The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-08-30
Miss Ilamill Enjoyed the
Trip Awarded By the
Jersey City News
INTERESTING VISIT TO AULD REEKIE
Scotland's Historic Cities Described
Sees the Homes and
Haunts of Genius.

tour on Monday evening last by the
steamer State of California.
Miss Hamill left Jersey City in the
first week of July and has visited
Scotland, ireland, England, and a por-
ton of Paris. The trip across the ocean
was admirably described in letter writ
ten to 'The News a few weeks ago.
1t appeared in these columns. Her visit
to Edinburgh and Glasgow is the subject
of another interesting letter received
from Miss Hamill this morning. In it
she says that
after prolonged and pleasant sea-
voyage, we were very anxious to find
out the principal objects of interest on
land. The first city we visited was
Glasgow. The Cathedral here proved a
striking example of the citys antiquity.
This structure dates back to the Twelfth
Century and contains windows which
in size, and design are lnarvels of skill.
The crypt of this Cathedral is said to
be the finest In Scotland. The next place
claiming particular attention was st.
Georges Square, a noted public ground
in the centre of the town and surround
ed by the principal hotels, public build
ings, and monuments, conspicuous among
which are the monuments to Sir Walter
Scott, Lord Nelson, and Robert Burns.
WITHIN EDINBRO TOON.
Leaving Glasgow, We arrived in Edin-
burgh This city is situated about two
miles from the Firth of Forth, and is
is one of the prettiest places we visited.
Its population is about two hundred and
and fifty thousand and the people are
notably courteous in their Treatment of
into ~ +I,o
be divided among three principal points,
all of which are elevations and form the
different angles of a triangle. The first
angle contains Cation Hill, which rises
to a height of three hundred and forty
four feet. Standing at the top of this
Hill we had a splendid view of the city
with the surrounding hills and the pic
turesque Firth of Forth in the distance.
On the summit of the Hill, Nelson's
Monument is located, and near by is
the unfinished National Monument, orig
inally constructed in memory of the her
oes of Waterloo. A ftrle farther down
Cation HILL we come to the Burns Mon
ument, erected in honor of Scotland's
National Bard. This structure was in
tended as shrine for a magnificent
marble statue of the Poet which can now
be seen in the Scottish Portrait Gallery.
The room inside the monument is filed
with interesting relics of the poet, such
as manuscript, letters, paintings, Illus
trations and extracts from his various
poems, and several personal effects.
The second angle of the triangle con-
tains, by far the most striking feature
of the ape-Edinboro' Castle. This
fortress is perched on a rock which is
almost precipitous on three sides and
is said to be three hundred feet above
the surrounding valley, and over four
hundred feet above the sea level. The
only approach to the Castle is along
Castlehill, a continuation of what was,
at one time the principal street of the
city Apart from it's historic interest,
the claims of this venerable stronghold,
as a vantage ground for sight-seers, re-
mains unrivalled.
The first division reached, is the spa
cious parade ground known as the Es-
planade. The regiments stationed in the
Castle are generally drilled here. On ap-
preaching the buildings, we find the
Portcullis Gate, the remains of whose
ponderous hinges are still fixed in the
wall; the immense grooves for the Port
cullis may also be seen. Surmounting the
Portcullis Gate is the Argyle Tower
which was used as a State Prison until
near the close of the last century. Ad-
joining it is the Argyle Battery, from
whose guns the royal salutes were al
ways fired. Near by is the armory, con-
tanning specimens of armour and weap-
ons of great historic interest
INTERESTING OBJECTS IN THE
CASTLE.
little farther on we reached the bar
racks erected in 1896, and leaving there
we passed along the rear of ST. Margar-
cts Chapel, thereby ascending the high
est point of the Castle. This chapel is
claimed to be the Oldest building in Edin-
borough dating from the end of the 11th
century. Directly in front of the chapel
stands Mons Meg, a famous cannon
thirteen feet long, twenty inches in diam
eter, and weighing upwards of five tons.
Now, turning to the right, the Palace
Square demands our attention.
First we view the Crown Room, which
is secured by iron bars and has the en-
trance guarded by two strong doors of
oak and iron. Admission here is at GER
tain hours, and we We're fortunate
enough to arrive during that time We
saw the crown jewels. consisting OF the
crown, the sceptre and the sword of
state. These were of a particularly ele-
CANT description. The crown was OF
gold, the sceptre and sword We're silver.
Going around to another part of the
building we entered Queen Mary's apart
ments which have undergone very lit
tie change, only the wainscot panelings
in some places have been removed; but
the original ceilings are still preserved.
Having examined the rooms at leisure,
our attention was next directed to Par
lament Hall, on the south side of the
Palace Square. 1t was erected in the
fifteenth century, and is closely con-
nected with the history of the Stuart
Kings Here our tour round the Castle
terminated.
In the third angle of the previously
mentioned triangle is a hill over eight
hundred feet high, and having the form
of a recumbent lion. This lofty hill is
known as Arthur's Seat, and supposed
to have taken its name from the British
Prince Arthur, who lived during the sixth
century. There is winding road,
around the crag, which is spoken of as
the Queens Drive.
VISITS MARY STUARTS HOME
The next memorial aof Scotland an
eient splendor which we visited was
Holyrood Palace. This building was. at
p s