Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-17

" DIS z
worth the poet. There Is waterfall and
a cave. called Rob Roy's prison." near
by, and there Wordsworth saw one of his
heroines-
Sweet Highland girl. very shower
or beauty is thy earthly dover.
Loeb Lomond and It's Fish.
1t is asserted that Wordsworth wrote
his famous lines on Rob Roy's grave
while seated in the wrong cemetery. but
that is only an unimportant detail.
Corrlearklet. another residence of Rob
Roy and his wife. Helen MacGregor, who
was fierce and unlovely ANA zon. is near
the north end of the lake and is now oc-
cupied by a peaceful and rather stupid
farmer.
Loeb Lomond is the best known and the
largest of all the Scottish lakes. 1t is
only an hour and half from Glasgow
and the people of that city are able to
use its banks as a playground. The
waters are supposed to contain plenty of
fish-salmon, trout. pike and perch-and
the railways advertise this an induce
ment to bring people down. but you never
hear of their catching anything.
At 1nversnaid the tourist takes a coach.
very comfortable vehicle with wide
seats that will hold four people. and a
driver in scarlet livery. which carries
illIi I'VE IlllSS over d pdSS 10 l-OCIl
Katrine. There is procession OF
Goa ehes both ways all summer, and every
thing is we'll arranged for the tourist.
There are lunches and teas and every
thing they can ask for in the way of re-
freshments. post cards, souvenirs and
opportunities to spend money, while the
hotel keepers do a rushing business.
The National Bag Pipe.
Scattered along the road are groups of
blow as If their lives depended upon it
as soon as the coaches appear in sight.
with the hope of precipitating a shower
OF pennies while a small boy with tin
cup solicits from the passengers A
bagpiper always looks very serious when
he plays and keeps his eyes on the ground.
suppose it requires concentration of
thought to perform successfully on that
instrument, and 1t certainly does not pro-
mote the cheerfulness of the performer
1t would add considerably to the dra-
matte effect of this part of the excursion
If the pipers were dressed in new or neat
tartans instead of wearing the dilapidated
and nondescript clothing in which they
now appear.
Scenery Best Described by Scott.
There is a picturesque road along the
Arslet water between the two lochs, rum
ming for time through the woods and
again through peaceful, highly cult
waited agricultural country. with here and
there focks of sheep and herds of fine
looking cattle grazing in the roadside pas
lures: and. rising in every direction are
rugged and picturesque mountains, some
of them to the height of 5000 feet.
The name of the place where we dis
mount from the coach and take the little
steamer on Loeb katrine is Stronach-
lachar. which no foreigner is able to pro-
nounce. There is a hotel there. with time
for tea or lunch and other kinds of
freshments. according to the taste of the
traveller Everybody produces a copy Of
THE Lady of the Lake" soon as a boat
is In motion. for that is really the best
guide to the scenery and the best descrip-
ton of the surroundings. All of SCOTS
works are wildly localized. He visited
every scene he has described and his pen
sketches are always accurate In detail.
but none of his other works is equal to
THE Lady Of the Lake" in this respect
Critics have said that it is not a poem Of
the sub.imest order but il is certainly one
of the most delightful in all literature
and It's fascination Is greatly enhanced
when the poem is read in this enchanted
region where the events described took
place.
King James and Ellen Douglas.
You Will remember That, according to
the poem. King James V, father of Mary
Queen of Scots, while on a hunting expe-
dition from Stirling Castle, lost his way
and his horse and found a fair young
woman named ELLEN" living upon a
beautiful isle In Loeb Katrine.
Lord Douglas, her father. received him
with the hospitality for which the high
landers are famous. Malcomb Graeme,
her lover, was uneasy in his presence,
but was reasonably polite. But that fierce
warrior. Roderick Dhu. appeared In a
belligerent mood, and, when refused the
hand Of Ellen in marriage flashed
through the mountains the cross Of fire"
the highland summons to arms-and
called his clan to conflict. King James
escaped. as re supposed, unidentified and
returned safely to his stronghold at Stir
ling. Before he left the enchanted isle,
however. he placed on Ellens dainty
finger Il ring which, he explained had
been given him by the King of Scotland
with a pledge that his majesty should
grant any favor that its wearer might
ask, and he told her to use il In her need
The scene changes TO the castle al
Stirling. where Roderick Dhu lies diving
The Douglas. doomed Of old" and Mall
comb Graeme are prisoners with many Of
their men. Ellen follows them there and
is shown into the presence of his males,
ty. She recognizes her guest on the isle