Morris tribune., 1894-09-26

EOmo Curious facts About the Inns and
Hotels Of Scotland.


Some Curious Facts About the Inns and
Hotels OF Scotland.
Mr.. Robert Kempt has gathered
together many interesting historical
items and quaint anecdotes about the
inns and hotels Of Scotland. It must
be confessed the historical side be-
gins very late, for IN olden days inns
were practically unknown over the
border, travellers being received in
private houses as guests. Conse-
quently there Is no record Of such
ancient hostelries as the Tabard IN
Southwark, the Mermaid in Bread
street or the Blue Boar IN Eastcheap.
| When Defoe went TO Scotland, he
had difficulty in finding an inn at
Aberdeen, and this in spite of royal
edict issued By James I IN 1924, to
the effect that in all borough towns
where there was considerable traffic
hostelries should be established, but
these institutions cid not flourish till
very much later. hr Kenpt gives
some amusing information IS to the
pains and penalties enacted IN the
fifteenth and seventeenth centuries
regarding the hours Of closing, drunk
enness, etc. The inns OF Aberdeen
are accorded a whole chapter, for
there is much to say about those Of
the last century. They practically
formed open clubs for the wits and
learned men Of the hospitable city.
Over very modest repasts and pota-
tons grand symposia were held. The
philosophers lived low, but thought
and spoke high.
DR.. johnson seems to have appre
.ciated the Aberdeen inns. He found
them almost as congenial as his
haunts in Fleet street and certainly
far better than the Scottish houses
Of entertainment. Among other in
teresting items Of information, Ar.
Kempt points ont thai whisky is
comparatively modem beverage, and
that III oIden days clalet was almost
as much drank as ale. The Regent
Albany IS supposed to have made
claret popular. La 1850 red Gascony
wine sold in Aberdeen at slxpence a
pint and later on claret and port
wine could be had at eighteen pence
bottle Indeed claTet and port III
those early days could be procured
cheaper in Scotland than in most
parts of England
In the cities and country side are
many inns with historical interests
attached to them. In the Invercauld
Arms hotel, Braemar, is the stone on
which the standard Of liar was raised
in 1745, the beginning Of Prince Char
lies wild escapade. Other inns are
associated with names yenerated in
Scottish history and literature There
are many inns IN the highlands
closely connected with Burns, the
Ettrick Shepherd, Sir Walter Scott
and other kindred giants Of old :
Scott mentions that it used to be the
fashion to eat oystersi in the Covenant
Close, Edinburgh, and Dir. Kenpt
has gathered together many details
as to this once fashionable form of
indulgence,
During the eighteenth century it
seems that the best society in the
Scottish capital, ladies and gentle
men, used to make parties at one of
the taverns in Aud Reelzie, there to
partake of oysters and porter, end
ing up with brandy and rum punch,
with songs and dancing. Some of
these old Aberdeenian and Edinburgh
inns were the ancient houses Of noble
families, great rambling buildings,
with many rooms, some of remarka-
bly, fine proportions Even a few of
the country inns were former man
sions of the lair1s Of the sol.-Ca-
terer.
Time at the Ncrth Pole.
If ever the north pole is reached
he adventurous spirits who get there
will find that they have actually out
stripped Father Time altogether. In
act, he will have given up the race
for at the northern and
southern extremities of the earth's
axis there is no fixed time at all. At
my moment it can be noon or mid
night, breakfast time or supper time,
Horktime or playtime, whichever
1ne likes. Clocks will be a fraud and
lelusion, for at the pole all degrees
If longitude converge into one, and
therefore all times.
The possibilities of such position
IRE endless. Not only, too, viii the
docks be out, but the calendar as
veil. 1t can be, at viii, either yes
;erday or today or tomorrow. We
nave heard lot of foolish people ask
What the use and pleasure can be of
getting to the north pole, but little
'eaection will show us advantages
an be gained there which cannot be
ound in any other part of the globe.
There, at any rate, instead of being
ike the poor inhabitants of lower
the slaves of Time, we can
urn the tables and be its masters
london Globe.
The Art OF Conversation.
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