Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-12-01
My Trip to Europe.

GLASGOW, July 8.
At last we are again on terra yfrmd. We
got sight of land on the north coast of Ire
land. last night about o'clock. 1t was rain
ing, but the land looked beautiful to all the
passengers. There were rocky cliffs, grassy
hill-sdes, houses and fields. variegated by
scattered trees. We moved along through
the bay called Loeb Foyle, until we reached
Neville, and landed there in the rain, by
means of lighters, many of the steerage pas
sengers The steamer could not get very
near the shore. Wethen had session until
past midnight, to make various arrangements
as to our travel. We got what sleep we could,
which was not much, for all were excited,
and our orders were to be up at six and to
expect the customs officer. However, no
officer meddled with our baggage until past
nine. In the meantime we were steaming
into the Firth of Clyde, having crossed the
Irish Cha mel in the night. The pretty
white sea-gulls which had followed the steam
er several days. and picked up the crumbs
thrown to them by the passengers, became
more and more numerous as we approached
the land.
The scenery on either side of the Firth was
wild and beautiful. At last the steamer an
chored off Greenock. A steam lighter came
along side, and took off our heavy baggage,
and heavy it was, for many of the tourists had
large and weighty trunks, notwithstanding
the caution that we should travel light The
customs officer made vain search, though
he opened apparently every trunk and valise.
Tobacco and cigars seemed to be what he
looked for mostly, but in vain. 1t was told
that a passenger was allowed 30 cigars, but
not 100. Greenock is not large, but pic
turesque village, scattered along the shore !;
the buildings are mostly of stone. The tour
lists were allowed to take vote whether they
would proceed to Glasgow by river steamer,
or by rail, as the Anchora could not well get
up the river so far. 1t was decided to 20 by
boat. 1t rained little most of the way, but
the scenery was so lovely that the passengers
stood or sat in the wet all the while, and
were so enchanted that they pronounced
themselves well repaid.
| We reached Glasgow at one o'clock, and
all but one section were taken to the Grand
Hotel palatial building, and there being
more than 100 of us. we probably crowded
out all the other guests. After lunch, went
about the city as far as time admitted. 1t is
rich and magnificent city, offve or six hun
dred thousand inhabitants. It was melan-
choly to see its hundreds of shipyards mostly
unoccupied and idle. But Notwithstanding
this, its streets were full of business, and its
fine buildings covering vast area, showed
evident signs of wealth and prosperity. At
ter perambulating the streets awhile. two of
us took the street cars, (here they call them
tramways,) and went to the great Cathedral.
1t was a vast stone building, erected in old
Catholic times, but it is now used by the Prot
estants. The stained windows in the cathed-
raj and in the crypt were very handsome and
brilliant, but we learned they had been re-
Gently renewed. In the rear of the cathedral
is fine cemetery, situate on the steep sides
of hill, terraced, intersected with avenues,
and adorned with trees. The monuments
were, many of them, costly and highly orna-
mented. We had not time to explore the
cemetery, but entered the street cars again,
and rode to the West Park, a lovely place on
the slope of hill, with green lawns, flower
borders and beautiful trees, wide avenues,
and magnificent prospect Near by, on an
opposite eminence, is the new University, a
very large and highly ornamented stone
building. Returning to the hotel, we had
our first European dinner, with succession
of courses, occupying nearly two hours. AZ
terwards | sat writing by window without
artificial light until halt past eight in the
evening. Glasgow is 1000 miles further
north than Boston, and the days in July are
very long. One gentleman read a newspaper
till nine o'clock in the evening" by daylight
only. The difference of time between Glas-
gov and Boston is more than four hours, the
Scotch time being the fastest. Before leav-
ing Glasgow the excursion party was divided,
part went directly to the lakes, while about
eighty or ninety started for Edinburgh.
EDINBURGH, July 8.
The Grand Hotel at Glasgow was very
grand, and all its accommodations were in
great style. My room and Accomplishments
were very nice, and was glad to get a good
nights rest in bed, and also good bath in
the morning, neither of which had had on
the steamer. Some of the party were dissat-
isfied with the dinner and the delays in serv-
ing it, after the abundant and appctizing meals
we had on the steamer. But we may 20 far
ther and fare worse.
We left Glasgow by rail at half past seven
, this morning. We passed through several
long tunnels. Zone Of them has since fallen
in, but fortunately no one was killed.) Five
of us occupied first-cass compartment in
the car. The scenery is lOvely-not much
that is grand on this route, but green fields,
divided mostly by hawthorn hedges, hut
some part of the way by wire fences. The
farm-hOuses are almost invariably of stone
some barns are of brick, but barns are not
INDUCED in to a great extent Hay 10 stacked
or preserved out of doors. Pastures are full
of fat cattle. Sheep especially abound.