The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1884-07-05
In Foreign Lands.
From our own Correspondent.

90 Welt 1t by the pale moons lght,n
I wrote Sir Walter Scott in his matchless
description of Melrose Abbey by moon
light to be found in the second eanto OF
his Lay ofthe Last MINSTREL" but prob
ably lot one tourist In hundred is SO
favored and at the time of our visit we
were compelled to content ourself with
the rich glow Of the twilight which makes
it possible to read ordinary print at 10 100
p. M, IN the summer time and Is as near
an approach to moonlight as could be
obtained. 1t requires no brilliant imag-
ination, however, to see that ia the soft
IL Iht of the summer moon, these ruins
must be indescribably beautiful,
Melrose Abbey was founded in 1136
but was destroyed by the English and re-
built III the 18th century. 1t is located
In the village of Melrose, Just at the foot
OF the Elldon II lis; which, according TO
the legend, were 'cleit in three" by the
power ofa fnmiliar demon, under con.
troll OF Michael Scott, the wizard. The
entrance Is not "by steel clenched pos
tern door" but by an iron gate at the
west end Of the grounds, where the fee
for admission is collected. The ruin is
complete. 1t is totally unoccupied and
the roof has nearly all fallen; but enough
remains of its walls and arches to show
its wondrous architecture and to give
some idea of what its beauty must ave
been before the hand of time and the
nj of the reformers of the 10th century
I'd crumbled its "massy nave" and de-
Str 'yed nearly all of its images, The
III u as it now stands is 25S feet in length
and IS feet in breadth. with transept
13O feet in length and A feet in breadth
Toe western end of the nave is entirely
gone. but large portion of the wall OF
the south aisle with several chapels still
remain. The eastern portions of the
ai,les, together with part of the chancel
and the eXtremities of the transept, are
coYerel by the original groined roof and
exhibit beauty of design and delicacy
of carving which is unsurpassed. The
tall, slender columns, which ''seemed
bundles Of lances which gnrlands had
bound,' with their graceful. pointed
arches ana their beautifully carved capi-
tails, render it easy TO accept the theory
that the Gothic style of architecture wgs
originally an imitation in stone of those
forest temples in which the columns were
formed of clusters of saplings bound to-
gether, with their branches interviewer
to form the roof. The principal remain.
ing entrance 20 the Abbey Il through
fine Gothic doorway. just beneath the
great south window in the transept. This
window is "a by 16 feet and its mullious
aad tracery are in complete state OF
preservation. Just above its arch is
niche which once held figure of Christ. |
The six oles on either side being filled |
with fgsle' of the apostles. The great
east winCow is, however, the grandest |
feature Of the ruin, either from tho in |
terier or exterior. Ii is thirty.seven feet
high and sixteen feet broad and its tall.
slender mulllons aud light tracery are
best described in Sir Walter Scotts
lines:
Thou would'st have thought some fairy's
hand,
Twist , popiars straight the osier wand
IN many freakish knot had twined;
Then framed spell when the work was done
ANA Changed the willow wreaths to stone"
Within the chNucel are buried many of
ocotland's gallant sons, including men,
bers Of the families of Douglas, Scott
and others. Here the heart of Bruce is
said to have at last found a resting place
Alter the failure of his friend, the Doug.
las, to carry it TO Palestine. A fiat, mossy
stone is reputed to be the tomb of the
wizard, Michael Scott, the weird des-
'rlption Of whose funeral may be found
n SCOTS Lay of the Last Minstrel"
The cloisIers were originally north of
he nave, but only seven Of the seats re.
main. The arches and the frie2e are ex-
luisitely carved, in imitation of plants,
lowers, etc, no two Of the many designs
being alike.
y do love these ancient ruins.
W never tread upon them but We set
JuT lonl upon some reverend history;
nj questunless, here in these omen courts
" hiuh NOW lie naked to the injuries
~ oIhy weather, some men lie inferred |
" no loved tke church So well and ,-ave so
largely To IL, ,
That they thought Il should hnve caponiad
their bones
Forever, but all things have an end.
OAuI'hes ana cities, that have diseases like
to men,
Must have like death that we have"
From Melrose to Abbottsfora is about ,
hree miles. the road being bordered by
hedges and passing through delightful
country AIbottsfoFd is now the prop
srty OF Mr. Hope Scott, who married the
of Sir Walter. Il ir-
'egular in construction, having been
Juilt at different times, without auv
complete architectural plan. The gen 1
'ral effect, however. ia good, the gables !
spires turrets and pinnacles being piled ,
n admirable confusion. The visitor is
lrst shown Into Sir Walters study. where
most OF bis literary work was done It
$ small room, fitted up with shelving !
ma lined with books on three sides. apd
It'll contains his writing table aud chair
The library is the largest and most eie.
'ant OF the rooms, It's ceiling is elabor- 4
'telY carved in oak and the cases on the /
walls contain about 20 600 volumes. The q
'rmoTy is entered from the vestibule and
3 literally filed with weapons Of various +