty. In its day, it must
have been magnificent and spacious struct-
ure, and was ornamented with elaborate carv-
ings, many of the figures emblematic Of
scripture scenes. The portions now remain
ing are still grand and impressive, In thead-
joining churchyard were buried many noted
men of former ages, Of whom now only their
monuments and the inscriptions on them sur
vive to tell their story. From Melrose, we
rode mile or two to visit
| DRYBURGE ABBEY.
| Here is where Sir Walter was buried, as
we'll as many of his ancestors. He
| "Slumbers with the noble dead.
In Dryburgh's solemn pile"
Reaching a stream, we crossed a suspen-
sion foot bridge, and then followed q lovely
walk of half a mile or more, betwixt rows Of
fine trees of various kinds, to the abbey.
This was not so large as Melrose. and was
about as much in ruins. But parts are still
standing. Some Of the figures and emblem
attic devices carved in stone are interesting.
| Several of the lower rooms are still whole, SO
| that we saw the room where the monks used
to dine their wine room, &C., in fact, gaining
here perhaps better idea of monastic lite
than at Melrose. There is here prison cell ,
where culprits were once confined, with their
hands wedged into crevices il the stone wall
In the abbey grounds was an enormous yew
tree, with its dark foliage and wide spreading
branches, the first we had seen. On a little
eminencs, in a grove, near the foot bridge,
| WAS u IHcIu0Tldi VI tie poct VI tiIc
Seasons, an arbor with four stone pillars sus-
tanning the roof.
We returned to Edinburgh about the mid
die of the afternoon, and party of ten of us
took carriages, and rode about miles from
Edinburgh to
| RosLYN CHAPEL.
This, in parts, is still in tolerable repair,
and religious services are held in it every
Sabbath 1t has the most elaborate, numer-
Gus and beautiful ornamental carvings that
are to be seen anywhere. The most delicate
work in stone is found here on every hand,
both inside the chapel and outside. Many of
the figures and devices were explained by the
guide, and others explained themselves. In
one place, in the ceiling of the chapel, were
represented the seven deadly sins; in anoth-
err, seven corresponding scenes of virtuous
life. The interior of the chapel is perhaps 30
feet high, and is supported by columns of
stone highly ornamented. The most beauti-
full is the apprentices column" stone pill
lar with winding wreaths of various kinds OF
foliage exquisitely carved. The legend is,
that whilst the master sculptor went to Rome
to learn how to shapeit. one of his apprentices
carved and completed it in so perfect man.
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