Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-04-19
The Most Picturesque Abbey
Ruins of Great Britain.
A VIEW OF BOLTON ABBEY.
Robert CoIlyer's Boyhood Days His
Schooling and First Sermon-Willie
Hardie, the Crippled Fiddler
and Teacher-Afterdays
Copyright, 1917


along the barren hills, lies a little vale set
like Il nest between the highest Yorkshire
moors. This is Wharfedale. All around
are dreariness of scenery and the grlmlnesS
and hardness of countless mills. But WITHIN
this one dale, as if in blessed compensation,
are uumberlesS winsome spots and scenes:
Ilkley. quaint and old in its characterize
village life shining and new from the lnno-
VationS of rich lOltererS drawn hlther pS
the hygienic wells, and from very love OF
the sweet old spot, rs Ruskin and Turner
were, is the Wharfedale's tiny metropolis.
1t was the Olicana of the Romans. All
Saints, its ancient church, stands on the
site of 4 former Roman fort and station:
The entire region roundabout IS tllled
with Pictish and Druidic remains. Nnile
the valley sides and craggy moOr-scars rlS-
ing above. are eXqulSiteiy set with hedge
and copse, lawn and bloom, with here and
there the walls of ancient manor-houSe or
of battlemented castle, showing stately
against the outjuttings of the higher crags
Innumerable English antiquarians, nat
uraliSts and tourists come to Whartedale.
All visit the classic shades of Bolton Alb
bcy, four miles above Ilkley. Few AInerl-
cans have seen it, because OF its remote
ness. The ancient priory was founded IN
ISL, and owed its origin to pathetic
tragedy, best told in Rogers ballad,
THE BOY OF EGREMoND.'
Lady Alice. wife of William Fftz-Duncan,
nephew TO King David OF Scotland. was the
founder just mile above abbey the river
Eharfe Is compressed within deep, torrent
like rocky channel, called the Strld because
one can stride or leap across 1t. Inc son OF
Lady Alice attempted TO cross the Stid,
leading hound in leash. The latter, sud
denly sprinking back, p"ecipitatcd
the Boy OF Egremond mo the
torrent. He was drowned. In dolorouS
memory, Bolton Abbey was built. Among
all the abbey ruins OF Great Britain, Boil
ton, blended with its surroundings IS Ger
tainly the most attractlVeiE picturesque.
Melrose is incOmparanly more interesting
Us an ecclesiastic art relic; IVY buried Dry
burgh protects the grave OF Scott; Kirk
stall. as an Impressive rum, IS lar superior;
and Fountains, IS more perfect, spacious
and Splended; put Bolton ABBEY stands is
both an impressive and picturesque oIden
shrine IN perfect dream OF natural beauty
and repose.
The ruins are situated on the west side OF
the Wharfe upon gentle grassy emlnence
where the river curves broadly TO the east,
breaking in ripping shadows along us
sunny way. Tie ancient conVenJual walls
are 50 fallen in places as to be overgroWn
with grass and shfubbery; other portions
OF the wall still stand nigh ana Io1Iy, SUP
dued IN their Jagged outlines oy masses OF
ivy The shell OF the great prlory church
~
been built parochlaI chapel-almoSt type
of truant faith still clnglng to ITS mother
church, while the dalntlest parsonage eyes
ever beheld has been built out OF the ruins,
over against where once stood the court OF
cloiSters An ancient escutcheon IS en-
blazoned on its gateway; It's porch IS Dur
led in ivy; ana in summer Wild hops and
lady bower klndle the dark masses with
bloom. To the student OF eccleslastlc art
Bolton Priory offers but few distinct and
fruitful studies. There Is hne old afch
still standing which once
LED TO THE CHAPTER-HoUsE.
In the nave Is wooden screen OF re-
markable Tudor work. The decorated
windows OF the transeptS are excellent eX-
amples. The early English work of the
west front OF the nave has q magnificent
recessed doorway, e7rlched With fifteen
holdings. While the west window
is as exquisite an example of the
perpendicular style as may be found in
England. IN every direction the eye falls
on matchless scenes OF sweetness and rest.
The very air and sunlight OF the little vale
seem eloquent OF repoSe. The inner sense
dreamfully dwells upon the sacred and
classic memories of the lvy-hld ruins; the
Wharfe modulateS its WimpllngS to the
spirit of the spot: and even the birds, low
ing the valley as retreat from the ever
crowding of the grim and smoky mills, sing
y
softest and tenderest songs.
Outside OF all quaint and pleasant things
about old and new Likely Ii IS delightful
place to visit from the human interest OF
the town and its nelghborhood. The an
ceStorS OF that sweet singer, BISHOP Heoer,
lived and died here. II IS
THE LAND OF THE FAIRBANKS,
whose noble blood was tanstused to our
own Virginia. 1t was the passlonately-
loved haunt OF Turner, who never spoke OF
sweet Whartedaie without qulverlng OF
the voice; While Ruskln ,dlscerned little
bits of Likely scenery hanging. on to the Al
pine heights when Turner came to paint
them" But the personality above all
others that links the American heart OF to-
day to old Likely IS one urcountry has held
IN loving regard, now THESE tWo-Seore
years; the great-hearted man, who at Phil
adeiphla chicago anu New Y ork, mas made
other men, RoihanlSt or protestant, ortho-
doX or heter0doX, better ana napier Tor
his ministry among them-grand, gray
RobertCollyer, VINO, When ne passed from the
iron to the spiritual anvil, knew no change
in the real man that was IN MN, which
made great preacher and teacher out of
the ~ orkShlre olackSmith' OF Likely.
Of his lineage, there was grandfather
who fought under Nelson, and went over
board one dark night IN a storm. he was
on the fathers SIDE. On the mothers
side was another grandfather SAILOR VINO
went beneath the waves with MS snip
The two WIDOWS 1ought Ihe "o1 whlle
they were able, and died presently OF
the fight. Then, as the century was
coming IN. 1orhShlfe, Win us great