Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-11-01
MILDRtD RUSSELL'S LETTER
MORE ABOUT SCOTLAND.

The counties OF rOIlhI hhu hOei"VO"
io;n. and the British Association, being
assembled at our neighboring county
town. has thrown a scientific vapor
around US for the time being. Calling one
day on a distant acquaintance we fouhd
ia the drawing-room two large bowls
| filled with the tiniest creatures aud plants
that had been taken from bog to gra-
tlfy the examining instincts of distin-
gnishcd and well-known naturalist.
There was also apiece of graystone with
little holes in it, picked up accidentally
in walk. on which we were told were
some mites eggs, and on putting
il under the microscope we saw
cluster of five speckled eggs and in
Vulnerable rocky chasms and noun
tains, resembling a telescope view Of
/ the moon.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES.
! Forfarshire contains some Of the most
celebrated botanical hunting-grounds IN
Great Britain, which are every year
visited by many professional plant
/ gatherers, who, it is said, have OF late
/ years made devastating inroads on
Glens Clova, Doll, and Lee, where the
best specimens are to be had. On ac-
count of depredations and Objectionable
behavior of tourists and others, one Of
the landed proprietors in the county has
endeavored to shut off right of way
through his estate, and has drawn on
himself much unfayorable comment.
lie complains bitterly, however, of the
disturbance created in his deer forest,
and declares that the pleasure of his
residence in the country and his stalk
ing are entirely marred by these inter
lopers.
We still continue our pic-nics. One
was made in company with genial and
successful artist, who could not resist
making sketches Of the lovely spot
where we rested. While looking over
his shoulder painting seemed the easiest
and most fascinating amusement in the
world. which was scarcely borne out
by experience when the amateurs set to
work.
A FINE FIELD FOR ARTISTS.
No country can offer more tempting
ground than this in the way of hills,
trees, running brooks, and a variety of
coloring in sober tones. In some parts
there are castles and ruins, grateful to
the artistic eye, but these are local,
and it is in the department Of pure
nature that its general charm to the
painter lies. Cattle and sheep are
marked atures in the lOwland land
scape the former have no horns, are
black and thick-Set, and have no special
gifts of rapid locomOtion, while the
Sheep all have twisted horns and are
surprisingly agile.
The Scotch must have been essen
italy a fighting race in times gone by,
as all their stories turn on feuds and
sieges and blood-shedding, and all the
old buildings are in some way con-
nected with the grimmest of episode.
Many of the castles built centuries
back and still existing, though modified
from fortresSes to family residences,
show by their position and architec-
ture that they were put up with the
intention of going through deadly strug-
giles.
BEAUTIFUL HOUSES.
There are numberlesS beautiful houses
belonging to private gentlemen through
out Scotland which furnish evidence Of
/ cultivated and artistic taste that has en-
dured for centuries. In one We saw
many interesting pictures, and among
them Mary Collctte, made celebrated in
our day by Shorthouse in his novel of
John Inglesant." There was
specimen of her skill in needle-wOrk
in the shape of a miniature Of
/ Charles l., of England, embroid-
cred in silk, the lace collar in it
being of marvellous fneness, and as if
stitched by fairy hands, though proba-
bly, the deep and expressive blue eyes
were the most difficult to execute. At
another house we saw a modern fold
ing screen, embroidered by an elderly
lady who had been a fashionable belle
in her youth. 1t would challenge com
petition on the score Of good taste in
any part of the world. 1t was made
Of gray linen, with a running pattern
Of creeping plants and flowers in diff
ferent shades of old China blue silk.
MISUNDERSTANDING.
Another day we received an invita-.
ton from some neighbOrs on the next
shooting to join their party, who were
going after ptarmigan on one of thelI
moors, which lies 5000 feet high. The
invitation was conditional one as to
date and to depend on the weather and
the north wind, owing to the position
Of the moor. Wind and weather being
favorable for the first day that wa,
fixed, we dressed ourselves in very
warm clothing for the time of year, &C.
cording to advice given us, and drove
over to our neighbOrs' by a short cut
Of three miles, and arrived at 1920.
; From there we started on ponie.
+ for our expedition, our party be.
ing made up Of seven guns, six on.
. lockers -four Of whom were ladies'
= twenty gillies, and couple of pack.
ponies carrying the luncheon and the
extra wraps. Getting off was, a;
usual, rather an affair, though our host;
5 were ready and waiting for us &; but We
Y managed it without any unreasonable
5 delay. Some of the party were not ia
miliar with moor ponies, and were
$ rather anxious as to their behavior
= others were bent little too much or
n managing them. These ponies are il
: reality the safest Of creatures, and, i
they occasionally stumble, they picl
themselves up again at once. They are
dreadfully iard-mouthed and obstinate
u and if they take it into their heads tc
C 60 in one direction, they are apt to Dc
so, whatever may be the rider,
wishes on the subject. They get into
this habit from being allowed to fine
d their own way, as they can tell by tn
g scent, it is said, where the boys are bet
ter than human beings can. One Of thu
n strangers in the party was determined
to insist on managing his steed accord
ing to his own ideas on the subject, ant
a