Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-10-28

chance OF anything untoward happening
is the possibility OF an awkward amateur
getting in The way at the starting
point. as occurred at Hunters qua!
when Valkyrie II. was unfortunately SUNK
Directly facing US Is thu famous castro
the home OF the Argyll family. The prs
ent stately mansion was built by tIie 'iii''
Duke In l7ii. 10 IL a massive quaura"bu
lar pile with four round pointed corner
towers IL was greatly damaged by hre
In 1871. but is now completely resioreu
to all It's former grandeur. On the lawn
In front OF the castle stands ia'se
monOIith known as the "Battle Stohe'
and also a brass cannon wnlch was ie
covered from the wreck OF snip OF
the Spanish Armada which was blown up
In Tobermory Bay. The scene from 'ne
front OF the castle Is exceenlhsy "he'
Here Loeb Fyne spreads out into an
exnsnded hay of twelve or fourteen miles
in circumference. ON the rlght Is the NJ
lie. town OF InVeraray. while 10 the lcit
is the hill OF Duniquoich. somewhat over
700 feet in height and crowned win an
old watch tower. Some OF our party VINO
climbed the hill, spoke In the most en-
thusiastic terms OF the fascinating pros
meet which was spread out before them.
The great mountains in the distance, iut-
rowed with cataracts and many OF thefn
clothed with frs or purple with heather
I'm the far distance Ben Cruachan lifting
his broad shoulders into the blue SKY.
nearer at hand lay the blue waters or
beautiful lochs while at the foot of the
hill the romantic street hes of Loch fyne
were spread out before Them. There was
only one opinion when the party re-
turncd-that those who had remained
should have been on the hill top, TO nave
seen the grand picture. We. who had
been watching the progress OF the noun
tain climbers. were told tnat the yacht az
seen from that height looked ike
beautiful toy.
Shortly after casting anchor number
OF the party started in the steam launch.
under the careful guidance OF Captain
T for q sail still farther up the
loch. Passing on the left the ruins OF
an old castle, which was place OF
strength. in its day. we successfully pass
Helrs Glen and Glenkinglas. on our way
TO the head OF the loch. The valleys OF
these glens. as seen from the launch,
OPEN up romantic views of the scenery
of that mountain land. The sail Is de-
lightful. giving at every turn new view
of Argyle's country. While passing Glen
kinglas a gust of wind came sweeping
down the gorge OF the glen. and snatch
ing a cap from the head of the young
bow of our party, carried II into the dis
tant waters of the loch. swiftly as the
launch was turned TO recover the lost
headgear it sank out of sight TO become
part of a new geologic formation. Re
turning TO our floating home. the evening
passed delightfully."- with music and in
teresting "reminiscences Of past times and
pleasant outings.
The following day being Sunday. some
Of the party attended the Free Church,
A. sglx rhs.f
ever else ii might lack. did not lack earn
estness The church is one Of type
which must have been built shortly after
the disrupton-bot unsightly and un-
comfortable. We were informed that II
was the intention TO build "a more COM
Portable place of worship. The Kirk Ia a
far more statelylookirg edifce, having
the prestige of being the Established
church. There l. also "A l. L. church
and a beautiful Episcopal chapel. which
was erected for the late Duchess by the
present Duke. The day closed pleasantly
as such a delightful Sabbath should. with
short service at which the hosts and
guests and captain and crew were pres
ent. and in which they took very hearty
ana reverent share. il was service
which some OF those who We're present
will never forget.
lOl'IlNAl ELI MA
Inveraray itself is a moderately neat
little Highland town at the mouth Of
the Array 1t is the capital of Argyll
shire. and derives It's distinction chiefly
from it's relation to the Argyll family
and from being at one time the centre
OF a very profitable herring fishery. The
history Of the town is bound up with the
long line of Earls Marquises. and Dukes
Of Argyll, whose founder, Sir Colin Camp
bell. OF Loeb Awe, was knighted in 1850
His descendant Colin, was created Earl
OF Argyll in 1857. In 1913 the second Earl
fell at Flodden, while the eighth and
ninth Earls We're beheaded. 1t may be-
mentioned that a remarkably vivid pic
ture of the execution of the eighth Earl
is given in S. X. CroCkett's last book
THE Men of the Moss Hays" Jonn, the
son of Archibald, the ninth Earl, was
created Duke of Argyll in l1Ol. Dr. John
son ana Boswell. IN their tour through
the Hebrides. visited Inveraray in 1913
and were entertained by John, the fifth
Duke. whose hospitality they greatly en-
jOyed. Another man Of letters Robert
Burns, visited the town when the hotel
was filled with a party of gentlemen on
visit TO the Duke Consequently Burns
received but scant attention. He took
his revenge by writing on one Of the
which express his strong feeling of scorn-
ful contempt
The antiquities of the town are not
many, but among them is sculptured
stone cross. Of the kind known as "The
Iona Cross" standing at the foot of the
main street and said to date from about
lioJ a. II. 1t bears a Latin Inscription
which states that This il the cross Of
the nobles-Duncan McComyn. Patrick
I1 al lob -
trick"
The following day the yachting party
found their way back to the point Of
Departure having spent q most enjoyable
holiday together, and after saying good
by To the genial and hosptable host
and hostess they broke Up, as all pleasant
gatherings must: glad they had met and
sorry TO part. 1t may be stated here
that some of the same party were present
on a certain sunday this summer when
the Duke OF Argyll and his newly-married
Duchess made their first appearance in
the parish church, creating, as might be
naturally expected. no small sensation.
VISIT TO OBAN.
A visit to Oban on another occasion
gave somewhat delightful mental pie
-ure Of this most delightful Highland
country. Leaving the steamer AT Ar
drlshaig the traveller takes the coach for
a drive across the country for Ford.
at the foot Of Loeb Awe Passing in
the distance the mansion OF Poltalloch.
aad on the right a pretty little sheet OF
water-Loch Ederline the name OF it
Va soon reach the pier at Ford after a
drive Of nearly two hours. Here we take
the little steamer for our sail OF twenty
three miles. which is certainly as de-
lightful a san as one can get on a small
inland loch. There are not Il few ancient
RUNE or the banks of this lake. on the
| island OF Innlschonnel are TIE ruins OF