San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1880-02-28
FROM THE OLD WORLD.

:
f LONDON, Feb. 2, 1880.
Ed. FREE PREss:-I believe l last
wrote you few days after the memor'
able disaster Of the falling Of the Tay
bridge at Dundee, which occurred. I
believe, on the 18th of December. AL
though more than month has now
elapsed since the accident but little
more that thirty bodies have been re-
covered 1t is now believed that most
of the bodies have either been carried
out to sea by the tides, or else lie bur.
led beneath the sand in the bottom
of the river. In either case most of
them will remain undiscovered. But
what matters it to them, whether they
are waited out to the deep sea by the
tides, ard SO apparently lost to their
friends. or lie buried beneath the
shifting sands,in the bottom of the Tay?
1t is just as easy for God to call them
from their secret graves as from the
church yards Of Dundee or Edinburgh.
May they sleep in peace.
On the morning of the 9th ult., l
babe adieu to Edinburgh and took the
1915 train Tor London.
The morning was bright and clear,
and although the air was cold and
crisp. [ enjoyed the trip. l chose
what is known as the least coast"
route to London. The route is in close
proximity to the sea for great part of
the way.
The country through which we pass.
ed for the first few miles after leaving
Edinburgh, is exceedingly beautiful
and romantic in appearance.
Every part Of the land that will ad-
NIT Of it. is Of course in q high stats of
cultivation. The country here is hill
ly, but not mountainous. and amidst
artificial groves and streamlets of pure
water, the eye is often greeted with
splendid mansions, as we'll as less pre-.
tentious structures. We passed close
to the tower of Melrose, and 1 regret
ted exceedingly that l could not pause
and view the ruins of the famous alb
hey of the same pane. It is said to
be the noblest ecclesiastical ruin in
Scotland, not even excepting Holy.
rood. 1t was founded by King David
1st, in the year l136, and sometime be.
tween the reigns of Robt. Bruce and
James Nv was rebuilt. I am inform
ed that large marble stone in its
chancel is pointed out as the monu-
ment of Alexander II.
Many of the mighty Douglases lie
buried here, and here also the cele.
brated wizard, Michael Scott, found
a resting. place. The heart Of KinR
Robert Bruce was also deposited in
Melrose: small tablet marks the spot
The vale of the Tweed is everywhere
beautiful. Villages and hamlets nest
lie on wooded slopes that rise from the
verge of the beautiful winding river,
and wide spread pastoral hills and
plains present a diversity of quiet
beauty seldom surpassed. H..t.
Proceeding on our journey from
Melrose we now come to the little
burgh, or barony Of Kelso. 1t occu-
pies commanding position on the left
bank of the Tweed, at its confluence
with the Teviot. One may stand or
the bridge and look up the river and
see the two floods unite. Here are the
ruins of Roxburgh castle; the palace
of Fleurs, the grounds OF which slop,
down to the margin of the Tweed
These ruins are quite ancient. Wber
David succeeded to the Scottish
crown in 1l24. he removed a conven
from Selkirk to Kelso within view o.
his royal castle. The tower suffered
severely during the wars Of the mid
die ages. and the monsstery was re
peatedly laid waste by FIRE. and th,
,rsnsepts. the eertre tower. and th'
vest end are the chief parts which re
main. Il is said. that after the Re
lOruatiOE, low gloomy ysul' va