New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-08-26
SCOTTISH SCENES.
CLAIMS CAsTLE-THE RUINS AND LINKS
OF ST ANDREws-A GAME OF GOLF
ST. Andrews Anrust G

slant state or revolt against nature because the
weather is not always fine so that the scenery
can be seen to the best advantage. The FIRST
word the stranger hears is an apology for the
weather, and the last word is an expression Of
rsrret that there have been so MANY showers
7, Is the common stock OF conversation and is
oten discussed with unconscious humor "It's
q nit thick said the cabman to mo at the Edin-
hurgh station. in a drench.ng rain when the
eoods were clapping their hands in the streets
There was neither smile nor suggestion Of grim
irony in his face. BY similar euphemism the
weather is described as CLOSE" when the show
ers follow one another so rapidly as to be hardly
Intermittent. But whether there be rain or shine
there is the breath Of life in the Scotch hills.
The alchemy of nature can yield no more invig-
Grating tonic than the air Of these moors and
Mountains Cloud and mist may vary the tones
q. the loveiiest scenery in the kingdom but 1t is
beautiful under all conditions OF light and
weather
II was on one OF these showery days which in
cite rebellion IN the heart even of pous Scotch
man and inspire despairng lamentations over
the climate. that journeyed long way from
dundee into Forfarshire to visit CLAIMS Castle.
Mailing FOR while at Kinnettles. one of the most
picturesque and artistic country houses in North
priain There were broad prospects Of valley,
,,oor and woodland. and enhancing vistas Of
she Grampians before the ancient village Of
c,snjs was reached and the battlemented gate
WAY with its lions and curious images
,assed Within opened q splendid park with
1--we meadows and stately avenues. and in the
distance was one Of the oldest castles in Scot
land the residence Of Lord Strathmore. famous
IN the history Of the Highlands. and the apoch-
rynhal scene Of the tragedy Of Macbeth. The
central tower has stood since the tenth century.
and TWO wings built aboutsii in the seven
tenth century by the first Earl of Strathmore.
The name Of the first builder is unknown, and
his work has been subjected to structural
changes by the architects OF the reconstruction
perlod who transformed the grim battlemented
castle in the North into French baronial res
iaence in the style Of the sixteenth century. IN
ferior 10 Warwick Castle in picturesqueness ana
scenic surroundings. II appeals more strongly 10
the IMAGINATION as relic Of feudalism. haunted
with ghostly presences and with tragic memories
With its richly furnished drawing rooms and
easily works Of art the interior of Warwick
Castle, in spite of its antiquity impresses the
visitor as magnificent modern residence ana
This effect IL increased when the liveried guides
conduct large parties through the apartments
catalogue the paintings by old masters and esti-
mate the value Of buhl cabinets. tapestries ana
mosaic tables. At CLAIMS there are no profes-
sonal guides with stale jokes and auction-room
The visitor. from the moment ne
enters the great door at the base OF the ancient
tower is convinced that Il is a mysterious old
castle with secret starways and blood-stalns
on the floors and wonders whether. like Sir
Walter Scott. he would like TO sleep In the
haunted rooms
,hr.a airro
-nent Of the tower leads 10 the room where NAL
o,,,h II is reunited TO have been assassnated.
and in one Of the uppermost chambers bed
s,aa1 is ,,olnted out as the which the
King died In another bedroom is shown I'M
derneath the floor the entrance 10 staircase
with hidden passages connecting with o'her
anartments A secret well in one OF the great
walls leads to an upper room where prisoners
vsre once confined. Every time repairs are or
dered some discovery is made-an unsuspec'eu
staircase or fireplace. or scrle pecnharlty oI 'he
original design or of the work OF the recohstiu0
.io architects which had previously escaped op-
servation After cropping through 'he o''iis
lighted corridors the visitor is rea MY cohNi'eu
that there is a secret apartment known ON! -
,he lord NJ the castle anc half expects to hear
LADY Macbeth's "Infrm Of purpose. give me inc
daggers." or The sleeping and the dead are pu'
sc
roono where Earl Beardie started game Of dice
with Satan, which was to last until the Day Oh
Judement he listens intently and almost fancies
+nat he can hear a strange clicking noise Ike
The shaking Of a dice-box. rare old place Is
,,lorois Castle, II does not matter whether the
-,gb. king was murdered in Macbeth or whether
arv soversien a Duncan or d MalcOmb was ever
assassinated within the castle walls. Mystery
b-ooas over the ancient feuda pile. 1t mas the
scenic setting for bygone tragedy ana ghoS'iS
visitations.
There are many handsome rooms In the cas.ie'
The dining room is splendid banquet hai' WIN
floor and wainscot of oak. richly carNeu s4ue
beard and chimney piece. and with the arms anu
,o..oas ~ tho Strathmores and connected lam
.,,as e,nb,azoned on the side al. The great nan
&c vaulted room with massive stone walls ana
:, &c adorned with coats of chain mall oid-ume
weanons and firearms and hunting trophies ne
drawing room has antique furniture an Immense
Areplace Of carved stone. a French ceilhs ere
vanity designed and portraits by SIT fe'ei i'eS
and other famous painters. In the piidiu ioO''
there are additional family portraHs anu iou'
panels in tapestry representing scenes i" '"' ~
- Tehrcbadnezzar. The chapel is larger ana
handsomer than the one IN "ar"i0N r,,t,,..,
Z, hae ene stained glass windows, and Biolcal
scenes painted IN paheiS "P" -. 1--we
s,da waus Richly furnished as the great rooms
are il is the &C ltral tower WIN i'' 'r ,..
cases and dark vauted corridors tha' give,
sLo.o..o. 81 tho castle as a medieval baroniai
..,.,a standing high upon the roof among
,1 ,o,,,ar ,oxers and pointed turrets. ana ioon-
a.. -, ,,oon tho fantastic sun dial in the open
-. ,ho ,,,s,tor finds hims If reconstrucuhs u'e
casre sweening away the seventeenth ce"'u'S
additions reopening the oldtime moa'' res'oi'"e
-. o,,,or walls and swinging afresh the ara"
br,oge n the porter's lodge Then ne oesce"uS
Tho staircase and drives off. 20 turn uneasHy IL
his bed at night and to conjecture ureann.
whether Lady Macbeth ever got the olooos'S'n'
OF her fingers.
In another direction from handsome, WV" o.,