Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-09-06
IDYLLS OF MACLAREN
A VISIT TO THE SCENE OF HIS
INSPIRATIONS.
Drumtochty as Seen by David On
vIdson-Its Chnracters-What Is
Thought of the Writer VINO h"oe
the Glen Famous.
Sunday Magazine.)

made famous under the name VI Di"i"-
tochty, so that / might see the place
and the people with my own eyes. That
desire was gratihed recently when went
TO pay a visit to an old friend, who Is
established near Perth.
When arrived at Kildrummie Junction
l was delighted to find that Peter was
still to the fore. short stout man with
gray hair and a face that betokened a
sense OF the responsibility Of his Office.
As he came along the carriages l could
hear him saluting each OF the passengers:
Grand weather, this" "Glad to see you
back again! Are a your friends weel!
In the carriage next mine there was
ploughman who had been imbioing at
Perth, and who in the excess OF courage
thought he could get joke at Peter
expense. These are awfu' seats we've
got, Peter, as hard as buirds." But Pc
ter's only answer was: "Toots, are We no
weel, manP and so the valiant grumbler
was eXtinguished. He soon appeared at
our carriage-door with, "Tuckets, please"
He saw at once that / was a stranger.
He took my ticket in silence, but looked
as II he was lnwardly trying TO solve some
problem Then tentatively: yen De
gavin further?' 1 indicated that I was.
yen no be for bidn' lang?" as he
glanced round the compartment for my
belongings, and assured of his correctness
waited not for an answer. It'll be for
lectur' ye're gavin? It's guild muinlicht
the noo." But as 1 declined the Office
of lecturer he retired puzzled, but not de-
feated. I had no sooner stepped out on
the platform than he reappeared: "Ye're
for Muirha,' are ma ye? Master Tam
sons machines at the gate" Then his
face lit up when he saw that he was
right. AS I passed along j heard some
strangers halling him: Guard. there are
some wraps here up In the rack" 10
which the answer came: "Weel, hand
them doom then" Then ] heard in hur-
ried whispers: That's him! That must
be him" the speakers evidently gratifed
at having so thoroughly identified Peter
Next morning l set out for tramp
10 the historic places in Logiealmond, in
| perfect winter weather. sharp, bright,
| and clear with the keenness in the air
that made the face Jingle. On one of the
hills | overlook a shepherd with his
/ dog. and as we tramped together through
| the pines that stretched their dark arms
across the road, we fell into a spasmadc
| conversation with long iapses OF silence
between. When We reached the first
sight of the glen, I stood still TO admire
the view. The Almond ran swiftly be-
| low, with green fields and broom covered
| knobs rising on the other side; beyond
there stretched wide-spreading moorland.
| intercepted by deep belts OF pine trees.
while above all there rose the hills Clear
| cut against a frosty sky. Here and there
| gray farm-steadings were planted, and
| as the smoke curled upwards from among
| the trees / thought Of the simple toll
some lives that were spent in filling the
! fields. Wonders the Aud Kirk inter-
iected my shepherd friend, and he pointed
| across the road. We fell into a spasmodic
| church that stood on a high bank above
| the river with its graveyard sloping
gently to the sun. Further down he
| showed me "the Aud Hoose o. Logic"
| imbedded in dense woods and only dimly
seen through the leafiess branches. Then
as the ecclesiastical interest once more
asserted itself he pointed far up the
| river. That's the Free Kirk. Ye can
| list see the kirk bell owner the sclates y
| the hooses'
As we went down the hill I saw that
the river was spanned by the quaintest
| OF old stone bridges. with an arch so
| lofty and steep that when I stood on the
TOP OF IL [ seemed 10 be on the ridge
OF a house. From this picturesque old
structure we looked down upon new
level girder bridge, which will no doubt
| be more agreeable 10 laden horses. but
| Is less pleasing to the eye. The shepherd
| pointed out TO me where in olden times
the ford ran across the shadows by
little islet.
l parted with regret from my guide at
| the bottom OF the hill, and wended my
way upwards by a little footpath through
| the fields When / struck the highway
| again and proceeded up the valley / was
| surprised to find that there was much
less Of a glen than l had expected from
| my reading about Drumtochty. Here
was rather a broad, wind-swept, upland
district, with the river hidden from view
as il flowed between its high banks. Even
already, however, / could discern that
the nature OF the district had not a little
to do with the growth Of character In
the people The hlly slopes. the pure
air. the stern soil made the land a
rugged. though not an unkindly, mother
to its children. while its isolation, sepa-
rated. as It is, from close fellowship
| with neighbors by the river on the south,
by mountain slopes on the west and
north. and by woods on the east, con-
yerts IT into Holy Land. fit place OF
separate dwelling for the peculiar people
of Drumtochty.
In a short time l reached the little
village. with its row Of simple cottages
facing the road. one proclaimed itself
as "Harrietfield Post-Office." A notice
on another asserted to all the world, who
passed that way, the right to sell tea
| snuff. and tobacco" But / resisted any
temptation TO buy, and made my way
10 a tiny burn that runs to the west or
the village, where l found the Free
Kirk, the bell OF which l had made my
guiding star
The minister, to whom bore letter
OF introduction from mutual friend
was on the point OF starting TO drive 10
Perth when arrived, but he kindly re-
turned with me TO the manse, and snow
ed me what might be of interest. He
took me first to the room that Mr.. wat
son had used as a study when he was
minister. and he pointed out the dwarf
apple-trees still to be seen from the
southern window; and, looking out to the
west. we saw the grass on which the
minister had paced when pondering his
| mothers sermon" and beyond the III
hedge the sloping fields and the lofty
hills above the Sma Glen.
on the walls there hung an interesting
group Of former ministers or the kirk
too many to be recorded. One was Dr.
Macdonald, well known In Scotland as
the friend Of McCheyne and as fasci-
mating preacher. Another was DR..
Omond, OF Monzie who was said TO have
spoken OF Logiealmond as The earthly
Paradise" Curiously, an uncle or Ian
Maclaren's was also minister at one time.
Among those living who have ministered,
besides Mr.. Watson himself. are the
learned Professor Candlish, OF Glasgow,
and Mr. Gray, OF Elgin. who has lately
| published Laws and Landmarks OF the