The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1900-08-02
Across the Sea.

The Advocate is given permission 70
use the following extracts from private
letters written to Mrs. samuel Bunker
by her daughter, Miss Minnie NJ. Bun
ker, now abroad:
Our party began our tour in scotland.
July Sd, spending that day ia the Lake
country and visiting Stirling castle, the
former home Of the Scottish Kings, and
then to GLASGOW. Early Wednesday
morning, July 4th, We went by special
train down 20 Ayr, fine old town of
| beautiful stone houses, and through the
lovely Burns country, visiting the poets
/ birthplace, saw many relics of bis early
days and the Bible be gave Highland
Mary AUD Alloway Kirk" Interested
us much. A grizzled old scot reeIted
/ to us Tam O'Shanter' on the sod
We crossed the bridge aud strayed ~
Bonnie Doom gentle stream and thence
on by express train to Edinburgh which
we reached just in time for the banquet.
which had been prepared for our recep-
/ ton at ''DarliDg's Regent Temperance
Hotel" which is conducted with ex-
quiste daintnesss by a ". {. 7. l..
woman. After dinner toasts were given.
speeches made and national songs sung.
| The tables were adorned with scotch,
American and British flags The party
formed in line (seventy Americans in
Guiding few Scotch friends) and pro-
ceeded by twos carrying the flags along
to the Cation cemetery and decorated
with a magnificent wreath Of flowers.
tied with red, white and blue ribbons.
the large bronze status erected there to
Abraham Lincoln. We sang our coun-
try's songs there and listened TO an elo-
quent address by a colored man. Mr..
Lowden, leader of "Fiskes Jubilee
singers 1t was an Impressive scene
which we Americans can never forget.
| \ GU cannot understand our emotions as
We looked upon those rugged. familiar
! features, through the scotch mist and
| felt the honor conferred upon America
| by the citizens OF Edinburgh in placing
this memorial here Ii is in the central
| part of their beautiful city. and said to
be the only Lincoln monument outside
of the United States July 9TH, today.
We have driven for hours about the city,
visiting Edinburgh castle with its stern
towers and heavy gates, visited the
room where James VI was born. and
the law courts where they still wear
! wigs and gowns, saw the tablet that
marks John Knox's grave, the famous
81, Giles church parliament Housed
old trreyfriars churehyard where the
! covenant was signed in blood, driven
! past "Arthur's Seat situated on a lofty
plateau which gives a fine view over the
whole city, and visited Holyrood Palace.
! The weather is excellent, but cool for
the season and the day most enjoyable
one
Scotland swarms with children and
they cheer our flags as we drive along,
following us by dozens. Tomorrow we
shall turn southwark again. July Is.
The past week has been delightful one
and we have all enjoyed more than we
dreamed of. There is not time to de-
scribe many places of interest now.
Our conductor, Rev. Henry A. Todd of
New 7 FORK is excellent, and we are en-
tirely relieved from all care Among
our party are Judge and Mrs Herrick
of Bethel, Maine We have explored
the Wordsworth region, spent quiet
Sunday at Grassmere in the English
Lake district, at Prince of Wales Inn !;
spent Monday at historic old Chester,
Tuesday at kenilworth Castle. now a
picturesque old ruin, Wednesday by
carriages TO Sratford on Avon, visited
Shakespeare's birthplace, Anne Hatha-
ways cottage and the fine old Baronial
Warwick castle. Yesterday we return
ed to London just in time to meet
Queen Victoria face to face and receive
our share of very gracious bow. She
dined at Buckingham and came by train
to our station, where the royal equipages
awaited her coming. AS she passed
along near us, We had An excellent view
of Her Majesty. She looked younger
and better than we anticipated and
passed along sweetly smiling and bow
ing to all, Today we have been driven
4 about the wonderful city of London,
which far exceeds our idea of its great
ness. The weather continues fine, we
are perfectly well and happy, enjoying
all. Shall soon go on to Brussels, up
the Rhine to Oberammagau, and later
to Paris. Union Advocate.