The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1901-12-12
IN KING EDWARDS DOMAIN.
Notes Of Six Weeks Trip to England and
Scotland.


burgh-the beautiful, the historic and
the picturesque. The morning was
clear, for Scotland, and we had fine
view of the castle from the windows OF
the hotel. 1t was clearly outlined
against the sky, hundreds Of feet above
us, and, as we looked at its grim. gray
walls and towers we realized with diff
Guilty that but two days before we were
standing on those very walls, looking
down upon the dwarfed building from
which we were then gazing upward.
Kate Douglas Wiggin says, in one OF
of her delightful volumes:
81 am the most peaceful person in
the world, but the Castle was too much
for my imagination. l was mounted
and off and away from the first moment
l gazed upon it's embattled towers,
heard the pipers in the distance, and
saw the Black Watch swinging up the
green steps where the huge fortress
holds its state -,
Il hope that those in authority will
never attempt to convene peace con-
gress in Edinburgh, lest the Castle be
too strong for the delegates. They
could not resist it, nor turn their backs
upon it, since, unlike other ancient for
tresses, it is but stones throw from
the front windows of all the hotels.
They might mean never so well, but
thew would end in buying dirk hat-pins
and claymore brooches for their wives,
their daughters would all run after the
killed regiment and marry as many of
] the pipers as asked them, and before
night they would all be shouting with
| the noble FitZ-Eustace,
where's the coward who would not dare
| To fight for such land p"
AS our train did not leave until about
10 A. NJ. we had ample opportunity to
pay our last visit to the Arcade, and to
/ the numerous shops whose tempting
window displays lure the passing tour
list. Before long, however, the party
with their bags and baggage were group
ed together in front Of the hotel en-
trance, receiving smiling chances from
the passers by, who looked as if they
wanted to say, Fancy now! Oh yes,
but they are Americans, don't you
know" Most of the party preferred
walking the short distance to the rail
way station, and en- route we passed
the majestic Scott monument, the
scene of our ignominious defeat the day
before The ride of an hour and two
| minutes through charming country
seemed very short to us, the time, con-
trary to that of most railway Journeys,
flying by. At Melrose "break" was
awaiting us, and filling the Abbey Hotel
bus with our luggage, we mounted to
the ''main deck" of the vehicle and
were off for Abbottsford, the home of
Sir Walter Scott, ''The Wizard of the
North" 1t was glorious day, and the
drive took us through beautiful and
highly cultivated country. Arriving at
the tourists entrance we descended
from the carriage and walked a short
distance between high stone walls,
passed through an inner gateway and
along a garden path leading to small
door at the rear of a large gray building.
Entering we found ourselves in medi-
UNI sized room, with small desk and
shelf covered with the usual souvenirs
on sale in such places: souvenir postal
cards, photographs, etc. After waiting
few minutes, the guide, a bonnie little
Scotch lassie with an enchanting accent
and delightful manner, appeared and
conducted us into small room with a
gallery around three sides and desk
and chair in the centre. This, we were
told was Sir Walters study, and that
everything was just as it's owner left
it. The room, from floor to ceiling, was
lined with books-arranged just as his
fingers had left them. The desk where
Ivanhoe, Guy Mannering, Quenten
Durward, The Fair Maid of Perth and
many other famous characters were
created, was gazed at with reverence,
and it was with a feeling of awe that
we stepped into the tiny tower room to
see the death mask of one now num-
bered among the immortals. The libra
ry was the next room inspected, and
here was a glass-covered case full Of
the most wonderful curios. Our guide
pointed out Napoleon Us gold and
green blotting book, pen case and beetle
cloak-clasps, the cross that Mary, Queen
of SCOTS, carried to her execution, a
miniature of Sir Walter when little
boy, and the knife and fork he then
used, Helen Macgregor's brooch, Bal
four of Burleigh's snuff box, pocket
book worked by Flora Mcdonald, and
many other priceless relics. The little
guide completely won the hearts of the
party by the way in which she recited
a poem inscribed on glass tumbler in
the case with a diamond. Leaving this
fascinating place, we entered the draw
ing room, papered with japanese water
color paper, all hand work. Here were
many interesting portraits, and some
beautiful tortoise-shell and ebony cabi
nets inlaid with pearl Everything was
just as it was left by Sir Walter, except
that a portrait of the present lady Of
the house, granddaughter of the au
thor, was added about fourteen year.