New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-12-28
SIR WALTER SCOTS STUDY AT
ABBOTSFORD.
HOW 1T LOOKS IN THESE DAYS.

An old college scout at Christ Church, Oxford.
one Cicero Cook" held an aphorIsm mat mans
character could be told by the books anu surround
ings IN his study.
At Sir Walter scotts house. therefore, I expected
TO find a reflex of the thoughts of the great novelist.
The house itself stands at the bottom of steep de-
clivitv which leads from the main road. IL IL built
close TO the Tweed. and the Gala water falls into 10
just below. The general appearance OF the house IS
that Of an cid castle but made with modern stone,
a design suggested by the antiquarian mind OF SIR
Walter Scott, who evidently treasured up many
instance. the old Tolbooth OF Edinburgh having
been demolished in 1917, the stones Of the portal
were given TO Sir Walter Scott, and rebuilt INTO
doorway, which bears the following inscription:
The Lord OF Armies Ia my protector.
BlessiI ihay that trust IN the Lard.-l575
| had TO wait few minutes in the little room be-
fore the guide came to conduct US over the house.
In this ante-hall were several curons prints.
especially a picture Of a sea-fght. the Wolverine,
Captain Montague, taking some French lnRgers; q
desperate fight between the Russian and Cosack
cavalry, 1900 a procession in Edinburgh aud
trunk made of tiger-skln, probably present 10 cir
Walter years ago.
Tie first room WE were ushered into was Sir
Walter Scotts study. the furniture OF which Is left
exactly as when Sir Walter died.
The table on which be wrote Is an old-fashioned
affair, but has many drawers and many wings, just
the table 20 suit man who had great many papers
to deal with. The armchair Is covered with leather
and just the sort of chair into which bnsy
man would deli gfIt to throw himself back and think
Near the Fireplace Is piece OF furniture made
from portions of the Spanish Armada, with this
motto, Auiavlt Deus et OlslpautuT. Inc tables
in the dining hall at Westminster School are made
from portions Of the wreck OF the same Armada.
All round the rOOm are numerous shelves with
books, aud halfway up the room gallery with
more books. very ike what we have at he Ath-
eneum Club. IL may have been possible that Sir
Walter took the hint from the Athenaum, which
was founded IN 1874, ana of " men s,r Nater was
one of the first members. Behind the char Is "a
cupboard devoted to SIR Walters pipes and sticks,
and was delighted To find out that sr Walter
Scott smoked. Among the books Loticed bound
copies OF the French newspaper, the N0nifcv.
IcOuld not think why Sir Walter had such c0llec-
ton of the NOHiteur until my friend Mr. Mapole who
was with me. told me he thought sir Water scott
had bound them because they would contain Ma
poleOn's bulletins and were the official repository
his kindness told Mr. WaIpole that Ishould be only
too pleased # could fad any book IN the library
relating To his family. 80 looked about sharp. and
within five minutes caught sight OF twO-namely
"OrfOrd's Works " and " Memoir of II. Walpoe."
The next room TO the study, the drawing-room,
Is wonderful place. At one end OF n STANDS an
admirable bust OF sir W alter by my gOdlather, cir
In bay window is a table containing many inter-
esung relics, follows Portrait OF James stuart
born June 10, 1858, died at Rome l1U6. The purse
Of Rob Roy, also the Skein Dhu-EnGllsh black
knife or dagger-belonging to Rob Roy. he tnm-
bier used by Burns. Tam o shanters snun 0ox, Ma
pOleon's portfolio. Orn lmented with golden bees.
This. II mistake not, was presented to sir Walter
by the Duke of wellington. probably az the time
when he was writing " Inc Life Of Napoleon" The
Dukes autograph accompanies Napo!eons port
folio. lock of Lord Nelson's hair. 4 lock or the
Duke of WellingtOn's hair
In this room there are some ebony chairs. also
some very old, handsome furniture which do not
understand. These were presented by King George
".
Sir Walter Scott, taken about 1915 by Rayburn.
one OF the most famous portrait painters that ever
lived. Standing by Sir Walter are represented two
hounds-One Mazda, the Luffra of the Lady Of the
Lake, and of another hound called Menus.
A portrait of an old lady struck me- as wonderful,
aud admired il still more when told 10 was SIR
o1f ScOfDs a
of King James L. and n marvellous bit OF work,
namely, CamroOds painting Of the head of Mary
was beheaded. was tTanstiXed by this picture, rs
the features Of life seemed 10 have been suddenly
frozen by death into the cold pale face; parflcu-
larry well did observe that the lips pursed up
probably the facial expression of the very last
moment OF this unfortunate lady. The whole OF
this room Is papered with some wonderful and very
handsome Chinese paper, said 10 be all hand-
painted.
are hung with the most interesting relics. A pair
of pistols found in Napole0ns carriage after Water
loo, very handsome, handy weapons. engraved
Versailles; King Jane, Wis limiting flask the
spurs of Prince Charlie Rob ROy's gun, with the
INITIALS X. NJ. CO. the IRON mask worn by Nishart,
the MARTYR at the stake, 70 prevent his addressing
the people the money-box of King James w.;
Bruces candestick. With "A most admirable arrange
ment for keeping up the candle always To burning
point the magnificent tusk of an elephant.
But what much pleased me was pen-and,ink
drawing of Queen Elizabeth dancing. IL must be
portrait of the Queen because il is like the monu-
ment IN Westminster Abbey. the bust oil which, ~
my Deanery days az Westminster, II was my special
province TO eep clean. The Queen Is represented
as dancing by herself, evidently not knowing that
a lot of gentlemen were quizzIng her. The faces OF
these worthless can just be seen grnnng through
the curtains. II Queen Elizabeth was not pretty.
anyhow as IL very frequently the case, the want or
facial beauty was fully compensated by an exceed
ingly pretty foot ami ankle. Her Majesty wore
cocked stockings. and lovely little pair of shoes.
winch, according to the present mode Ut measuring
ladies' chdussurcs. would be the size called small
twOs.n
The doors of the Hall were then suddenly thrown
open. and most interesting place II Is. All along
the walls are hung cuirasses, helmets. and swords
of, should say almost every age and period Above
the armOr are cOats-Of-arms, and double line OK
escutcheons displays the heraldic bearings of the
SCOTS Kerrs EOts. Douglases, ana other border
clans these reminding of the flags hung mp of the
Knights of the Order OF the Bah In Henry Wis
Chapel. Westminster.
FRANK BUCKLASD.