Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-10-11
Edinburgh. Scotland.
ScDtember %. 1910.

Edinburgh. Scotland.
September %, 1910.
Editor Daily Press
There are several items OF interest
in and around Edinburgh which may
be of interest to you. chief of which
is the Castle. being remarkable for is
strength as a military post. 1t is
perched on a rock. PERCEPTIONS on
three sides 300 feet high. and 445 feet
above sea level. It's approach. steep
on one side only. is interrupted by
deep. wide. empty moat with swing
ing pivot bridge: both the fitting OF
the bridge and the filling of the mOat
with water can be accomplished in
stantly at the will of the Waterman
on the tower by a system OF levers.
Then besides its big iron gates and
steep ascent add still greater diff
.culties TO an invasion. Underlying
all, its main strength is its resistance
to shot and shell by virtue of its hard
rock, which is a blush flint. nearly
as hard as steel armor; 1t is therefore
impenetrable to a great extent. The
castle. | am informed, successfully
guards the port of Leith (Edinburgh's
docks) two miles distant; that it has
modern disappearing guns properly
mounted. This information is con-
firmed or rather strengthened by the
closing of many parts of the castle
to the inside.
Besides being the next strongest
military post to Gibraltar. the castle
is the most historic spot in Scotland,
of which volumes might be written.
If we recall the events enumerated
in our school histories of Scotland We
can but mention its foundation by
King Edwin of Northumbria; but still
ii was a fortified post when the
Romans invaded Britain.
Many military prisoners OF high
rank have been beheaded within its
walls or in front thereof; notably,
Lord John Forbes. Lady Glammis, the
: MARQUIS of Argyle and others Ii
contains Mons Meg, the largest muz-
zle-ioading gun in the world as well
as one of the oldest, the latter having
been constructed about 1850. IL was
here that James VI was born. and
according TO tradition. was lowered
from a window in Queen Mary's
apartments in a basket to her Roman
Catholic friends to be educated IN
their faith
II was here also that James ii. was
proclaimed king in 1887. Also most
interesting sight is the Crown Jewels
of Scotland which theoretically, the
king shall wear at all State Functions
when he visits Scotland. which, | am
informed. is very seldom. They con-
Saonf~n and Sword
Of State. the Coronation Ring OF
Charles l.. besides several collars
badges and other jewels.
There are in the vicinity OF Eoin-
burgh. as one compact city, about
seven hundred thousand people; yet
within the contracted corporate limits
about two hundred and eighty thou
sand people. Thus the burden OF the
government of the whole community
is borne by the latter. making the
tax rate a fraction under eight per
cent The city owns its public utiii-
ties and sells such commodities as
Gas. water. electricity, etc, 10 its cit
liens at ridiculously low rites But
it spends large sums for music, parks
and schools. The sums spent Tor
flowers and shrubs alone, | am IN
formed. is two hundred and sixty
thousand dollars per year. One-third
of this amount goes to supply flowers
TO the parks and public gardens, anc
the rest 10 The maintenance OF the
Botanical Gardens. which are said IL
be the second largest in the world
The latte, are controlled by the Board
Of Schools, and are maintained theo
fetIcaily for educational purposes.
have been unable 10 obtain the exact
number o. students coming 10 Edin
bursh each winter. bu; one OF the city
officials tells me that the combined
manifestations in medicine and phar