The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-12-17
SCOTLAND.
First Lecture in Mr. stoddard's Course

The opening lecture in Mr.. Stoddard's course
was delivered at City Hall last evening before
an audience composed of the most intellectual
portion of the community, and, one too, that
fully tested the seating capacity of the apart
ment. There must have been over two thou
sand ladies and gentlemen present That the
audience was delighted was evinced by their
rapt attention and by the frequent marks OF
approval bestowed upon the beautiful tributes
paid to Scott and Burns by the lecturer, as
we'll as upon the superb views thrown upon
the screen. The lecture was, In every respect,
tour with o most eloquent, well-read and
delightful travelling companion, through the
highland and lowlands of Scotland, the seem
cry which Scott's own kind eyes loved to con-
template and which touched in his heart those
chords of sympathy that trembled with ten
derness for Queen Mary and JEANNE Deans.
Nor was Burns forgotten, but the poet who was
the friend of humanity, beloved, perhaps more
than any other, by high and low, was en-
balmed in the lecturers golden words "The
Banks and Braes O. Bonnie Doom" in their
beauty, and Tam OShanter's" favorite, with
its aspect of lowly but substantial comfort. in
reduced the travellers, after landing at Glas-
cow to the "Land o. takes" From Ayrshire
they went to the Hebrdes, with passing mem-
cries of William Black, the Princess OF
Thule" and white Wings at least their
guide and after some comical experiences OF
sea sickness, and a landing from the steamer
belonging doubtless to the MacLeods OF Dare),
which d facetious individual, firm on his own
sea legs, aggravated by illusions to the mlser
les of others; found laughter merged IN con,
temptation, as Iona's ruins and royal
int nj and beneath
the frown OF Staffa and the sculptured front
and long drawn, sea-foored aisle of Fingals
cave, that Mr.. Stoddard aptly called "a cathe-
dral in the sea-"
lands. Lady Katrine called up the scenery OF
the Lady of the Lake, the very spot-"The
silver strand"-whither Ellen sculled her
skiff at the hail of the wandering KING, was
the beautiful uncovered isle that has borne
her name ever since the appearance OF the
poem, and where the lecturer passed an hour
reading the poem, opened the way to the
Trossachs and Loeb Achray, where the party
travelled express to the ancientn capital, and
listened with breathless interest wnlle tnelr
friend, philosopher and guide pointed out the
features in which it resembled Athens Ar
thurs seat the castle, from various points OF
views; Mons Meg aud the Scott monument,
both Sides were the next lions done, ana In
connection with the last, MIR. Stoddard related
the touching incident of the meeting between
Sir Walter Scott and the future artist and sue
cessful competitor for the design, when meet
ing the great wizard of the North, stranger
riding by in his elegant carriage, the poor APP
prentice lad, plodding YEARLY along the road
side, was invited TO take seat Deslde tne paro-
net
Before leaving Edinburg the new lnnocents
broad were conducted to Holyrood Palace
and shown the once splendid interior OF Mary
Queen OF SEQ s. b, doom, whee some very
French looking furniture was Wondering
away behind an iron railing The most touch-
ing sight there Mr.. Stoddard thought, was
that of the Queens mirror. 1t was very
small. but very precious, Tor 1T had once re.
lected the beauty CT the ill-fated Queen, and
in gazing upon it one could not but think what
it would be TO possess the power to call back
for one brief moment that transient image and
behold one of the loveliest, as well as one OF
he most unfortunate of her sex, in her habit
as she lived"
During his visit to Holyrood there was ter
rifle thunder storm, which not only added to
the respect he felt for tho lion railing round
the Queens furniture, hutprevented him from
seeing the blood stains in the bed chamber
through which the jealous husband ana MS
noble accomplces Dragged the dying Rizzio
from the ante-chamber. Through that room
they made their stealthy approach. through.
that room they dragged away the dying man,
plunglng their daggers into his body as they
went
Loeb Leven. with the ruins of the castle
where Mary was imprisoned, was shown in two
views by daylight and under a harvest moon,
The last scene being one actually witnessed by
the lecturer from the boat in the foreground;
the tact that NJ ,rS escaped over the lake Dy
night having induced him to float, over It's
waters for some hours all aloue.
Melrose Abbey was shown IN all the promi-
nent parts still remaining, by MONDAY, by sun
set, in summer and in winter; and lastly, as
Scott says it ought to be, viewed by moonlight.
Abbotsford with its interiors, showing the
hall the study, the room where Scott died was
made familiar to the pilgrims, and the noble
tale of the struggle to pay his creditors, In
which the poet and knight lost his life to save
his honor, was SO touchingy told that the liz
teners seemed to hear it for the first time
JEANNE Deans cottage and grave, Dryburg
Abbey and the grave and bust of Scott were
also strikingIeatureso OF the illustrations, which
were as creditable to the artist as the descrlp-
tioDs were 10 the lecturer.
The next lecture will be devoted to trip
"Down the Danube"