The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-02-03
AScOtchman'S Story About
Cretna Green.
China's Liberty Bell Looked
On as a Work of Art.
The Poet OF the Sierras Recognized
After Forty Years.

The ScDtchman, who told the story OF
the hibulous hens, which the Gossiper
retold q couple of weeks ago, furnishes
another inreresting tale about bis native
land, which is even OF more general In
teress than f,he previous one. This latest
story relates to Gretns Green, about
which nearly every one has heard or read
something bat about which the average
individual b 10 nut n vague idea. Accord
Ing to this trpnsplanted son of Old Scotia
the death of Willie Laing the last OF the
so-csiled Gretnu Green "priests" has re-
vived Interest iu that romantic locality.
Gretna Green, be says, became the centre
of the Scotch marrying trade naturally,
because IL was the first village over the
border and only nine mules from Carlisle.
II the pursuit of the elopeys happened to
be particnlarly hot the fleeing couple
could have the matrimonial knot tied
with still greater dispatch at the toll
house. which was the first building
across the little river Ssrk which forms
the boundary Of the debsta ole land. At
this toll house for many years resided
81 non Bestie, who united the profes-
sions OF toll collector and vender Of ale,
porter, ana spirtuous liquors with tho
slill more profits!bs one OF priest at run
away marriages.. He was always on the
lookout for couples, and so impstuous
wsre his proceed ings that il became
oan :erous task to pass his tollgate.
The more important marriage cere-
monies, however, were performed in the
vi lage, at what was known as Gretna
kept by John Linton. At this hostclry
tie tired travellers could rest after their
hurried Journeys and obtain fresh horses
witt which to contiDus. Ite brilliant
genius to whom the idea of founding this
matrimonial business seems first to have
occurred was Joseph Paisley, tobacco
:st, for, though generally believed, ii
s an entire myth thst the Gretns Green
priest was, or ever had been, a black
smith. lie estn blisheti marrying shop
at the Kings Head, Springfield, which
was then on the main road from Carlisle.
He seams to have IT the good will Of
nis business to David Laing, in whose
family IL afterward remained, passing
through the hands OF Simos Laing to
villieLsing. W hose death has just occurred
st the advanced ase of 81. But the busi-
less itself ceasei forty years ago. with
the passing Of tho set wpich rendered
,scessery three-weost' residence in
SCOTLAND ty one OF the parties previous 10
shc msrriage. But, says the Scotchman
in conclusion, there's nothing TO prevent
cry romantic pair from geJing married
at uretna Green IN the old 81 yle even at
this late dsy II they cnly frlnl that little
vsquirsment of three weeks residence.
One ,vorli hardly expscr to lind such
thing as liberty bell in China,a coun-
try so sbs0uie.y undsr n,onarchicai |
ooninstiol that such bic gun ns Ii
Hung Chsnc lost his yellow jacket for
u lila indist rel ion and was in dsgroce |
yfcsptly bseluse re walked in he royal |
park without permission of u en- peror. |
Yet thiua u, s a ibersy bell, Enough why |
&, snoll BE- given that name isG't very |
elar. And o reslly rnn,arkanls piece OF |
mstni Il Is too. Iadeed i'm some respects |
II Is regarded as the finest work os art in |
: z ceissii Il empire. 1t weighs 120,C0) |
p uu1s, stands fourteen feet nigh; has a |
sirclmierencc OF thirty -fcur feet and is
nearly foot in thickness.
I. II II without faw or cofect and is
q.