News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1892-08-11
Another Interesting Letter.
DIR. CAMPBELL'S VISIT TO EDINBURGH
GRAPHICALLY DESCRIBED.
EDINRTrRGH July %. Is?


[ made a delightful excursion Mon
day among the islands of Scotland,
for a description of which and the
early Highlanders see Scott's Lord
of the Isles" 1t is very interesting
reading when one is in the midst OF
the scenes and gazing upon the ruins
of castles described therein. The
whole of Scotland, including its isl
ands, seems to have been one vast
battle-ground. Many of these battles
were for liberty, Others were feuds
between the clans, or the chiefs striv-
ing to prove which was the better
man.
An hour was spent very pleasantly
on the island of Staffa, where | visit
ed Fingal's Cave and several other
wonderful caves, arched and support
ed by those grand basaltic columns,
which put to shame mans puny at
tempts at grandeur.
Another hour was profitably EN-
ployed exploring the striking re-
mains of early Christianity found
there. This seems to have been the
early home and nursery of the Chris
tian religion for hundreds of years.
A great cathedral, chapels and con-
vent were established here and mis-
sionaries sent from this island to
all parts of Great Britain. The Iona
Crosses, very early erected here, are
renowned throughout the world.
More than a score of kings from
Scotland, England and ireland, with
as many chiefs of the clans and princes
were buried here, hoping that the
mingling of their dust with that OF
st. Columbia and other holy men
might avail them in the future for
the sins in this life.
In the evening | took boat for
the Caledonia Canal, stopping at
Fort William for the purpose of as
cending Mt Nevis. But 10! Tuesday
morning was dark and rainy. Mt.
Nevis was in the clouds, so | visited
the village school. This was as good
as circus | believe | am now fully
qualified to take the part of " Ye
ancient pedagogue" in the "Dees-
tirk Skeul." I've seen it beautifully
III us UIdUeu WILL Uu6 CdUcClloLll dhu
all. The master was of the ancient
race of pedagogues, but a very kind
and genial man to visit with.
AS it ceased raining in the after
noon | started at four O'Clock for the
summit of the mountain, a seven
mile climb. There were some fine
views of the Highlands and lochs in
+ho on1 C+;lI n1oS in, 10
descent about sunset, but the top of
the mountain was enveloped in dense
clouds which were very wet and cold,
and as the wind was blowing at times
at the rate of ninety miles an hour,
the warm fire in the little hotel on the
top was a great comfort.
After supper an hour was spent in
the observatory examining the in
struments and conversing with the
observers, (I had a card from the
head master in the village which
gave me admittance to this sanctum
sanctorum). One instrument, or
arrangement for counting the num-
Der of dust particles in the air was OF
special interest to me and much OF
a novelty. | went to the snow banks
in the glens and looked down into
the awful chasms full of clouds
and snow, with jagged rocks far
up on either sides. Then as there
were no indications of a clear sun
set, or like sunrise in the morning,
and as | was the only visitor on the
mountain (other foolish travellers
had been up there during the day
and some of them lay in bed several
hours in order to have their clothes
dried) | decided to run down the
mountain, for | couldn't slide. |
had a beautiful sunset on the lower
mountains and reached my hotel at
wilght-between ten and eleven at
night-somewhat tired, but glad
that | had "done up" Ben Nevis,
Scotland's pride, and fully resolved
to attack later Snowdon or the
Mighty Helvellyn" and thus give
England and Wales a chance.
Wednesday was spent steaming
up the Caledonian Canal with the wild
mountain scenery on either hand,
much of it barren and desolate. The
beautiful and grand falls of Fogers
are visited and many noted ruins of
castles passed. The grand summer
houses and hunting lodges of the
lords of the land contrast shamefully
to an American eye-with the mis-
erably low thatched huts of the
crofters or tillers of the land, but my
ideas are republican which are not in
accord with aristocratic ideas.
A pleasant day was passed in and
about the most northern city of
Scotland, Inverness, with it's lofty
castle, ancient fort and peculiar GEM
etery on great mound. A round
trip of fourteen miles on foot took
me over the ancient battlefield of
Culloden, where the Highlanders
were finally brought to submission
by England, also to some of those
strange circles of stones set up by
prehistoric races, or in prehistoric
times at least, probably by the
Druids.
Six hours ride south from Inver-
ness, nearly 200 miles, through a
wilder and more desolate region,
most of the way, than any | had yet
seen brought me Thursday eve to
this famous and most picturesque
city of Old Edinburgh.
This city is noted for the historical
events connected with it, it's antiqui-
ty, romantic situation and the great
number of it's excellent educational
institutions. Besides educating its
children the principal business is the
distillation of whiskey. | cannot
say whether one isintended as a sup
plement or an offset to the other.
The Old and New City are sep
arated by a deep valley; on the
Acropolis, said to resemble the Aropo-
lis of Athens, is situated an immense
castle in perfect condition, more
than $50 feet above the valley, with
precipitous rocks on three sides and
only a narrow ridge connecting it
with the rest of the city. Eight hun
dred Highlanders in their brilliant
acoutrements are quartered here.
Kings and queens have reigned here
and also found this castle a prison
home. John KnoX's house, which
contains many relics of interest, and
also his grave is near by.
l passed over the great Canatilever
bridge across the Forth last eve
and again visited and examined it
more carefully to-day. 1t is a mile
and three-fourths in length; from
the water to the highest point is
800 feet, the trains pass $50 feet
above the water; it is the largest
bridge of it's kind, or of any kind, in
the world.
SATURDAY.
Another buSV dov in Edinburob