Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-07-12
N THE LAND OF THE 6luE6ell
AND HEATHER.
NO. II.

NO. IL.
trrom the Democrats Foreign Correspondent
DUNDEE, SCOTLAND.
We see, alas. none Of the "bonnets Ol
bonnie Dundee" that once made thii
place famous In Scottish song. TIT
large city Is the great centre Of the liuer
trade, aud its factories are elegantly and
pala tally constructed. From the centre
or Market Pl,ce, four great thorough
fares radiate, called Overgate, Neither
gate, Seagate and Murrsygate. The
most intere .ting structure IL It's old
square tower, a steeple of st. Mary's
church, and an old flight OF stairs BY
whith the monks gained access to the
river, the beautiful Tay.
There's not much to interest one here
but near by, Ia the little town Of Gowrit
where
| Upon SINNERS afternoon,
wee before the sun gaed down,
1 A lassie In a bran new gown.
Came DER the hills 20 Gowrte,"
was the celebrated Gowrie House, where
this bonnie highland lass afterwards
romantically became Lady Gowrie, and
mistress OF this noble residence, which
was entire and magnificent ss late ~
1905, but not q vestige Of II remains To-
day, and the estate has become the prop
erty Of the town; but II 10 as beautiful
and romantic as Its name signifies, and
the halo Of old Scottish song fingers
around II still.
On our way from the Highland village
OF Callsnder at the entrance OF the Tros-
sachs, the railway bears US through the
battlefield Of Baunockburn, whereon
was fought and won the great battle
which shaped the whole history, national
character and church OF Scotland. IL
WAS q bright summerlike morning. and
the scene Of rural peace that was pre-
sented offered strong contrast to the
stormy scene OF old-but we will not
linger over picture painted In blood.
! Would that such scenes might be oblit-
Grated forever from memory.
On the surrounding hills, great herds
OF Highland cattle are feeding, Offering
a most animated and lifelike diversion to
the wild and rugged scenery. These
animals contain some Of the blood OF
their savage ancestors, the wild cattle OF
the Caledouian Forest, as their immense
spreading horns and long shaggy hair
testify.
Farther on, we reach the town OF Lin
lithgow, an old burgh situated on the
margin OF a beautiful blue lake, and
famous for Its ancient palace, which Was
long \ favorite residence OF the Stuart
Kings and the birthplace of the unfortu-
nate Mary, Queen of Scots. IL has
4 -. ,N hn IN N
many places with which Mary Stuart
was associated, among them the Castle
at Stirling not far away, where her
childhood was passed; the chapel 10
Notre Dame, Paris, where she WAS mar
ried TO Francis OF France; her apart
ments at Holyrood, where Rizzlo was
murdered her room In Edinburgh Castle.
where her son James was born; the
castle at Lochleven where she was I'm
prisoned; the Mount Of Cathcart, where
she watched the battle OF Lsngside,
which cost her her crown; Dundrennan
Abbey, where she stopped TO rest In her
flight To Eliz,beth's domains; Terregles
another resting place; FotherinRsy Cas-
tie, where she was executed; and the
stately tomb In Westminster Abbey,
where at last her ashes were laid TO rest !;
and now, the stone chamber where she
WAS born December 7th, l542. II Is now
roofess ruin, deserted save for the
jsckdaws that nest In Its crevices, silent
save for the moaning OF the wind,
neglected save for the football OF an oc-
casionsl pilgrim.
Ii was partly burned ut the time OF the
Highland wars, but even now Is one OF
the noblest ruins In Europe. As you
gaze, Imagination can readily reconstruct
it, sumptuous splendors and repeople Its
desolate halls with the throbbing life OF
long ago, for these rooms, 10 the old
Stuart days, were splendidly decorated,
and the whole palace was resplendent-
indeed a more princely dwelling was
hard to find. 1t Is splendid even now In
its decay.
Looking upward from the courtyard
below, can be seen Ia the window where
Mary was born, the royal symbols, still
perfect, and inside the room are the re-
mains OF magnificent fireplace. In the
stone floor are drilled nine small holes,
made for her juvenile game OF ninepins.
Though this unfortunate queen Is said
to have been the most beautiful and
picturesque character In Scottish MS
tory, Il Il hard to rake up much sentl-
ment about her-aside from her sad tate,
which was most horrible and touching
though some writers have contrived TO
do so.
Leaving this eloquent reminder that
Old Father Time Is no respecter Of kings,
we soon come TO the historical city OF
Perth, q place OF great antiquity, TO
which tradition assigns q Roman founds-
,ion. Ii was often the residence OF the
Scottish monarchs, aud has been the
scene OF some remarkable historical
events; but the glamour OF the district
arises from that romantic heroine OF Sir
Walter SCOTS, "The Fair Maid of Perth, "
sweet Catherine Glover, a lowly bred
but gently reared Highland maiden, the
daughter Of old Simon the Glover-for
as was common with the citizens OF that
period, her father took his name from
the trade which he followed.
To be called The Fair Maid OF Perth
would at any time have been great dis
tinctiou, but In all feudal times female
beauty was quality Of great importance.
Scott says that "GOd and the ladies were
Familiarity appealed to In the same
BREATH" and devotion was due to the
fair sex as 1t was to Heaven. Its power
was unlimited. at could level the
highest rank with that which was i'm
messurably inferior" but beautiful Cath
crime Glover needed her fathers sensible
words Of warning to "Iet those gallants
20, with their capering horses, their
jingling spears, and their plumed bon
nets-you will not see the linnet pair
with the sparrow-hawk, nor the robin
redbreast with the kite" Several of the
most respected houses in Scotland point
with pride to their descent from 1.-THE
Fair Maid Of PERTH"
OF all the counties of Scotland, there
Is none so remarkable throughout for
the beauty and rarity Of its scenery, as
Perthshire. 1t ab0unds with lakes and
rivers which occupy extensive valleys
living between lofty mountains. But
who can describe the thrill of nature? It
Is only the petty things of life that can
be described in words. The majesty OF
mountains, the peaceful swelling Of the
bosom of the lake, the graceful pose Of
the wild flower, the c0l0ring Of the sun.
set. the song Of the wild bird of the
forest, cannot be told In words, 1t mus,
be seen With the eyes OF the spirit, and
heard with the eyes of the soul. There
are people In this world who can both
look and listen to these things and yei
hear and see nothing, in the same way
that they can look on the distress and
sorrow and suffering In the world, and
| yet have 1t appeal to them in no way buI
with aversion and disgust.
once knew a DeraOn HhO had aDenj