Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-15
ScjTT'S ABRO[SfORO
Historic Home of Scot'and'S
Great Author and Poet.
IT MADE HIM A BANKRUPT
But He Left It Unincumbered When
He Died.
CONTAINS MANY RARE RELICS
His Magnificent Library Which His
Creditors Returned to Him With
Mortgage Cancelled
CONTAINS MANY RARE RELICS
TY WILLIAM +. CURTIS
ST,ecial Correspondence OF TIE Star and the
Chicago Record Herald.

rom waggsh friends
1t is a large, irregular structure of rough
stone without any particular design. and
made Of of architectural limitations from
ancient castles and palaces the owner
loved and admired. 1t stands hundred
Yards or so from the banks OF the River
Tweed. a clear cheerful stream which
sings an incessant song OF joy and free
don, as X dashes over its rocky bottom
~ the foot of the terrace. The house is
situated In a hollow and Is so surrounded
ny trees that only the chimn VS. may be
seen from the street. The approach to the
main entrance is through a narrow path
way Indeed there Is no main france,
although there are several doors through
which the different apartments may be
reached from the outside.
Home Building Bankrupted Him.
In 1Sll. when Scott began to receive re-
turns from his novels-which. by the
way. have been more profitable than any
other series OF books that were ever pub
lished--he was able to graft y his an1bt-
ton to have home OF his own. He
purchased from an old friend, the Rev.
robert Douglas, farm OF about 10
acres which had formerly belonged to the
Abbey of Melrose. The first building at
Abbots .orti was small and simple. II was
May 1872. y year later he bought the
adjoining tract of land and continued TO
buy until he had about 5000 acres lying
along TIE banks of the Tweed and extend
ing backward into the hills Of Eildon.
Scott was ambitious to attain the peerage,
and expected that recognition. During
all this time and up until 1874 he made
large and expensive addition to his resi-
dence until il reached its present proper
tons, when he found himself a bankrupt
because his eYtraEa0lnco l.
providence and the financial difficulties
OF his publishers. Sir Walter Scott pass ID
through a most distressing experience
similar to that suffered by Mark Twain
a few years ago; and although no liter
airy man ever received a larger compen-
sation for his labor. the last eight years
of his life were darkened by a struggle
10 pay Off his debts and secure AbbOts-
ford for the ownership of his family.
Expected an Earldom.
Indeed for twenty years he was in
financial difficulties. borrowing to buy
land and build additions to his home,
which ne did not need, and then scrinnp-
ing himself to pay the interest and the
notes at maturity-aIl because he expect
cd to become 1.-THE Earl of Abbotsford. -
and wanted an estate that would fit the
title 1t is gratifying to- know that his
heroic efforts We're successful. Before his
death he paid more than $IOO.CO to his
CreditorS-every dollar he owed-and left
Abbotsford without an incumbrance 10 be
handed down to his childron's children,
who still own and occupy it.
The present owner is Mrs. Mary Max
we'll Scott. writer. whose husband is q
business man in London and who took his
wife's name at marriage. Mrs. Scott re-
tains about 100 acres of what her grand
father left. most of which Is leased on
advantageous terms. She writes books
about Abbotsford, MelrOSe Abbey and
hood, which are sold to the tourists who
visit the house. and she derives q consid-
cradle income from them
Granddaughter Has an Eye to Bust
During the summer months from four
to six hundred people visit Abbotsford
daily, and each pays a. shilling admission
fee. There is stand for the sale OF
photographs. post cards, guides. Cata-
iogues OF tho curiosities in the mansion
and Mrs. SCOTS writings, which seems
to do a thriving business. The attend
ants who show people around are in
structed to advertise the books, cata-
!osues and descriptions OF Abbotsford,
which may be purchased, some for a
shilling aud some Cor two and six. Her
revenues from tourists alone must be in
the neighborhood of $4,000 year and
there il very little expense for the at
tendants are all household servants. who
are required TO keep the place in order.
could not help wondering what Sir Wal
ter. with his keen sense Of propriety and
his lofty pride. would say if he could
drop down here some day and the
merchandising of his fame that Is being
done IN his own beloved home But 1t
would S difficult to contrive any more
satisfactory method of handling the null
titudes OF tourists than that followed
catalogues and guides and post cards here
they would buy them somewhere else.
And they should be encouraged to buy
them. because those pun ications certain
~ illuminate the character OF the man
who lived there. and teach people a
great deal Of history that they ought 10
know.
Tourists Come in Coaches.
The tourists come out from Melrose on
large coaches holding tWenty-four and
thirty people. which await the arrival of
every train. Any one who cares to pay
a little more can hire an ordinary car
riage for himself Upon their arrival the
tourists are herded into room IN the
ia sement until 1t is SO crowded that no
more can be admitted. Then a man who
drops his ''h's'' or a woman with an
equally uncertain pronunciation conducts
them in squads of thirty or forty through
Tie rooms upon the ground floor. explain
Ing things they go along. Finally,
when the tour has been completed, the
party is turned out into the vestibule
again and told in a loud voice that they
can buy post cards. descriptions of Alb
hoiSforl and the writings of Lady Scott
al the stand IN the corner.
These parties follow each other at in
tervaIs Of fifteen or twenty minutes. and
individuals who arrive between times
have 10 wait until a sufficient number
has gathered TO make II pay to show
them around Everybody is required &c
pay shilling for a ticket. which is col
lected at the door. But that IS small