The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-10-03

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the news that the Reliance had won the
first race by a distance which made the
hats of the Americans abroad seem sew
eral sizes too small and sent their feet
along the street as If they were stepping
over hurdles.
The hotel at Edinburgh was managed
by women. at least they were behind
the desk and assigned the rooms. Things
moved like clock work the same as if
the machinery had been wound up by
man.
Early the next morning we continued
our journey into Scotland. A splendid
breakfast was served on the train for
three shillings.
We crossed the famous Firth of
Forth bridge, the greatest engineering
work in the world, they say over there,
journeying on toward the famous high
lands of Scotland. At the stations the
kits began to show. men with skirts
too short and stockings not high
enough. to cover the knees. The rail-
road went through long tunnels, some
mile in length. The country became
more broken and for miles almost
barren waste covered by great acre
masses of heather, giving the land a
coating of rich purple, beautiful to see.
but of no value for live stock.
A richer country soon appeared, billy
but with fine grazing lands and con-
tinuous herds of cattle and sheep. es-
pGC1dlly Tie 1dJLGT. EeNGIXWnGIe we OQ-
served the best roads following or
crossing under or over our track. There
were automobiles and bicycles. The
roadways from London to Inverness
would be no difficulty in making the
trip on wheel or by auto. although
many steep grades would be met.
like our coaches. seats on the side,
aisle down the middle. AT one of the
stations a man got on, his companion
carrying small crate or coop. had
express in America. While 1 was talk
ing with another traveller some seats
away, this country gentleman. dressed
IN huntin@ costume, was describing to
my wife his trophies and l presume
MS pfoWeSS with the gun. / came up
the aisle. glanced at the coop, at which
all We're looking and talking, and mad
Vertently merely asked: Are they
ailveT | simply saw something like
birds inside. Disgust spread over the
countenance of the Scotch sportsman
who had winged a lot of grouse that 1
supposed would be carried in bags in
stead OF crates. My folks were en-
barrassed, drew long signs at the
break. We were making a bad start
into the Highlands
AT Perth a change of cars and the
crowded train gave us an illustration
of an unpleasant feature of English
travel. Each compartment was so well
hlled that two of our party were
obliged to get into one and the third in
to another, but before many stations
We're passed we were reunited. 1t was
not very pleasant for a liberty loving
American to be locked in one room in a
car with his family locked in another,
each among strangers.
The railroad company, running no
dining cars over this division, gave
Americans a new wrinkle in methods of
serving meals to passengers. At the
stations passed about meal hours were
trucks with pots of tea and baskets of
lunch. We tried the scheme. A couple
of baskets cost five shillings In neat,
little receptacles were plates, knives
and forks, pepper, mustard, salt and
vinegar, roast chicken, bread and but
ter, ham. little fruit. The cover served
as a lap board and the refreshment
was eaten at leisure as the train went
along. The tea was poured hot when
the luncheon was brought. The empty
basket with the tableware was put UNI
der the seat.
Inverness, my fathers birthplace, was
reached in the middle of the afternoon.
This town is not so large as Topeka,
about the size of Wichita and was in
every way a most attractive place. The
river Ness, shallow stream, about
three feet in depth, divides the town.
The perfectly clear water ran rapidly
even row boats. The banks were all
evenly sloped. covered with grass to
the waters edge. On either side were
beautiful driveways, thanked by hand
some residences.
On hill in the center of the town was
a castle of ancient design. but modern
construction. 1t was the court house of
the place. The scenery was beautiful in
every direction, the great hills clad with
grass, grain and trees. The city is over
a thousand years old. but nearly every
part of it has been rebuilt in a modern
way.
Here was community where the
people of our name seemed to run the
town, or. at least. there were enough of
them and their occupations were suff1-
GENTLY varied for them to keep up the
affairs and hold nearly everything in
the family. / counted ninety-five Mac
Lennans in the city directory. Some
were blacksmiths, some were carpenters
and contractors, some were in the livery
business, one. with his sons. ran a large
grocery There were milliners, cab driv-
ers, plasterers, school teachers and capi-
talisss. One was the wife of the present
mayor, who is called the provost. One
had been in the council and held various
positions of trust and honor. and one.
regretted to see. had his name above
place which looked as if he kept ale
and porter and may be the real high
balIs,'' but we did not call on him. I
could find none in the printing BUSH
ness.
There were even more McKenzies than
there were MacLennans and the Mac
Donalds the Campbells, the Camerons,
the MacArthurs, MacPhersons, Murrays,
Robertsons, Stewards. SCOTS and John
stons, with the ''t'', We're too numerous
to mention.
In the dry goods shops or stores were
to be found the plaids or tartans of
these different families. or clans, as they
were formerly called. In the 1ewelry
stores were the crestss which went with
the tartans, like the tail with the hide.
OF course, as a matter of family pride
and out of ancestral respect, rather than
for any present feeling or intention to
emblazon any coat of arms on our To-
peka surrey, we patronized to some ex-
tent these caterers to old traditions and
brought little family jewelry and
clothing home. The particular crest