Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-12-13
My Trip to Europe.
LAST Hours IN SCOTLAND.

| been hewn out of or rather into rocky cliff.
| What labor and perseverance the men of old
| times used to bestow on their dwellings, and
what dreary places they were to live in when
all was done
Our route led us through Paisley, few
miles southwest of Glasgow, place of 80 or
| $4,000 inhabitants, noted for various manu-
| features, particularly shawls of different
kinds We reached Glasgow in the evening,
and after short walk from station to station,
(the word depot is never used in Great Brit
aim took passage in a train for an all night
ride into the heart of England. The ladies
of the party had what pass for sleeping
cars here, but not Pullman by any means.
The gentlemen accommodated themselves the
best they could on the seats of first-class cars.
The English cars are divided cross-wise into
compartments, with seats in front and rear
facing each other, each seat intended for four
persons The seats and backs are cushioned.
and there are cushioned elbow-rests and head
rests. The doors as well as windows are in
the sides of the cars, and after the passengers
are seated the doors are locked. There is
no inside communication between the COM
partments. In the day time, there Is plenty
O: light and the cars are not inconvenient
for observing scenery. and are very cosy for
a small party of friends who wish to be to-
gether without the intrusion of strangers.
They are, however, lacking in several essen
tial conveniences found in American cars
Of the Scotch people, formed a favorable
impression from what l saw of them. The
men and women we met in the streets and
elsewhere had more of the flush of health in
their countenances than the people of any
other country we visited. They appeared to
have good blood in their veins, not "blne
blood" but wholesome red blood. Those
we conversed with drivers, mechanics, trad
ers and others, were kind, courteous and in
telligent. The prices of what we wanted
were reasonable, without any attempt to take
advantage of us as strangers. Some of our
party were annoyed by hearing from passers-
by the word yankees" or "AMericans, but
this we met with wherever we travelled, and
it was seldom, if ever, intended as discourte-
Gus. On the contrary, most who spoke of
America, spoke of it with interest, and many
expressed the hope of some time seeing it.
Stone and iron abound in Scotland. Bridg-
es and buildings are of stone. The build
ings are rooted with tiles. which tiles are so
locked into each other as to make the roofs
tight. Out of the cities, some few houses
have matched roofs. The roof is first COW
cred with boards then about three inches Of
straw is laid on, and fastened with few long
nails, and bound with straw bands. Another
and another thickness of straw is bound on,
until the covering is about tive feet thick.
Everywhere YOU see chimney pots of varying
heights on the tops of the chimneys, frequent
" half dozen or so to a chimney. Folding
window sashes hung on hinges, and swing
ing in, are mostly used. Blinds appear to
be unknown or not in fashion.
Although so far north, the ground freezes
but little. They have some snow in the win
ter. but it does not last as in New England.
Near Edinburgh, farmers were cutting
grass. thus early, not to make hay, but to
sell day by day in the city, to be fed to cattle
and horses green.
In the turnip fields, we frequently saw a
dozen or twenty at work together wedding,
men, women. boys and girls.
The Scotch women have way of washing
clothes BY treadiug on them with their bare
feet We did not see it, but some of our
party purchased pictures of it, and also of the
fish wives with their baskets of fish. These
last we saw IN the streets, with large baskets
on their backs, like inverted cones, full of
fish, and sustained by a band round their
foreheads, as they walked along bending under
their weight.
After leaving Glasgow we passed a region
of iron smelling. where the flames, rising out
of the mutitudes of tall chimneys presented
a brilliant appearance, and lighted up the
darkness Of the night.
At junction some 20 miles from Glasgow,
we were joined by train from Edinburgh,
with our fellow tourists who left us few days
before at Glasgow for the lakes, and once
more the whole Tourjee party was together
for a season. The trains sped on, and soon
we bid farewell to Scotland.
GLMPsEs OF ENGLAND.
About midnight, we passed Carlisle in the
of 70 trim
to get some sleep, but without much success.
The night was cold though in July.
The train went through Preston about 8
o'clock 1t began to grow light, and awoke
to see what could Of England. Our route
did not lie through many large cities or vii
lagos. English rural scenery is marked by
quiet beauty and loneliness, but not often by
anything bold or striking. Well cultivated
fields divided by hawthorn hedges, green pas
lures with sleek cattle grazing in them, and
scattered trees in their summer verdure, are
the usual characteristics. Our road took us
between Liverpool and Manchester, but not
in sight of either. We reached Rugby,
place of 5000 or 1000 inhabitants, very near
the center of England, and noted railway
junction. Here we changed to branch road.
Passing through Coventry, we did not see the
Lady Godiva nor Peeping Tom. If you read
poetry. the legend is familiar one. About
O'Clock, we reached Kenilworth, pretty
village of some 5000 inhabitants, and had
breakfast under difficulties. The party was
too large for the eating house, and outside we
were entertained by the customary shower of
rain. After breakfast, we proceeded to view
KESILwoRTH CASTLE.
This immense pile of building, was found
ed more than 800 years ago, and was for cen
turtles magnificent structure. 1t was built
strong and solid, but time and Cromwell's
soldiers together have made it a ruin. Enough,
however, remains standing to give an idea of
what it was 1t seems to have been once as
large or larger on the ground than Stirling
Castle. but stands on plain, instead of on a
rocky hill. Its walls were built very high as
appears by the portion still remaining. 1t
was the work Of several hours to view the va
rious buildings belonging to the castle. The
great gate house in ITSELF is large enough for
a spacious modern residence. Here in this
castle, when in its glory, was exhibited, in
ancient times, the grandeur, the chivalry,
and the slavery of feudal life. The last and
browning scene Of revelry recorded in histo-
ry, was when, 800 years ago, the Earl of
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