Morning journal and courier., 1893-09-16

figure of a heart, through which, when freshly caught, the brain may easily be seen. Prince Robert disclosed a curious bit of expectations folklore, concerning this hesrt-shaped figure in the head of the yendsce. Every one remembers the pious pilgrimage of James Douglas with the heart of the dead king, in an effort to reach Jer- usalem that the precious relic might be buried In the Holy City; and ihst sitter the tragic death of Douglas and his friends. Sinclair and Logan, the silver casket con taining the kings heart was recovered and given sepulture in Melrose Abbey. There is a lingering belief with the superstitIous among the AnnsDdAle pessantry that the figure of the heart in the head of the ven dace fish of Lochmaben Is of miraculous origin, to perpetuste the pious act of King Robert the Bruce and the heroism of his loyal friends.
 Along the haughs and moss banks of the lochs the deadly adder turks; and the peas sntry will tell you that these dreadful rep tiles are kept down by their implscsble foes, the heronR, which are certainly con- tinusiiy seen dogina in and out among, and lowering over, the surrounding reed g and mosses. Whether or not it was the original residence of the Bruces, granted by David l, 1124, or an enlarged successor built in the thirteenth century, 1t covered sixteen scres of ground, and is known to have been absolutely impregnsble before the invention of guupowder. It was a stu psEdous and magnificent pile, and the care and perfection with which it was built st. tested in the immense walls still trscesbls, and in the fact that thongh it's masonry has been exposed to the clements for 600 years, one will to-day ss often break the stone itself as separate by strokes of sledge- ha St.a- !
 the walls were constructed.
 4 mighty host of reflections and historic memories crowd upon the onlooker here. For not only hns the Heroes. of border bat ties ragged round about the castle's once mighty walls. but 1t was on this very spot the compact between the two claimants for Scottish cTowu, which led 10 ScotlEnd's eventusl greatness, was made It was to this spot Bruco came In his flight for his life from Edwards court Aud it was from l here, after Red Comyn's peridy wss dis. | covered that he sped to Dumfries to avenge that trescheGy with Comyn's life, before the very altar of ancient Gray FrIATs ! church. Then came his coronation Es Seone; he first defeats; almost the eIt.nc. ton of his family; his o.zn wanderings and skulklnss like a beast in ths forest: his brilliant recovery of his patTimonial cls,l-
 
 from Glenesk pss; BanDockbu-n ;o Inveru ". aud Scolia's longtime splendor, powe, | and peacs.
 h seems unfortunate tAst 90 noble ruin | could not have brrn given better care And preservation. One Lslt uf ihv structures ot LachmaGsn havs been bull; from she ma. tsrisl in the majestic stOn- pile Cow. houses aud byro walls f.. h.lt 6cz=n miles In every direction i.szlose ths suurct from which their material was ravss-d iu l protI uaing nculiiny, splendid ashlsr work or griuniDg ssEeOyl-s. I; l. sai that 6 cttizsn of the Dursh warns his shins al ths | identical pair of jAmbs which ouc= rssted on ihe paternsl hearth uf Brace. and the old key to ths outer gate of tie splendid pile in which had been unrtu:-d ik= pToudss, line of'ScOttirh patriot kiHg-. on b.ing dis covered A half century since by the Ie2dea headed hinds ot the district, was srSarded ss such m antiquarian prlze, as it weighed several pounds, thst it was as once tlrnsy over 10 the L0chmsbst: blacksmith for con versiln into a pair ut a'i.i;AFisn taTf | spsdss EDGAR L WAKEyAy