New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-09-21
PICTURES OF SCOTLAND.
A JOURNEY IN THE HIGHLANDS.
VIEW OF THE FORTH OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
AND QUEEN NARGARET-STORM IN THE
MoUNrAINS-A RAINY SAIL ON
LOCU KATRlNE.


MoUNrAINs-A RAINY SAIL ON
LoCu KATRINE.
Stronachlachcr, Loeb katrine Sept J.
No one needs to he told that the Forth BrIdse
Is q wonder. All the world knows 1t. and knows
TINT the art Of the engineer has in this acnleveo
its masterpiece. The bridge is not beautiful,
whether viewed from afar or close at hand. You
see it-or some part of it-from every helght 10
which you mount in Edinburgh. II is visible
from the Cation Hill, from the Nelson Column,
from the Scott Monuncnt. from the ramparts OF
the Castle, from Salisbury Crag. from the Braid
Hills. and Of course from the great eminence OF
Arthurs Seat Other objects Of interest there are
which seek the blissful shade, but the Forth
bridge Is an object Of interest that insists upon
being SEEN The visitor 10 the shores OF the
Forth need rot mount any height In order to per-
ceive it. for all along those shores, from Darlcton
70 Lcith and from Ellie to Burntisland, it continu-
lilly comes into the picture. While. however, it
il not beautiful, it imprcsses the observer with
sense of colossal masni6cence 1t is more tsi-
umphant structure even than the Eilel Tower,
and 1t prcdominatcs over the vision and the
Imagination by tho same audacity Of purpose and
the same oonsummate fulfilment which mark that
other marvel and establish it in universal admira-
ton. Crossing the bridge at an carly hour this
morning deeply telt its superb potentiaIty and
was charmed likewise with its pictorial effect.
This effect is doubt due in part to its acccsso-
ries Both ways the broad expanse Of the Forth
was visible for many miles. II was stu morn
ing overcast and mourIful, but as yet dry. There
was a light breeze from the soutbeast,-the or ut
that elevation being as sweet as rew milk. 10
meath, far down, tho surface Of the stecl-eray
water was oripkled like the scaly back Of fsh.
Midway . uttk island reors its spine of rock out
Of the stream. Westward at some distance rises
q boulder, on which is tiny lighthouse tower.
painted red. The long, graceful stone piers that
strctoh into The Forth at this point,-wblch are
breakwaters to form harbor,-and all the little
gray houses Of Queensfcrry and 1nverkeithing,
and the adjacent villages looked like the toy build
ings which are the paythinSs of children.
small steamboat was making her way up the
river, while near the shores were many small
boats swinging at their moorings; for the tusi-
ness Of the day was not yet begun. Over this
scene the scarce-risen sun, much obscured by dull
clouds, cast O faint rosy highland even while
the picture was at its hest We ghdcd away from
it into the storied land Of Fife.
In former days the traveller to Stirling COM
monty went by the way of Linlithgow. which is
was oil the more prompted to think Of that en-
chanting woman because he usually caught
glimpse of the ruins of Niddry Castle-onc OF the
houses of her faithful Lord Seyton-at which she
rested on the romantic and memorable occasion
OF her flight from Loeb Lcven. Now. since the
Forth Bridge has been opened, the shortest aud
most direct route to Stirling is BY Dunfermlne.
And it is q gain, for Dunfermlpe is one of the
NEST interesting places in Scotland. That Nal
colin of whom we catch glimpse when VIC sec
. representation Of Shakespeare tragedy Of Mac
birth" had royal castle there, nine hundred years
o2o, Of which fragment still remains; and on
slope to the Forth, few miles west from Dun
feSplirc, the viguant antiquarian has fixed tie
site Of Macduf's castle. where Lady Macdun and
her children slaughtered by the tyrant.
In the ancient church at Dunfermline, the Church
ii the Holy Xrtnity-devastated OF the Ref ;rlna-
ton, but since then restored--you may sec the
great bluc-gray stone which covers the tonb of
Malcolm and Of Margaret lis quccn-an angel
among women when she lived, and worthy to I've
remembered now the saint that her Church
las made her. The body Of Margaret, who died
ut Edinburgh Castle, November 10, l0o3, was
secretly and hastily conveyed to Dun1err'liDe. and
there buried, Edinburgh Castle e. Tic Maiden
Castle" il WIS then called, being ass2ilcd br her
iris noble aud devoted woman, however. do no.
rest in that tomb, for long. a,tcrward, at the
Reformation, they were taken away, and after
various wanderipys were ershrincd AZ the Church
OF St. Laurence III the Escurial at Madrid had
often stood in the lite chapel that this good
queen founded In Edinburgh Castc-a place which
they desccratc now by usins it rs shop for the
sale Of pictures and memorial trinicts-aud was
sOOn to stand in the ruins Of Saint Grams Chapel
IN far Iona, which also WIS built by her; and 50
it was with many revercnt thoughts Of an exalted
soul and bencfccnt life that saw tie great dark
tower Of Dunfelmiirc church vanish in the dis
tapcc. At Stirling the roin. which had long been
lowering above us. came down in floods, and after
that for many hours We had genuine Scotch
weather, and a copious abundance Of it, This,
too, is an experience, and. although that superb
drive the MOUNTAIN froD, Abc,1Oylc TO l,"rh
Katrine was marred by the wet, was well pic' sed
to see the Trosach country in Storm which had
before SEEN in Sunshine. IL is a land Of infinite
variety and lively in ten PEST. Tie ajesty Of
the rocky heights the bleak and barren loneliness
OF the treelcss Hills; the many thrcal!ike water.
falls which, s4.en 'afar off,, are lik" rivule:s Of
silver frozen Into Stiffness 6n all the mountain
kiles the occasional ap.olition Of precipitous
peaks, over which presently are driven the white
streamcrs Of the mist ali these arc striking ele
nents Of scene which blends into the perfection
Of grace TIE qualities OF gentle beauty and wild
romance Ben Lon,ond in the west and Ben Venue
and Ben Ledi In the north were indistinct, and
so was Ben A'am In its nearer cloud but brisk
wind had swept the miste fiom I.och Drunkie, and
under q black sky the smooth surface of lovely
Loeb Achray" s..ore like q liquid diamond. An
occasional grouS rose from the ferns and quickly
winged its way 10 cover. few cows wet but
indifferent, composed and contented. were now
and then visible, grazing IN that desert; while
high up the ~crogs appeared many sure-footcd
shecp TIE inevitable inhabitants Of these solitudes
So onward. breathing the sweet oir that here
was perfumed by !wues and wilcs Of purple