Alma record., 1913-10-23

nelds, and hedges, the little water
falls, etc, make one feel like living
there. At Fort William we went to
the Highland games and enjoyed
them immensely. We sat constantly
for six hours without getting tired.
1t is something like a two-ring circus.
The contestants took part down on a
level piece of green with hills rising
from three sides and a high fence on
the other. Seats were arranged on
the hillside so the view was fine. All
kinds of contests in dancing, piping
and athletic games. Contestants were
not local but from all over Scotland,
SO interest ran high. AT one part of
the field piping and dancing was 60
ing on all the time; contestants
dressed in kits; and at another part
athletics, such as running, jumping,
weights, tossing caber. Fort William
is at the foot of Ben Nevis, the high
est mountain in Britain. 1t, with its
companion hills, makes beautiful
scenery. The trip from here between
two ranges of hills to Ardlui, with
scarcely farm to be seen for miles,
and only sheep feeding on the great
hllsdes, the mountain stream and
the heather in view, made a very
preety ride.
From Ardlui, which is situated on
Loeb Lomond, we went by boat and
stage over the famous Trossachs trip.
This region, which is made so famous
by Scott's Lady of the Lake" Sew
eral mountains in sight. AS we
crossed Loeb Katrine we passed with
in few feet of the famous Ellen's
Isle. The scenery at the lake head is
wonderfully beautiful and fascinating.
In the Trossachs ride by stage coach,
for ten miles from here, one passes
several places of interest to Scott
readers. Coilantangle Ford, the scene
of the combat between Roderick Dhu
and James Fitz-james, place Of the
stag chase, SIMPSONS putting stone,
etc.
After brief stay in Calendar, we
went to Stirling, and from point of
historic interest it is next to Edin-
burgh. The Greyfriars' church and
cemetery has much of historic in
terest connected with it, but the Stirl-
ing castle has still more; James | of
Scotland resided here; James ii and
V were born here; James V was
| crowned here; as was also Queen
Mary when she was an infant. We
were in the room where James II is
said to have killed Douglas.
Eight battlefelds, as we'll as several
| mountains, can be seen on a clear
day from the lookout We walked
out to Bannockburn, which is nearly
two miles. The battle of Stirling
Bridge was fought almost at the foot
of the castle. The Wallace monu-
ment occupies conspicuous place on
the side of a hill, from which spot
Wallace watched the English as they
crossed the valley before the battle
of Stirling Bridge. Other things of
interest seen there are Cambus Ken
meth Abbey, first Scottish parliam ent
house, Kings garden plots, behead-
ing stone, etc.
Leaving Stirling we went to Edin-
burgh, and while there secured a
house; were fortunate in finding a
lady who wanted to take her daugh-
ter to the country for her health and
would just be away during the months
we are here Her house is beauti-
fully furnished, two rooms with ma
hogany, and she left absolutely every
thing for us, so we do not need to
get thing, not even to plants. Also
left her piano. We did not do much
sightseeing here at this time, but left
for London, where we spent about
two weeks. On the way we stopped
at the cathedral cities of Durham.
Newcastle, York, Lincoln, Ely and
Peterborough. Before seeing these
splendid churches | had little concep-
ton as to the immensity and grand
eur of the English cathedrals. Most
of them are over five hundred feet
long and over two hundred feet across
the transepts and very high. These
vast buildings, with the huge pillars,
the splendid stone carving and fine
stained glass windows and decorative
work, almost fills one with awe.
Then, too, the tombs of the dead add
to the feeling.
Spent day at Cambridge and one
at Oxford among the colleges. Found
them very interesting indeed. By
hiring a guide and giving the porters
a small tip" at each college we were
able to see all we desired and hear
explained many of the traditions con-
nected with each college. To go into
description of these colleges would
take lot of time, so | will leave that
till see you and tell you about it.
Spent another day in the Shake
speare country. Went to Coventry
by train, then got a motor that took
us through the interesting places
First, Kenilworth Castle, fine old
ruined castle, the gift of Queen Eliza
beth to Earl of Leicester. and immor-
talized by Scott's Wentworth. "
Guys Cliffe and Warwick were next
i'm order. Warwick Castle, situated