Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1900-05-29
IN THE LAND 0'CAKES'
HOW MEMORIAL DAY is CELEBRATED
IN SCOTLAND.

IN SCOTLAND.
Brave Scots Who Fought In the Civil
War Are Not Forgotten--statue of
Abraham Lincoln In an Edinbsrgh
Burying Ground.
As each succeeding Memorial day
comes around the American residents
of Edinburgh assemble In the old Cal
ton burying ground, at the statue OF
Abraham Lincoln. and hold ceremonies
In memory OF the Scottish-AmericaD
soldiers who fell In the American civil
war This is the only spot on the globe
where Memorial day services are held
regularly outside Of the borders OF the
United States. and great interest at
taches to IL on that account.
The ceremonies are In charge or the
United States consul In Edinburgh and
will this year be attended by hundreds
OF Americans now travelling In the
British isles as well as many subjects
OF the queen who are in hearty sympa'
thy with the United States. Hundreds
of floral tributes will be placed around
the statue. which has been thus decked
every year since IL was unveiled on
Aug. II. 1898.
While the statue was erected through
the efforts OF Wallace Bruce, the Unit
ed States consul at Edinburgh, and
by the generosity OF well known ciu-
zens of the United States, many OF
whom were OF Scottish descent, IL Is
practically unknown TO most people In
that country. That regular ceremonies
similar 10 those held In every cemetery
In the United States each year In men,
ory OF the heroes who fell In defense Of
the Union take place in this beautiful
old home OF the dead just without the
walls OF this historic old city. around
which the bitterest civil war OF the
worlds history centered, Is well
worthy Of cognlzance.
Like many another memorial TO the
greatness Of American institutions and
triumphs, this statue OF the martyr
president was the outgrowth Of hum
BILE story. carried out by the good
will and the well earned dollars OF men
who owe their fortune 10 the stability
OF American institutions and the fulfill.
ment OF Llncoln's ideas that the Union
should be one and indiyisible.
In the summer OF 1890 Mrs. McEwan,
widow OF n Scottish-American soldier.
called on Mr.. Wallace Bruce, United
States consul at Edinburgh. to aid her
In securing a pension from the gov.
ernment In Washington, as her hus-
band had recently died. The proper
proof was obtained and the pension
granted. One day when she called at
the consulate Mrs. Bruce chanced TO be
present and became interested In her
story.
Mrs. McEwan told Mrs. Bruce how
she and her children had worked for
) shilllngs n week to keep husband
and father from the pOorhouse and
gave. with singular pathOs. the ac-
count OF his last Illness; how he loved
TO have the old gun near at hand.
where he could touch IL: how he told
the doctor on one OF his last visits that
he had nothing TO give him but his
sword. and the kind hearted doctor
replied that Il was his business TO save
life, not 10 take IL, and that he wished
neither the sword nor any other recon-
pense but pleasant remembrance. and
the wife said I'VE will keep the sword
for the laddie" And at last, when the
poor soldier. after long months OF suf
fering. died. they found the gun un-
der the coverlet beside him. pressed
close 10 his heart.
Mrs. Bruce asked where he was bur-
led. that she might go with Mrs. Nc
EVAN and place some flowers on his
grave. although Memorial day had
passed, but the widow answered, with
tears In her eyes: The ground In the
common field is all level. | could not
mark the spot In fact. the next Sab
bath after his death | visited II with
the BARNS. and we found another
mourning group had possession. An
other body was being buried in the
same grave"
This story. told In the beautiful bor-
der language OF the Tweed and the
Yarrow, suggested 10 Consul Wallace
Bruce the idea OF n burial place In
Edinburgh for Scottish-American sol
dlers. He wrote TO several American
friends and talked with others who yis-
ited at the consulate. All heartily APP
proved OF the plan. Some time after
ward Mr. Bruce was walking on the
banks OF the Tweed near PEBBLES with
Lord Provost Russell OF Edinburgh.
He told McEwans story and the FOL.
lowing day wrote a letter TO the lord
provost, magistrates and town council
asking for plot In one OF the city
cemeteries. The request was cordially
granted. II then occurred 10 the consul
that the spot should be marked with
memorial worthy OF the site in the very
heart OF the beautiful city.
Through Mr. Bruce's endeayors
enough money, about $4,000, was sub
scribed In this country, and the statue
OF Lincoln was dedicated Aug. 2l, 1898.
Miss Bruce. who unveiled the monu-
ment. was attired In a lowing white
costume. her hair encircled with
band Of gold. representing Columbia.
The monument was loudly cheered by
all present, and the sculptor was CON-
PEELED TO bow his thanks and apprecia-
ton many times.
Consul Bruce In formally turning
over the monument to the custody OF
the corporation OF Edinburgh spoke Of
the great civil wars OF Scotland and
urged that the placing OF the Lincoln
monument should be further tie be-
tween Great Britain and America.
The monument itself is work OF art.
II is - feet In height. II Is massive
without being heavy. The pedestal
stands upon two steps of polished red
Aberdeen granite. Inscribed on the
first OF these are the words, I'm Men,
ory OF Scottish American Soldiers" On
the second step are the words, ITO Pre-
serve the Jewel Of Liberty In the
Framework Of Freedom. Abraham
Lincoln"
The Crack In the Mirror.
Sir Noel Patton, the painter. enjoyed
almost as wide celebrity as joker
as he did as an artist. An encounter
he had with a physician In Yorkshire,
with whom he was on the most int-
mate terms, is an instance in point