The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-01-09

| Gretna Green, from its proximity to the
border, began to reap rich harvest,
and afforded it's visitors all the benefits
of the Scotch marriage laws without
troubling them to journey far into Scot
land. Upon arrival at the village the
ceremony was of the simplest. The par
ties merely acknowledged themselves
man and wife in the presence of the
Gretna Green priest" and his assistant,
where upon their names we're entered in
a register, the parties signed it, got a
certificate, and the deed was done. For
more than century this custom was
followed by thousands of runaway
couples from England. So great was
the demand for the services of priest
that there came to be marriage syndi-
cate in the village.
1t is generally alleged that the cere-
mony was performed by blacksmith,
but as matter OF fact there never was
blacksmith engaged in the business.
1t is on record that the toll keeper be-
| tween 1843 and 1857 married more than
5000 couples. Simon Laing, the first OF
the family to take up the business, was
peddler, and Willie Laing, his descend
ant, who is just dead at the age of 49,
was a weaver.
The death blow to the Gretna Green
marriages was struck in 1857, when an
act came into force providing that one at
least of the contracting parties must be
resident in Scotland twenty-one days
prior to ceremony taking place. Thus
ended the old custom which has formed
the basis of scores of novels, plays and
romances.
While the queen is making a new will,
speculation is rife as to the amount OF
her possessions, Her last will was COM
| piled twenty five years ago, and since
that time her fortune has nearly trebled,
while her descendants have increased to
such an extent that she now has twenty
six great-grandchildren. Victoria's net
income is estimated to average 5000
day. AS is well known, several OF the
queens residences are her own private
property-notably Osborne and Balmo
raj. though it is asserted that she has
settled the latter place to go with the
crown-in other words, always to belong
to the reigning sovereign. This is in
order to secure the permanent prosperi-
nv If hor boln 10
Industries have sprung up which but
for the more or less constant presence of
royalty soon would die speedy death
The contents of the new will never
will be made public, for royalty is ex.
empt from all taxes and probate dues
and royal wills are regarded as state
secrets.
The queen is one of the few British
landowners who made all their land
pay, and her financial ability is shown
In the management of her large estates.
That the royal residences, home farms,
and so on. are in better condition than
ever before is entirely owing to her fore
sight and energy. Forestry has always
been favorite German science, and
the prince conscrt was exceedingly fond
of planting trees. His operations in this
direction were laughed at by the high.
land tenantry, but the wisdom of his
course is now seen, for the many thous-
and acres adjoining Balmoral are thickly
covered with splendid specimens of
Norway pine, Scotch fir and .larch.
The contention between Westminster
abbey and st. Paul's cathedral as to
which shall have the honor Of the
Thanksgiving service to be held in con-
nection with the longest-reign celebra-
ton next summer has already begun.
The choice of the court undoubtedly
inclines to the abbey. on account of it's
historic associations. but the cathedral
has far greater seating capacity, and
the route thither would be by the most
central and most commodious streets.
1t is urged that the long flight of steps
by which st. Paul's is approached from
the westward would prove an insupera-
BILE barrier to her majesty on account Of
her lameness. There is, however,
private entrance on the southeastern
side of the building, which affords easy
access to the choir. 1t is proposed to
erect here temporary elevator, to
which the architectural features of the
structure readily lend themselves. 1t
also is suggested that the queen might
be carried up the longer stairs in Sc
dan chair, which would undoubtedly
add picturesqueness to the pageant.
But. whichever place may finally be Sc
lected, the attendant ceremony as
suredly will form historic episode OF
the nineteenth century.
| went to see that curious old relic of
antiquity known as the ST. Sepulcher s
execution bell, which was unearthed
from an old chest, long neglected, few
days ago. st. Sepulcher' is the church
diagonally opposite Newgate prison.