Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-11-08

Il
Kirriemuir, At which place we nave
friends. 30 we decided on attending y.
The town is on the terminus OF . snof.
branch line about ten miles long, ana
Is At some distance from the moorlands'
and pretty level for Scotland. II 10
painfully drcary little town OF aoou.
5000 inhabitants. and traveller could
easily imagine that nothing specially
interesting could come out OF 1t. Yet
Il boasts Of producing some we'll
known people, the present Dean
Of Ripon being one and the
immediate ancestors Of 7. Stewart
Mill are others. At the ceremony OF
opening the bazaar minister OF ones
OF the local churches said Q prayer, the
/" Old Hundredth was sung; after
which local magnate made speech
and declared the bazaar open. We
spent an hour looking at the things for
sale, which were Of the ordinary type
on such occasions, and from which
$4,000 were eventually cleared. A
handsome folding-screen, about six feet
high. of dark maroon plush, embroider-
ed with passion flowers in very pale
shades. was considered the gem of the
collection, both as to design and work
manship.
INTERESTING CEREMONY.
After leaving the bazaar we went to
see the foundation-stone laid for the
new building, and had just taken our
places on the platform when the pro-
cession, which included most Of the
operatives at work in Kirriemuir, ar
rived. They displayed the emblems OF
their calling. The stone-cutters came
in a cart and were at work. The IRON
workers carried models of their imple-
ments and work. The shoemakers and
weayers brought theirs, and a number
of factory-girls, bareheaded and with
white aprons on, closed this part oil
the procession. A volunteer regiment
followed, truly with striking absence
of anything warlike about it. Then
came the ornamental part in the shape
of 300 Freemasons collected from all
parts of the world, but the palm as to
sppearance remaining with home mem
Der, Lord Haddington. Sir Archibald
Campbell was at their head and laid the
stone. the Masonic brethren standing
round him, creating fine show in their
full dress Of green silk, gold chains, and
Jewels. lie made a sensible address as
TO the destined use Of the building to the
people, who were choking up the ends of
the three streets near which the plat
form was placed. The only unusual
appearance in the assembly was the
three or four hundred factory-girls
standing compactly together listening
TO the speaker and presenting sea
of serious, wondering faces. There
was fair amount of cheering,
the people at the edge of the crowd
coming in Justify as compensation for
not being able to hear word of the
speakers. The master put series of
questions to those brethren who were
the keepers of the jewels, asking the
Office Of the plumb, the rule, and the
square, and receiving the appropriate
answers. The casket placed under the
stone contained copies of the local pa
pers, photographs of the plans of the
new hall, and the certificate of the at
filiation to the Kirriemuir Masonic
Lodge of gentleman who has greatly
aided the building; then wine and oil
were poured on the top of the stone, a
prayer said, hymn sung, and the cere-
mony was completed.
TREACHERoUs WEATHER.
At this season the weather has its
most treacherous character. One day
is magni6cently fine and almost warm
at noon, and the next it is either pour
ing in torrents or is Of that debatable
kind which different nations would ex-
plain differently. Americans would
call it wet, while the Scotch would de-
clare it only "nae muckle" fine. Our
way of life has entirely changed
within the last two weeks, owing
, to autumn having set in and
, our having to accommodate our
selves to the weather. Our straw
berries tried to give a summer air to
our table till the Goth Of September,
but most Of the flowers were so nipped
with the frost that our main decora-
tons have had to consist Of ferns
found in sheltered hooks, and ivy-leayes
with serious inroads made on the green
house plants. The wet and dreary
: days now, if they have not monopoly
4 have at least more than their share, and
: we have to devote ourselves to indoor
< pursuits in a steadier fashion than We
' relish, after having almost lived
: on the moors OF in the woods and gar
dens. We did not take kindly t
battling with smoky chimneys, though
: we had to buckle to with will to avoiC
being suffocated. The house has thu
q advantage of being protected, excep
: due south, and on that side the shell
$ tering woods are high up and at a dis
G lance, and give US what we are please'
0 to call our Swiss view. This protection
e is purchased at the expense Of the wine
J, swooping down the chimneys on
y windy day to such an extent that a
= first it created general CONSERVATION
y among us.
Il, FIGHTING SMOKE.
. By dint Of learning which windoV
: and which door to leave open, according
, TO the direction Of the ward, we hav
y conquered the nuisance, and if there
y little too much draught OF a damp
y drizzling day, we console ourselve
= with remembering that we came t
y Scotland for the fresh air, and it woul
ie be a pity to shut it all out. The fin
. DAYS in between the bad ones are mira
- cles of fneness. The moors near u
- seemed to have moved nearer togethe
y and to have softened down all thei
a gloom and harshness; the light an
~ shadow melt into each other, an
=, every yestige of their solemnity
- - gone. They are like frail humanit
" preparing to have its picture takeI
~ ~. decking itself in most attractive guis
~ and laying aside every frown. The so
~ here counteracts some of the unplea
|" antness Of the Scotch weather, as
soaks up the rain very quickly, and \
~