Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-09-20
MILDRED RussELLS LETTER.
suxxExiSe IN SCOTLAND.

ursvw. sAsss,ss scssrsA scesevs--a ROACH
ysvsuss Eiahiand Games = The swerS'
paurs end she rus 81 war. .
sapecsal correspondents OF the Dispatch
FoRFARsHfRE. SCOTLAND,
August "a, 1888.
Our route from London lay past some
Of the cathedral towns, though from
the railway little can be seen Of the
buildings themselves except the general
effect Of outline and position. We saw
peterboro' with its renowned facade,
York towering up in pride at holding
the first place in Gothic architecture,
and Durham well planted on rock
aide BY side with the castle and show
ing It's steady line Of Norman arches.
On we 70 northward, catching sight oc.
cssionaIly Of the German ocean, then
We cross the border between Scotland
and England, now we'll defined, but for
ages possessed Of q vsgueness that
could never be reduced to precision by
tho fiercest of fights. Then we rush
through Edinburgh, its castle soaring
aloft into the gray clouds, and its pal
zee bringing up more romantic aud
tender thoughts than almost any other
tourist visited spot. We stop at Perth,
suggestive in name Of the fair maid, but
in reality an unintcresting ntilitarlan
: place; . great railway centre, with q
big station, where innumerable trains
20 in and out, and where confusion
reigns sopreme half Of the time and
dull WEAKNESS the other half. A
abort stretch further brings us into
Forfarshire. When we first arrived We
noticed . great change in the tempera-
turc, as compared with London. twas
many degrees colder. and winter cloth
ing had TO be exhumed. We delighted
in the late, long twilights, which ena-
bled us to dispense with artificial light
till after 10 o'clock, and brought re-
aewed day at 3 in the morning. Most
Of us ignored the latter, but we oil
took pleasure in knowing the fact in
our slumbering consciousness.
GROUsE-sH0OTINa.
The main attraction to men OF leisure
and wealth in Scotland is the grouse
shooting, and so popular is this amuse-
meDt that the best moors are let at
fabulous prices. The grouse thrive
only on the heather in the uninhabited
wild parts Of the country, so it often
happens that the shooting-boxes have
no gardens, and stand isolated and miles
away from village or post-ofiice. Some
houses have, however. fine gardens,
lawns, and every convenience, in which
case the sportsmen have to ride three
or four miles, or further, before
they come to the best OF the
shooting. The 18th of August is
the day for the grouse-shooting
to begin, and the migration northward
from London and other parts of Eng
land the week before is enormous and
necessitates extra trains to carry the
passengers and their belongings. Prl-
dent people engage their places six
weeks in advance, so rs to be sure Of |
coming without any serious delay. |
am told the railway companies give
notice that they do not guarantee bring
ing those people who have not taken
this precaution during the last few days |
preceding the 18th Of August. Dogs,
horses, and baggage in untold quantities
choke up stations and trains, and din
and chaos take the place Of the usual
good order. August 10Th and 9th were
wet and windy this year, and very dis
appointing to sportsmen, as the birds
were so wild there was no getting near
them. and fewer were shot on those
days than for many years past. Since
then the weather has been exceptionally
fine, so that on the whole, it is one OF
the good seasons, and large bags have
been made in many places.
HIGHLAND GAMES.
Highland games are celebrated in
different parts Of the country at this
season Of the year, when the short
Scotch summer is at its height and all
the local magnates are at home. At
Bramar, near the Queens residence,
Balmoral, Aberdeenshire, there was an
unusually large gathering, as it was
looked upon in some degree as suita-
bic moment to give n welcome to the
Princess Beatrice on her first visit to
Scotland after her marriage. We went
TO the games at Glen lsla, and were
very much amused.
In Scotland the word glen is applied
to the long drawn-out valleys between
the ridges Of the moors or mountains,
where the land is capable Of more or
less cultivation. The northern part of
Forfarshire abounds IN glens formed by
the outly ing spurs Of the Grampian
mountains, which gradually become
lower as they are further from the
main chain. In the large glens farms
and fields of grain and meadows lie
stream flows, containing trout and
sometimes salmon. lnthe smaller ones
q tiny brook trichles, and shepherds
cottage stands with patch Of attempt
ed garden. Glen lsla is one Of the
large glens, and has villages Of some
size and long stretch Of cultivated
country. The Highland Society here
was instituted thirty years ago to aid
in keeping up the language, games,
music, and dress of the Highlanders.
ROUGH JOURNEY.
We had heard them SO much spoken
ofthat, undismsyed by the length OF the
way and its other difficulties, We deter
mined on attending them. We left at s
O'Clock after an early breakfast, our
eavalcade consisting of q four-wheeled
dog cart and five horses, and our route
was across the moors, where We were
told no such thing as iour-wheeled
carriage could 90. We were obliged TO
have y carriage, as some Of our party
declined to struggle with the moor
ponies.
All went well for the FIRST few min
utes, and every one thought the diff
cuities had been overrsted, and that
there were too many gillies, and that
they would be in each others way, and
that they would have nothing to do.
No sooner had we left the private
grounds than trouble began. The road
was upside down and full Of holes and
ruts and hillocks. and two Of the ladies