River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1888-06-07

ing seemed higher than that. Finally
to settle the question book was con-
suited and it was found that this little
island, which appeared little larger
| than good sized hay-stack, had the
impertinence TO be actually l,007 feet
high. After this experience, deter
mined to multiply my estimates of
heights and distances at sea by at least
ten before giving expression to any
opinion. However. this idea produced
no better results. | called one hill
5000 TT. high and found later on that
its height does not exceed 800 TT. One
might as well guess at heights with
his eyes closed, as to make estimates
from the appearance of things on the
ocean, at unknown distances. Such
attempts always remind me of the old
story, that you have all heard. about
the traveller in Colorado, who deter
mined to take little walk one morn.
ing to the foot of neighboring noun
tain, just to sharpen his appetite for
breakfast. and was found towards
evening still continuing the same little
walk, but preparing to swim across
creek not too wide for small boy to
jump over. Like many novice on
the ocean. he had lost faith in the ac-
curacy of his visual perceptions.
Passing this island on our right hand,
the steamer continued its course to the
northeast, and soon rounded the south
eastern coast of Arran island, rocky
piece of land, of fairly large dimen-
sions, kept, l believe, as hunting
ground by some Scotch uobleman.
Here, for the first time, many of us
beheld real mountain, reaching the
dignity of an elevation of 5000 feet.
Heavy cumulus-like clouds, draped
with impenetrable pure white folds,
were slowly pushing their way over
its summit, and hid its black head
from view. Not tree or brush, nor
even the semblance of any sod was
visible anywhere along the whole of
this bold and rocky coast. Only
green tinge that spread itself like
thin. transparent veil over the black,
hard surface, attested the presence of
some slight degree of vegetation. On
the other side of the Firth of Clyde,
which we had now entered, and
stretching along the shore for many "a
furlong lies the town of Ayr, the home
of the poet Burns. The sight of this
place, famous because of its illustrious
citizen. brought to mind many of his
best loved passages, some of which
were recited feelingly by his admirers
on board the vessel. We were now
rapidly approaching the most interest
ing portion of our journey, the passage
up the Clyde. Much discussion had
taken place during an earlier period of
the trip as to the comparative merits
of the beauties of the Hudson and of
the Clyde. Various conflicting Opin-
ions had been produced in reference
to the subject. A few travellers per-
sisted that the Hudson had claims to
superiority, but the majority, by many,
pronounced the Clyde much the more
beautiful. Those of us who had seen
only the Hudson, from mixture of
reasons, among which pride of coun-
try counted heavily, were inclined to
be very skeptical concerning the
claims made in favor of the Clyde, and
stoutly refused to believe that any
river could be more beautiful than our
own beautiful Hudson. The question,
however, was soon settled when we
caught sight of that magnificent view
that gradually unrOlls to the voyager
like q panorama of fairy land, as he
moves along between those lovely
banks. Upon the boldest, seemingly
inaccessible cliffs appears the ruins of
chapels, and once all but unimpregna-
BILE castles of the middle ages. For
centuries, the rains and storms have
beaten down upon them, and little by
little have worn away their hard ma
terial, until now only few crumbling
walls remain, mute witnesses OF the
stern and unyielding hand of time.
Scotland in fact is one of the note
worthy countries of picturesque old
ruins and places associated with TO-
mantle legends. There are few prom
inent positions, or especially lovely
spots that are not invested with an
added charm by the presence of some
old ruins, or are made doubly interest
ing and attractive by the fact of their
connection with some historic event.
Nor indeed are new and beautiful
buildings wanting. Upon the higher
attitudes have been erected costly and
magnificent summer resorts that beam
down upon the traveller with such an
inviting halo of quiet rest and COM
fort. From advantageous positions
curious lighthouses meet the travel
er's view. Near by, surrounded by
high stone wall, approachable only
from the water, stands the equally
curious dwelling place of the keeper.
On every hand, many hundred feet
above. a ceaseless variety Of freakish
contortions of nature is scattered
about. A beautiful and charming
vegetation, looking as fresh and green
in that moist climate as if it had but
yesterday sprung out of the ground,
adds ali inexpressible enhancement to
the lovely scene. In my opinion the
CLYDE is certainly much more beautl-
full than the Hudson. On both rivers
experienced little of the discomfort
and repressive influence OF rain.
However l saw all of the Hudson
worth seeing and really only small
portion of the Clyde, yet what little |
saw of the latter has no equal coun-
terpart anywhere on the Hudson.
Naturally it Tained when we APP
preached Greenock. | say natural
ly' because the people of Glasgow
affirm that it rains thirteen months in
the year at Greenock. The rain seemed
certainly natural enough for the
place, and naturally" continued all
day, which naturally" makes me be.
lieve the statement has solid founda-
ton. What fine country that neigh
borhood must be for ducksl Soon
after we arrived, the custom-house
officers made their appearance. Gus
tom-house officers are disagreeable fel.
lows at any time and any where, but
they could scarcely have bounced
down on the passengers of the AnchO-
ria at a more disagreeable time or
place. The trunks had to be taken out
upon deck, and their owners were
compelled to travel about in the rain
to properly expose their contents TO
the inspection of these officials. One
box. evidently containing only kitchen
utensils. had to be opened and smashed
to make sure that German lady,
steerage passenger, did not import
bombs or smuggle silk costumes
through England. They seemed to
take a special interest in ladies' pos.
sessions and no doubt were delighted
with the amount of useless annoyance
they managed to cause. Uncle Sans
English mag occasionally be of service
in the matter of aiding the dispatch
of business incumbent IpOu these fell
l. 20,