The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-05-14

Sir Archibald's memory goes back 20
time before railways had been established
in Scotland, when Edinburgh and Glasgow
were connected only by q post road and
canal, and when stage coaches still ran
from the two cities into England. One
Of our authors early recollections Il 10
have seen the London coaches start from
Princes street, Edinburgh, for, although
railways wero beginning to extend rapidly
over England, no line had yet entered
Scotland, so that the first part Of the journey
to London was made by stage coach. In
isl7, when Il became possible To 90 by
rail from Edinburgh and Glasgow 10 the
British metropolis, the whole distance
was accomplished In what seemed the
marvelously short space Of fourteen hours.
Now, Of course, tho journey IL performed
daily In seven hours and three-quArters.
Passengers between Edinburgh and GlAS-
gov before the days Of railroads had tho
choice Of two routes. either by road or by
canal. Not until 1899 was the time taken
by a stage coach 10 traverse The distance
between the two cities reduced to elk houTs,
In Sir Archibald'S boyhood, howover, =
various impreYements bad brought.doWn
the time 20 four hours and half. The
transit on the Union Canal waa moro
leisurely, among the drawbacks tbeing
the long detention u the lpoks, Itiseems
10 our author. however, as be looks back,
that for luxury Of transportation canal
travel stands unrivaled Steamboats, had
not yet been introduced upon the large
fresh water lakes Of Scotland, except upon
Loeb Lomond. when he visited the Tros-
sachs region for the first time, IN isAS.
There IL no doubt that railroads have
been most powerful agents Of social change
In Scotland. The opening Of railways
through some Of the lonely upland regions
Of North Britain was a momentous event
in their history, Till then many districts
which possessed roads were not trav-
ersed by any public coach, nor by many
private carriages, while In other parishes,
where roads either did not exist or we're ex-
tremely bad and unfit for wheeled traffic,
the sight Of q swiftly moving train was one
that drew the people from far and near.
Some time, however. had to elApse before
the country folk could aoOustom them
selves 70 the rApidity and (comparative)
punctuality Of railroad travelling. At first
the trains we're expected TO stop anywhere
In order TO pick up a passenger or TO let
one down by the roadside. Sir Archibald
recalls that an old lady from Cutter parish.
who came down TO a railway not long after
Il was opened, arrived at the station Just as
the train had started. When told that she
was too late, for the train had already gone
beyond the station, she exclaimed. bod,
maun rim then and proceeded at her
highest speed along the platform. while the
station master shouted after her to stop.
She was indignant that be would not
whistle for the train TO halt or come back
for her.
The introduction Of the railway was fol-
lowed by that Of the electric telegraph,
which naturally aroused much curiosity
In the rural districts az TO how the wires
could carry messages. A West High
lander, who had been TO Glasgow, and was,
consequently, supposed 70 have got 70 the
bottom Of all mysteries, was asked TO eK-
plain II. 'Weel,' said he, its no easy TO
explain what you will no be understandin'.
But I'll tell re what it's like. II you could
stretch my collie dog frae Oban 10 Tober-
mory, an II you wass to clap It's head in
Oban, an IL waggit its tail in Tobermory,
or II vass 10 tread on lie tail In Tober-
nory an Il squalred In oban-that's what
The telegraph IL like