Smyrna times., 1891-06-17
For the smyrna Times
Letter From Scotland.
MYRNIAN IN EDINBURG.
EDINBURGH SCOTLAND,
Lnne 4 1891

EDINBURGH SCOTLAND,
June 4, 1891.
Mr.. EDITOR:
Thinking a letter from a foreign
land may be interesting to you and all
the dear friends, I will write few
lines, though the difficulty will be, not
to find something to say, but to know
how, in the great pIentitude of sights,
and scenes and experience, to make
the letter short enough for your space.
The sea voyage was prosperous and
very pleasant, and Of course it was fxll
of novelty and interest to one of our
quiet community who seldom goes far
ther from home than Philadelphia or
New York. We touched at Mo
vile, the harbor of Londonderry.
on the North of Ireland in the
morning, then proceeded through
the Irish and Scotch waters to Glas-
gov. The scenery of the river and
firth of Clyde is very beautiful and
wonderful, it would require volume
to describe it, the cliffs, islands, noun
tains, crags, and lochs are such a con-
stant surprise and delight that at last 1
found that l had to stop looking and
retire to the cabin of the steamer, fear
ing that the nervous system would
give way with the rich fullness of won
der and beauty. This is said to be the
most romantic approach to Great Brit
ain. l merely passed through Glas-
gov and came on to Edinburgh. Here
l have sOjOurned ever since, and as for
my opinion of the place, could will
lingly spend all my allotted time in
Europe in this Scottish capital, a city
with beauty, and grandeur, and seen
cry, and history beyond imagination.
The great points of interest which
have visited thus far are the palace of
HolyrOOd, just outside the city, which
contains the rooms of Mary, Queen of
Scots, her bedroom and bed, which we
are told have never been touched
since she last occupied them; the royal
apartments, the great banquet hall,
the thrOne-rOom and parlors, which
are now occupied by the royal family
at certain times, and by the royal COM
missiOners and others. By invitation
a party of us went through the palace
under the conduct and by the courtesy
of Mr.. Wallace Bruce, the U. S. Consul
to Edinburgh. On the vast rock near
the centre of the city is the Castle.
Here are historical relics, and here are
scenes and recollections of great histOr-
ical interest. Here we saw the royal
regalia of Scotland, the crown, sword,
jewels and sceptre of the Scotch kings
down to the time of the union of Scot
land with England in 1908. The bat
teries, the towers, the ancient chapel
the regiment of Highland guards on
drill and parade with their band of 64
pieces, and the Highland band of
bagpipes and drums were all very in
teresting.
This may be called the city of monu-
ments, there are exceedingly fine mon
uments to Scott and Burns; the kings
of Scotland and England, Lord Nelson
and many others. Grand views of the
city and of the scenery around are
obtained from the Calton Hill, in the
centre, Blackford Hill, on the south,
and King Arthur's Seat, a historic
mountain near Holyrood palace. The
people call Edinburgh the Modern
Athens, and it is indeed noble and
intellectual city At the Holyrood I
saw a real live British nObleman, the
Marquis of Tweedale, and with the
embellishments of retinue, carriages
and horses, positions and outrides, ban.
ner and plume, a nobleman is not such
a bad locking object after all.
ScOth customs, manners, speech
personal appearance, ways of conduct.
ing trade, railroads, cars and many
other things are very different from
our own. They are, however, not
puzzling and by a little care and Observa.
tion a stranger will soon fall into their
ways and get along nicely. find the
people very kind; they viii give me any
information ask for, and have al
ready found several friends. when
they iEd a person is from the United
States they seem to show him a special
regard. They are as a rule, active
vigorous and happy. At this time the
day is long, we are in Sc north latitude
here, and the day begins to break at
about half past two in the morning
and it is not completely dark until
after 10 o'clock in the evening. The
time is four hours and forty minutes
later than at home. The climate is
much colder than at home at this sea-
son, and there is much fog, or the
Scotch mist. l have scarcely had my
Overcoat off since arrived, over 8
week ago, except at night. The farm
ers in the vicinity have no corn, the
leading crops are barley, potatoes, cab
: bage and the like. They raise many
sheep. They will have strawberriei
but they are a mouth later than ours
1 would like to write more but feal
you will not have space for it, leav'
here tomorrow, straight to Paris, ther
to London for week, then a shOr
trip perhaps to Germany, and another
to ireland. Shall return here befor,
starting for home.
With kind regards to all,
HERMAN Roe.
Scientists claim that cigarette smOk