The daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1889-1890, 1889-08-04

Near the foot of Loeb katrlne the
islands close in so as almost to close the
tortunus little channel, and here is the
eXqui. ite "Ellen's Isle" rendered famous
i'll "The Lady of the Lake" as the home
of the sweetheart of Roderck Dhu; and
passing it all too swiftly we reach an
other portage, with numerous coaches,
on which we are quickly mounted and
speeding away through the Trossachs
proper-a wild and picturesqucmo
gorge, the soil apparently fertile and
clothed in the very richest of ferns and
grasses, and the growth of oak, holly,
birch, etc, stinted i'll size again reminds
us of the top of grand old Craggy. Only
here the gorge widens out repeatedly into
very gems of lakes of crystal water. ON
the banks of one of which stands the
Trossachs hotel. Perfectly exquisite is
all we can say of it. Exterior of solid
stone, corners groined with rough un-
hewn boulderS, while the interior is char
acterizcd in all respects with the same
solid air of comfort which docs not fail
to reach even the lunch which is SO bOun-
tifully provided, and we are enabled to
understand for the first time the feelings
OF the immortal Sum Weller when he said ,
"Weal pic is a VERY good thing"
While enjoying our coach ride we are
struck with many characteristic points
which we would like to refer to, but can
not find enough of either paper, ink or
time. One, however, we must remark
upon-thc air Of digniicd poitcncss
whiCl. pcrvades all around us. For in
stance, we pass a magnificent stretch OF
mountain meadow, extending as far as
we can sec, and literally covered with the
very finest sheep and cows, and OIir eye
is caught by this notice: "PCrSonS dcSil-
ing to pass through these lands in their
ascent of Ben Lide arc politely requested
to restrain their dogs from annoying the
sheep and cows. Beyond this no rcstric-
ton whatever is placed to their cn-
trance" Rather different to our grull
American Keep off! Trespasscrs prose
cutcd to the fullest extent of the law ~
We commend the Scotch plan to our pco-
pie, with the hope that following the cX-
ample of his courtesy, they may be able
to approximate his thrift.
Our delightful coach ride Of nine miles
lands us at Calidon, a railway station.
whence we are quickly whllcd past the.
old church of Dunblanc. and many other
points we hated to lose, to the renowned
city of Stirling, at approaching which we
by the kind advice of sweet
Scotch lassic, take a horse car
and from the deck seat receive a view
of an exquisite part of the city which we
would otherwise have lost, passing near
the foot Of "Wallace monument" with
which the English nation at this late
day acknowledges the virtues of the
hero whom it hanged, drew and quar-
tered" in its beastly vulgarity of former
years. Worthily and honestly has the
error been acknowledged, and this turrct-
topped monument, on top of Abbey
Craig, hill five hundred feet almost
perpendicular height, is Il Crcditablc dis
play of their national frankncss.
Our special ride also gives us an excel.
lent view of the old bridge of Sterling
which spans the river Forth with spans
of arches, most graceful i'll design, and
evidentlp destined to give proof to future
generations of the taithfulncss with which
the public works of their ancestors were
performed.
At rather late hour in the afternoon
we reach Stirling and walk upa steer
hill towards the renowned castle, taking
en- route the old Grey Friars church
which our guide informs us was the
place of coronation, both of Mary
Queen of Scots, and King James VI; but
as the guide did not get as much as ht
expected from us, we are inclined tC
think he measured his truth according to
his estimate of his fee, and told us false
in both instances. However this may
be, we enjoyed both the quaint ole
church, surrounded by historical dwell
ings OF Darnley, and several other hus
bands of her bloody majesty who de
lighted i'll blowing up her mates as mucl
as our wife does, only in a more pursua
sivc and matter of fact manner Ant
also we enjoyed the old Grey Friar,
graveyard, in which is My Lady's Seat
a craig which is said to have been uSct
as place for artillery in one of the at
tackS on the ncighboring castle.
In this churchyard we, as usual, see ;
very funny epitaph which we cannot fai
to give you.
our life is but winter day,
Some only breakfast and away,
Others to dinner stay,
And are full fed
The oldest man but sups und goes to bed
Large is his debt
| That fingers out the day,
| lie that goes soonest
Has the least to pay"
Even while pondcring over this ant
wondering how much we may have t
pay, we arrive at the IIsplanadc, and ell
10y a view of Abbey Craig, which is SUI
mounted by WallaCcs monument q
which we spoke, and even lean against
gigantic statue of the great King Rol
, crt the Bruce, i'll which his immcns
l strength is well dclincatcd.
l Another portion of the panoram
: spread before us presents Il ruinou
tower, which marks the place of burr;
, of King James III, who was asSaSsinatc
+ mcanly near by after receiving Il woun
$ by his falling horse.
+ Over the old draw bridge we walk an
pass through where the old port Gull
D used to drop, guarded now by It higl
| land regiment, gOrgcouSly apparellcd
: common plaid, with Sporran apron
| and hats, such as would delight our boy
!, heart, made of bear skin, of huge diner
II sions and tails innumcrablc iloatin
Il about the wearcrs eyes i'll a most cXa
perating manner.
:, Around the outer wall is q small hOl
c which we are told marks the ladies vicV
( where the danes used to peep through ;
?, the tournaments of their lcigc lords c
II the plain far below. Also from here v
r see plainly the distant field of Bannoc
e burn, and the hills over which the gilli
S rushed so opportunely for Scotland, al
$ made the great Edward believe thu
were a reinforcement of Bruce's smi
\ army.
\, How we longed for as many days
St we had hours to spend here, but stern
id tore ourselves away to visit the Don
'e lass Chamber, in which one of that
nous class was stabbed to death by |
of monarch James II, in the year 1852.
pr Tho al rpOn hnvinr bCeu alma