The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1902-12-26
SCOtland'S Two Great Cities.

| Inc real lie OF country centers largely IN It's
cities. No one, to be sure, should miss the de-
lightful country life one finds in the provinces
and rural parts of old England yet London is
England, London is just about the center of this
terrestrial ball. Time spent among the High
landers in their rude retreats, with the rural
Scottish folk, and along the fascinating "lochs"
is time well and pleasantly spent; but one couldn't
miss the life in the cities and say that he had seen
Scotch life in its best. Glasgow and Edinburgh
are the two great cities of Scotland and their very
difference makes them interesting.
Glasgow is not very beautiful CITY, 1t is
something like our own great city of Pittsburg =
smoke, dirt, dust, hustle clatter Manufacturing
is the principal industry You are struck at once
by the magnitude of these great manufacturing
plants and the height of the chimneys coming
from them,-great cylinders of brick, they rise
like the columns OF ancient Thebes. The Saint
Rollux Chemical Works cover an area of fifteen
acres. In the center of this immense plant stands
giant chimney four hundred and thirty-five feet
high and even this is over-topped by its neighbor
four hundred and ffty-fve feet-probably the
highest chimney in the world.
The town has some fine public buildings and a
very good University The municipal govern
ment of Glasgow is the ceanest and best of any
city in that part of the word-perhaps in any
part of the world. Political influence in city
affairs has been practically eliminated. pain
substantial city government controls everything
pertaining to the welfare, health, and use of the
great municipal body. The police not the
hirelings of political ring; and it is unnecessary
to comment upon the efficiency of the Glasgow
police.
A fine supply of water is obtained for the city
aba Kot luko in oh Dds
two miles away. They pointed with pride to the
fact that they had expended over ten millions of
dollars u on the water plant, and we who have
been drinking the schuylkl cocktail for some
years were ashamed to tell them how much PhIla-
delpha had appropriated for the lettering OF her
political water supply. And we found it rather a
change to ride on city controlled electric railway
, fine large cars they are, where you can sit on
the top and see things and get the air-and all for
the nominal sum of two cents or even less, in our
5 money And then we thought again-but these
I are thoughts for the economist.
1t is unnecessary to tell anyone who is familiar
with SCOTS Rob Roy anything concerning the
wonders of Glasgow's Cathedral. A few chapters
of this romance make as complete a guide-book
to this as one can purchase. The crypt-one of
the largest in any minster-is by far the most
interesting part of this great structure. Its sixty
five pillars are surmounted by exqusitely carved
capitals and the general effect is that of mighty
q sepulchre.
Quite in contrast with this fine early English
church there stands In the very heart of the SUM
y district of Glasgow very plain and quaint Quaker
s. meeting house-the only Quaker church saw in
g Scotland. This small place of worship forms an
:, integral part of mighty project and great work
= of one of Englands foremost champions Of
II Quakerism.
r An American is surprised and shocked at the
:, great number of crippled and deformed children
he sees in the streets Of Glasgow. In the poorer
tenement portions of the city it seemed to me thai
e forty per cent of the children were deformed,-
II the poor little chaps making melancholy picture
~ as we saw them playing in the streets. am told
that this is one of the hereditary results of child
labor in tactores-a thing, thank Heaven, tha
Britain has put an end to by strong prohibtory
statutes.
- There are many and various things to see in ole
r. Glasgow after alL-the University buildings ant
e library; Kelyingrove Park from which a mag
10 nifcent panoramic view of the town is obtained
the flower gardens and those fine docks and har
h" bors, into which are coming great ships from al
D. parts of the commercial world.
of Edinburgh is very different from Glasgow. l
,e is well to see the latter first; it affords goot
:. background to set off more brilliantly the rea
gem. 1t is hard to draw parallel between Amer
I'll lean and British cities. They very different
But if Glasgow is the Pittsburg of Britain, should
IS say that Edinburgh is the Washington. My frs
I, impression of Princess street was that had land
ed on Pennsylvania avenue But the comparison
$ is not a good one at ALL Washington, like Paris
J. is new and artificial; Edinburgh is old and natur
u ally beautiful. Washington is in bas-reief Edin
-, burgh grew naturally into its place of magnifi
cence and beauty.
a The people of Edinburgh are vastly differen
IS from those of Glasgow Glasgow is the seat of tn
10 moneyed aristocrats, the stamping aground of tn
~ nouceau richie: Edinburgh is the center of tn
, political, diplomatic, and educated oligarchy o
III Scotland.
at Historically Edinburgh is the city of Scotland
VS. and historical interest centers around lis two grea
I budings-the palace and the castle.
To those OF the readers of this who are familia
&c with the history of Scotlards sovereigns, anC
lie especially with the life of Mary Stuart, tits unnec
s. essary to speak much concerning old Hollywood
a Palace The morning spent in this old place
count one of the most interesting spent on thu
other side of the water The very air OF the place
re is dramatic. Everything seems to point to thu
,e tragic life of Mary-Scotand's beautiful bu
10 unfortunate queen. Here is the picture gallery
the walls hung with portraits OF her Industrious
ancestors; her sleeping apartments and the little
y room from which she was dragged to witness the
murder of Rizzio; the stairs down which his life
A less body was flung and her private chamber
where secret councils were held,-all these me
e MORALS of Scotlands dramatic history. Adjacent
% is the ruined chapel where many of Scotland:
= noblest are buried. And overlooking all frowns
u. old Arthurs Seat, that high and mighty cliff from
. which, tradition says the great warrior beheld
- his conquering soldiery. To feel it all you must
see it, and to appreciate it you must have some
spark of sentiment in your soul. Mere words
become idle prattle when used to portray the
o dramatic incidents in the life Of a nation.
e But suppose the castle is the chief glory oil
If Edinburgh. 1t is grandy situated on the summit
. of bold rock, and slopes gently and gradually to
= Hollywood on the East, but descends almost per.
II pendicularly on the other three sides. This was
the fortified nest of the old Scottish kings and il
e was within this rocky fortress that was born
;, James the Sixth of Scotland, who was destined to
become james the First of England and unite the
c destinies of the two nations. There are many
things OF interest within the CASTLE but the thing
# which interested me most was the regiment OF
Highland soldiers being drilled on the esplanade.
In their natty Highland dress these sturdy boys
presented a striking appearance, and constitute a
e soldiery.
a On coming from the castle you pass st Giles
Church, the Oldest parish church in the city, and