The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1896-09-19
Taken From a Note Book.

We take pleasure in giving to our
readers the following excellent descrip-
ton from the pen of Mr.. Alex. Ogilvie,
who Il short time ago spent bis vacation
travelling through his native country,
Scotland. The old city Of Stirling and
its surrounding scenery furnish the ba-
eis for this interesting account which,
we feel sure, all who read will en-
joy.-ED.
Stirling is one OF the most interesting
cities in the British Isles, on account of
its intimate connection with ancient
Scottish history and the beautiful seen
cry which euyirons it. The view from
the Castle toward the valley of the
Forth is particularly picturesque; the
peaks of Ben Lomond, Ben Ledi and
others rise on the west, while toward
the north and east the view is extended
TO the Ochills, the river Forth winding
its sinuOus course as far as the eve can
reach and passing between the Castle
Rock and Abbey Craig.
Just below the castle on the south
stand the ruins of Commissioned Alb
hey, the burial place of King James III.
Further to tie south lie the village and
field Of Bannock burn, made famous by
the battle won there by Robert the
Bruce in 1914. The only traces of the
battle found on the field were the bore
stones used to support the standard of
the Scottish army. These have been
carefully preserved in their original To-
cation and position, and the Lion
Rampant flag Of Scotland now waves
over them. The old Stirling bridge
crosses the Forth between the city and
Abbey Craig, and here it was that Wal
lace gained the battle of Stirling in 1897
over Edward, King of England. The
English army being compelled to cross
the river on this bridge were attacked
by Wallace after they were divided,
thus gaining an easy victory. Eight
years later brave Wallace was betrayed
into the hands of the English king and
taken prisoner to London, where he
was banged, drawn and quarteTed'
Between the castle and the city rises
the Gowan Hill, a fayorite evening re-
sort for Stirlingites. On the summit is
situated the beheading stone, a deep
indentation on which is said to be the
result of the oft-repeatcd blows of the
headsman's AK.
All these points we have seen from
Castle Hill, so we will now turn and
visit what Is perhaps more interesting
than them all, viz: Stirling Castle.
Stirling was frequently the residence of
the Scottish kings and Parliament had
often met in the halls of the castle,
which is now used as an army barracks
and "CuriOeIty". On the walls Of the
prison tower can yet be seen the marks
of cannon balls directed against it dur
ing the then not infrcquent "unpleas-
antnesses". Krupp would be perfectly
safe IN taking n contract to demoish
this tower in fifteen minutes, or less,
however. We step into the Douglas
Room 80 called from the fact that it was
IN this room that the Earl of Douglas
was assassinated by James III in 1852,
and buried in tie adjoining court yard,
now called the Douglas Garden. In
the room are shown the pulpit and
communion table of that fearless Scot
fish reformer, John Knox, with a large
collection of other Interesting relics of
ancient Scotland. The tourist has also
an opportunity Of investing in souve-
Mrs of Stirling at counter in one end
of the room.
UP LOCU LOMOND.
However, we must leave this inter
esting city, and after q four DAYS visit,
take the G:20 train for BaIloch, at the
foot of Loeb Lomond, ''The Queen of
Scottish Lakes. Although a heavy
rain falls at Stirling, it has ceased be-
fore we get on board the Empress,
one Of the two swift paddle steamers
plying on the loch. Here, if anywhere
in Scotland, will be found the largest
and proportionately varied supply of
that commodity indispensable 80 Che
Scottish Highlands, the American tour
list. On the present trip, the boat car
RED about 100 Americans, and this was
the least patronized of any of the trips
made by the boats on that dav. The
scenery of Loeb Lomond is celebrated
IN both prose and verse, and justly so.
The Loeb is five miles WIDE at the
southern extremity. narrowing rs we
steam northward, until at ArdIui at the
top, we are completely hemmed IN by
the loftiest of Scottish mountains. The
most striking feature Is, perhaps. its
variety. As we leave Balloch. we are
enclosed by green, waving fields, wood
lands, and pastures, while the loCh is
studded with hundred emerald islands
As the loch narrows, however, the sur
rounding country becomes rugged and
mountainous, and the depth of the loch
increases from about 90 feet in the
south to 800 feet in the north. It
would be difficult to conceive of more
romantic or varied scenery than that
which surrounds Loeb Lomond. From
every mountain side leap miniature
torrents, from crag to crag, through
tern and heather, but which appear
from the deck Of the steamer to he
strcakes of silver decorating and reliey-
ing the gray grandeur of the rocky
SUBMITS which were, on the morning Of
our visit there, overhung with heavy
clouds Of mist,--a fit frame for such a
picture. Many eminent writer's have
attempted to describe Loeb Lomond:
but no language can do justice to its
matchIess scenery; it must be visited TO
be appreciated, and alas, too many en-
JOY that privilege who see nothing but
"duilness' therein. We leave the
steamer at Inversnaid, about twenty
miles from Balloch, and take orr seats