Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1911-10-04
MELRosE ARBEY ANp cor

MELRosE ABBEY AND SCOTT
Old Edinburg is very quaint, and what
was once aristioeratic, now appears
very commonplace and dingy. A very
fine view can be had from Arthur's
Leat-rocks which tower above Edin-
burgh to the southeast. When climb
ed it, the day WIS misty end did not
see much of the sea, the river and the
mountains. From Edinburgh my route
was to Melrose, thence by a five-mile
walk to Abb0tsford, the home of Scott,
the wizard of the north. 1t is beau
tiful here, and one has brought home
TO him forcibly the power of Scott's
genius, his masterful energy, his strict
honesty, and the noble pathos of his
closing years in which, with ambitions
shattered. he toiled TO leave free Of
debt and incumbrance to his descend
ants the Grand mansion which he had
built ami cherished His boo.s paid for
everything, but not till ter his death.
A granddaughter Of Scott is the pre-
sent Lady of Abbotsford. Her portrait
shows her as charming and agreeable
person.
Melrose Abbey, of which Scott wrote
4 is wonderful ruin, taking much study
to reveal all its attractions. But leav-
! ing it too soon. / went on to st. Bos-
wells and walked about mile and
half to Dryburgh Abbey. There is not
so much to see here, but it was worth
while. The rural scenery in Great
Britain is charming everywhere and
country walks are very enjoyable. At
Dryburgh Abbey | was struck with an
ingenious device which the caretaker
used for passing the time. He had
pocket book which opened out into a
chess board. There were sixty-four
small pockets, each representing
square of a real chess board, and the
pieces were represented by small fiat
pieces of celluloid, each bearing its dis
tinctive mark. These could easily be
moved from pocket to pocket. When
through with his study of problem he
simply folded il once and put it into his
| packet and the pieces kept their proper
! places until he wished to resume his
study.
ARRIVES IN LONDON
After leaving st. Boswell Travelled
all night ard next morning found me in
London. A week in London was full of
sightseeing and making friends. | say
making friends, for knowing the where
abouts of one my mothers cousins, |
went to call upon her. She and her
family were delighted to see me- A
letter from home awaited me here. 1t
was only matter of a few hours be-
fore discovered that had host of
second and third cousin in England all
of whom took an interest in their rela-
tive from far.otf Australia. Indeed,
could have spent several months in
England, visiting relatives and enjoy
ing myself, but had TO hasten on. My
greatest regret aas that ! could not
visit Cornwall, the home of my an
eestors on my mothers side. As it is,
carry away the photographs of the
smithy In which my great-grandfathe
worked, and several uncles after him,
and the church In which my grand
mother and many other relatives were
married. The snithy was busy place
In the old coaching days, long since
gone. The church Is still a fine old
guiding. ! visited the principal parks,
museums. monuments, cathedrals, in
stitutes, castles, bridges, etc, in Lon
don. st Paul s is immense. The crypt,
which visited. holds many Of England s
illustrous dead. Wellington and Nelson
being among the chief. The bodies are
let down rectangular space in the
floor of the cathedral A carriage of
enormous tonnage and elaborate design
made from cannon taken In Yelling
tons campaigns, IL shown as the car
which drew his remains, or rather, the
efiigy of wellington, to the cathedral
in the funeral procession. Compared with
st Pauis, Westminster Abbey, the older
building of the two, Is more interesting,
although on much smaller scale, and
showing much crude workmanship In
'tombs and monuments. A number Of
the old monuments in the latter build
ing have been defaced or robbed to EN-.
bellish ST. Paul's. An effigy Of man,
/ whose name was Peter. was covered
with gold This covering was stripped
off TO aid in embellishing st. Paul s and
: the incident is said to have given rise to
to the saying. ''Robbing Peter to pay
Paul.
The Albert and Victoria museum, re-
Gently opened, is a magnificent struc-
ture. The pillars of the interior are
of black and white grained marble and
present fine appearance. A number
|, of the choice pieces Of ancient wall
sculptures are built into the walls. As
yet the museum appears to be far from
! being fully stocked. In the Imperial
Institute confess | was surprised to
see the examples of handicraft assemb-
led from different parts Of the empire,
particularly in the variety, intricacy
and grace Of the carvings in wood and
stone from India. Splendid examples
of decorative art and craft in household
furniture, utensils of all kinds, harness
and weapons Of war and the chase
4 abound.
But why attempt TO give any detail
\ Of what saw ia this largest city OF the
word. have just run off few SEN
fences which came, one after another
into mind, and must write d few gen
leral remarks and close my account Of
travel In Great Britain.
sIDELIGHTs on LONDON LJfE
| have found no difficulty Ia getting
accommodations, good end cheap. In
London paid seventy five cents for bed
and breakfast in nice clean private
boarding house and took my other
meals wherever / wished. A full meal,
4 nicely served, can be had for twenty
cents in many places. Means of loco
motion are plentiful and cheap. In
deed trains, above ground and under
I ground, tramways, motor buses. horse
I buses, cabs and taxi-cabs are so num-
erous a stranger is liable to be con-
fused and doubt the best way to travel
\ to any given place Fares are very
cheap. | rode mostly by the tubes,
as they style the underground rail-
ways although there is at some places
labyrinth Of passages and numerous
stairs to climb up and down to make