The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1886-03-25

, are pointed out. il requirss iAast effort
the imagination 10 visv hes shia sho
!. ont around the pronoutosy. While 81
|. stands.
!. with locks dung back end lips apsr
Like monuments Of 0resiae part"
We make tho landing IL ! re1aic bow,
! and dash on behind spirissd ssso6s sbrous
the Wild region Of the Trssaehs. shich.
III be not real. il n sxssllsat initstio
Of Nature. for We are TOLD - God asthoi
isy that these forests wers plAnloa By han
aud this irregularisy and tangls ee ioiiss
is . triumph Of Art
Past Lochs Achrsy and vsansohas. v
soon reach Csllander and sftsr bsiei rid
BY cars ind ourselves rssting for The nigh
under the shadow Of Stirling Castle. Wis
ion Of Fitz james. the Douglas. md Rod
erick Dhu minsle 10 our drsamA and /,
the morning we seek the precipitious rocl
aud find ourselves surrounded by relics o
medieval timss. In certain respects Il
nassies resemble each other. There !
eeneralIya more or lsss sircuitous ap-
proach; m esplanade whers groups OF sol
diers stand idly about or sunmit 70 daily
drill; the moat. consisting Of : dry ditch
some twenty feet in depth; the drawbridge
which in case Of the approach Of an enemy
can be removed, thus preventing access V
the castle except from across the moat
and in martial times is filed with water
the gateways -sometimes have counted
as many % five TO . single castle before
the interior WAS gained; the portculli
which varies somewhat. but retains the
same general idea Of defence. sometimes
consisting Of gate made BY timbers cross
ing each other. with sharp iron spikes d
the bottom, which was let down above il
grooves made for II; and sometimes
through openings overhead melted lead
was poured on an enemy. Another poin1
Of resemblance is that they are always To-
Gated on high bluff or precipice which
on one side, is Of itself sufficient means
defence.
Stirling Castle being the first We visited.
was regarded with lively interest, and its
history is not that Of any other. The Pal
ace Of James V. and the Parliamentary
buildings are now used as barracks for
soldiers, while stained glass has recently
been presented by Queen Victoria for the
Douglas room, in memory Of the tragedy
which was enacted there in 1852.
From the esplanade We have q view oi
the Royal Garden and the singular mound
called the Kings Knot. laid out in imita-
tion Of the Round Table Of Arthur and
his knights. A magnificent statue Of Rob-
ert Bruce overlooks the scene OF his glo-
rious victory, and at the distance Of . mile
and half stands Abbey Craig, surmoun-
ted by the Scottish baronal tower Of Viii.
liam Wallace. A trAmway takes us through
the quiet valley and We stand ct the foot
OF the overhsnging cliff. The ascent is
made easy for both carriages and footmen
by . smooth, well-traveled road, which
winds about from base 70 summit, shaded
with forest trees and provided with fire.
quen. seats for the refreshment Of pedes-
trians The square tower consists Of three
inclosed chambers, one above the other,
the outward appearance being very unique
and affording at its summit large
open space, commanding one Of the finest
views in Scotland. Along the west
stretches the vale Of Monteith, bounded
by the Highland mountains, Ben Lomond,
Ben Venue, Ben A'an, its highest peak
covered with snow, Ben Ledi, Ben Voir.
Itch and Uam Var. To the lar east are the
Ochil bills, where the different clans ONCE
waged continual warfare, either with .
common enemy or with each other, while
to the north the river Forth meanders
through the fertile country with many
graceful curve and winding sweep, ever
broadening as 1t runs, until Ut last, its
whole course visible, it enters the sea. On
south, six miles distant, but distinctly in
sight, stands the solitary flag staff which
marks the bottle field Of Bsnnockburn,
and at our feet the lone beIl-tower, which
is oil that remains of Csnibuskenneth Alb
bey, once covering seven acres Of ground,
and containing the mortal remains Of many
OF Scotlsnd's kings and queens, where
Robert Bruce summoned . national coun-
Gil in 1926. placing the Burgess class on
an equality with the mobiles and giving
them the control Of taxation. A little fer.
ther off stands the castle, the town, the
Bridge OF Allen. And the very nation
that reared this magnificent structure
to the memory OF William Wallace once
sent back bis lacerated body in defiance to
these brave Highlanders. History not on
ly respeats itself, but as often reverses its
own decisions. Associations back OF
William Wallace and Robert Bruce, back
OF Julius Agricola aud the nrst Roman in-
vasion crowd upon us. Who that has once
stood upon this eminence and beheld the
natural beauty Of . landscape fair Is any
that mortal ever looked upon, and has re-
flected that this valley before him, now so
peaceful with the pursuit OF agriculture
and the hum Of trade. has Witnessed the
march Of armies, the clangor Of battle, the
pride and pomp Of royal paseants; and
that most Of the actors In these changing
scenes. now lie side by side 10 the repose
from which there is no awakening in this
world, can ever forget the endless charm
Of associations connected with the plain Of
Stirling? KAG
A Lawyers smart Clerk
a. a a -