Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-08-21


mind when one takes the coaching and
steamer trip through the TroSsachs of
Scotland, the scene of SCOTS Lady of
the Lake. Indeed, there is much
similarity between New England and
| this country of the pointed frs. We
| find the same stimulating, vigorous air
with a point in our favor as lacking
| the miStS,) something Of the same
scenic vistas, as we'll as the love for
| the open. Which is 50 characteristic Of
all who are fortunate to live in q land
to which "bocn nature has been kind
The start was from Edinburgh, by
early morning train, to AberfOylc.
where several fOur-horsc drags, or
char BAGS, met the party, the driv-
ers in true red and gray coaching cos
tune. For an hour and Il half we
| enjoyed Il most cXhilarating ride
| through country of frs, bluCbcllS,
yellow whin and purple heather. till
Loeb katrinc was reached, a gem of Il
| lake. Here steamer. quite appro
priatcly named Sir Walter Scott was
waiting, and soon we We're off across
the shining blue water.
We have all enjoyed that fine poem
| '"The Lady of the Lake" rom our
| childhood up, and have followed, in
| ina Sination. at least. the rush of the
| noble stag, who mad drunk his fill.
| and gone crashing through the wood
| h"tly pursued by dogs and horscmen,
| till he so clcvcrly cludcs them.
| We have surveyed, with the lone
| hunter the grandeur of the scene he
| bcheld from the rromontory Of
Mountains that like giants stand,
TO sentinel enchanted land
| We have gazed with him as
| Huge Bonvcnue, down on the lake in
| masse. threw.
| Crags. knobs and mounds confu3cdly
hurl'd,
The fragments Of an earlier world"
| As fair Ellen, the Lady of the Lake.
appears. we have all bcamcd With
| pleasure and have enjoyed the impress
| sion she makes on the knight-lill gen.
| tl"nan. who has lost his way.
| The story is so gracefully told. the
| descriptions 50 vivid. the rhythm of
| the poetry 50 perfect. that we wander
| mechanically along with the king lin
| cog" to the home of Douglass: We
| listen to the songs of the minstrel.
| The arrival of fierce Roderick Dhu and
| his Highland warriors interest us; we
follow the bearer Of the cross Of fire
| as its signal calls the clans together.
| The lone hunter again appears to sec
beautiful Ellen. only to find she cloves
| another" and we are thrilled. as he
| homcward wcnds his way. over his
| fierce, but successful combat with
| Rodcrick. The return of the King to
| Stirling. tho sports III which Robin
| Hood and his band figure, all hold our
| attention Tho dramatic final comes
| all too Snon-the noble Douglass again
| in favor, Ellen. surprised to find in her
| friend the King, is made happy by be
| ing united with the man of her choice.
and the best of scenic poems is at an
| end.
| 1t is doubly interesting. then. to
| those of us who have 50 thoroughly en-
| joycd the poem, to traverse this region,
| which Scott has made 50 familiar to
us. through his fine descriptive power.
| We pass Ellcn's Isle. and enjoy to the
| full the lake Sc"ncry-thc deep blue Of
| tho water. tho fresh green Of the land
! Scapc.
We change for coaches at StronaCh
| lachIr. and it is Il good throat exercise
| to pronounce it. as did our driver OF
| cours" his namc was Duncan. We
kept him saying it again and again.
| There is a most attractive hotel at this
| point, with great masses of brilliant
| rhododcndrOnS on terraces in trent.
| The whips crack. and the horses start
| off at a brisk pace. There is more
scenery. more wild flowers. and be
tween whites we arc getting acquaint-
"a with the sheep with long, shaggy
| il, n
road ana then 20 capcring off in queer
| fashion. their heavily laden sides flap
| ping around them. suppose the
wool we saw chasing around will one
day appear in bright plaid steamer
| rugs.
| We pass many places mentioned in
| SCOTS novels. Rob Roy's cave being
| duly labelled. At Invcrsnaid we dine
and it is most attractive lakeside re-
sort tho row boats calling to us very
enticingly.
OF course. as number of hungry
| Americans como trooping into hotel.
| they are viewed well nigh as curiosi-
ties by the English and Scotch patrons.
| many of whom take life more seriously
| than do we. Truth compels me to
say that my friends do not tiptoe in
with their rubbers on, and it is always
| quite evident that somebody has ar
| rived. They invariably bring a well
| developed appetite along, also. At
| one place recall the CONSERVATION of
| the innkecper--a jolly red faced man.
His people had prepared some dainty.
! airv-fairy deserts Of different fiavors
and tints. in the fond expectation. 50
| we were told later that each person
would select one kind. Instead, hav-
! ing driven about twenty miles. in the
clear crisp air. and being ravenously
hungry, we ate each and every one as