Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1905-02-24
FROM NEW YORK
TO GLASGOW
The Delights of an Ocean Voyage
Points of Interest off the New
foundIand COast---First Glimpse
of and--hist0riC Points Along
the Coast of Scotland, Etc
Bv Rev. ]. E. BaII0u.
written for the SPECTATOR

|
trary to many confident prediction
October proved a pleasant month
| which to cross the sea to Scotland. II
elements seemed to have spent the
equinoctial fury and, though thel
was by no means continuation of Il
beautiful weather which prevailed G
the Saturday noon of our departul
from the New York harb Dor, the voyas
was evidently an exceptionally smoot
one The variations from a monotol
GUS calm were really delightful. ThOf
We're indeed enjoyable hours when th
| sun shone warmly upon the deck an
| allowed us to lie comfortably In GU
| steamer chairs or to play shovel. boar
aud quoits with our companions, bu
the times of even greater exhilaratio
to US were those In which we wer
compelled to button our coats to th
chin and cling tightly to the railing q
the snip breasted bowling gale an,
leaped and shook from its contact witt
the resultant waves. One of the day
most nearly approaching stormy con
dition and hence one long to, be re
membered because of the certain wilt
delight which it gave US, was that Of
which We passed the dangerous coas
of Newfoundland and caught an indis
tinct vision OF the not very far distan
and the notorious Cape Race. Then il
was that the hitherto faithfully follow
ing little land birds left us and we en-
countered icy winds and intermittent
snow storms with now and then q
patch of fog and consequent short
season of gloom. Then too some of the
more timid ones noticed for the first
time and with much dismay the in.
dustry of a sailor:wbo was taking the
temperature of the water and thus
showing the possibility of the near
presence of an ice berg. 1t was not
long, however, until we again came
within the genial influence OF the Gulf
Stream and the air became so mild and
the motion of the vessel so gentle that
even those who had suffered most from
sea sickness thus far on the voyage
ventured from their state rooms and
Joined in the social life on board. The
fact that the time OF the year for holl-
day travelling had almost passed was,
ibis as well to the reverse of our expec-
,ation, most fortunate one for US. 1t
not only caused the passengers to he
ust sufficiently few to secure their
comfort and speedy acqusint,
snce, but also made Them to consist to
/ large extent Of charming Scotch peo-
Die VINO were returning to their homes,
litter tours through America and who
'ut forth the most unexpected efforts.
hat new ship friend might have u
pleasant journey and a proper intro
iuction to the country which they
owed. To US at such time it was a
~, not only On account of the delight
which we were given by our associa-
ion with them but more especially be-
'ause of the preparation which we
hereby gained for true appreciation
# the strange places and things which
We were so soon to see. There were
representatives. with us of many diff
'erent parts of Scotland whose declar-
ID and most kindly purpose 1t was to
ievelop in our willing minds a SYM
netrical Idea of their country as a
Whole. We seemed tofall naturally to
he especial care and instruction of a
ultured and courteous gentleman who,
hough he had passed q quarter of q
enJury in successful professional
experience in the city of Edinburgh,
vas proud native of Inverness which
5 at once the heart of the Cache north |
ountry and, save Dublin, the seat OF |
be most purely spoken English in the
World.
With him we walked often and Wig
rously along the unsteady deck, de- |
ending at times for support upon his
turdy and golf trained limbs, and |
alked of Scotia s glory, in ecclesiastical
nd secular history, in literature and
q the character and life of its people. |
lis deDonair friend, young and tall |
nd talented and to whom we became |
Indebted for many a bright hour both
pom the ship and in his own home city, |
vas but one of the many there from
usy, smoky Glasgow, who spoke en-
nusiastlcally aud Interestingly OF that |
)lace and testified to the likeness to |
ertain phases of it's life of the pen |
aud the peculiar dialect OF |
he quaint little book Wee Uacgreegor |
10 our surprise and delight we found |
hat another of that number. a gentle |
of Intelligence and social grace,
vas the veritable father of Annie
laurie, and we received from him an
invitation to dine with bis family that
We might meet that renowned young
ady herself. 1t is to be understood,
If course, that the person now bearing
such a name was not living when the
long of like title was composed, and
hat the whole matter here recalled
was one of mere pleasantly growing
,ut OF a coincidence. Still another
very interesting passenger from the
;ity above referred to was a quiet and
yet dryly humorous, Free
Kirk elder, who was by birth an Ayr
shire man and who was also, as we con-
expected, sincere lover
and student of Burns. 1t was a rare
treat to hear his use of pronunciation
and accents, which were as natural TO
him as to the poet as be read with feel
ing the EpistIe to Dazzle, and sang to
jhe great amusement OF all The De'it's
Jlrn1J 7citb the ErciSey1ln7l The LAT.