Year: 1876

wiNDOw.vIEw IMPRESSIONS OF GLAs-
Cow.


One of Glasgow's first and best
known features is its great ship-build-
ing docks. The most extensive ship
building of the world, it is said, is be-
ing carried on along the banks of the
beautiful river Clyde. I had not yet
lost out of my minds eye vision OF
Glasgow and its shipskeletons, as seen
from the steamers deck, few years
ago; nor from my ear the click of the
hammers that were, perhaps then, put
ting into trim and strength, the very
steamer that was now bearing me into
port. This time I saw Glasgow first
through the portfolio window of my
state-room. It was sight to rejoice at, af
ter having been for nearly two weeks
what we'll people laugh at and call sea-
sickness, but that which seasick per-
son realizes to be one of the most severe
of all trials that poor human nature is
called upon to bear in this world.


But when we came in sight of Glas-
gov, We had been already enjoying
land-air for two days; had been in still
water more than twelve hours; and had
been assured by the firing off of cannon
that answered ours in Call of pilot, by
his actual arrival on board, and by the
letting off of passengers at Londonderry
that land still stood above that watery
element upon which we had so long
been tossed. And, under all these
favorable circumstances, seasickness
had yielded, and fortunately had left
enough of mind and body to enjoy a
rich scenery as we sailed up by the
beautiful hills, fields, and cottages of
bonny Scotland. think Frenchman,
having a home on the Clyde, would
just as soon named it &c La Belle RIVERS"
as the Ohio, the Hudson, or even the
Rhine.


L was yet feasting my minds eye on
the majestic green rock in the river, on
which once stood strong Dumbarton
Castle, when [ heard the old click of
the hammers. That is Glasgow, I
thought. The sound grew louder and
more distinct, until we came up to the
great hulls, the countless ribs, the tall
masts, and saw the hundreds of men in
each skeleton, perched up there and
here, like so many monkeys in a Win
ter-stripped forest. What noise! It
bore no comparison to the confusion
and general noise of machinery, the
turning of cranks, the whizzing of
steam, the rumbling OF wheels, the whir-
ring of bands. large and small. No hu-
man vOioo Huoc hoor1 oo11.,,o
giving of orders that We could distin-
guish- no sound save of hammers on
nail-heads. Every hammer seem to be
in the hand of one who knew his busi-
ness and did it. Every nail was evi-
dent!y being put into its place, where it
would, sooner or later. do its part to-
ward saving ship, from breaking in
storm, and human beings from finding
watery grave. There were between
ninety and a hundred ships in all
stages of completion. Think of a
hundred immense frame houses, slowed
in MS closely as possible together, being
weather-boarded at once by a hundred
or more hands each.


One grand specimen, that was already
incased in it's great iron shell, and had
the appearance of being nearly COM
pleted for ocean use, especially drew
attention. This was the Bolivia, of the
Anchor Line, concerning which I had
heard one of the officers remark, that it
would be ready for sailing in about two
months, and that &C it would be the
most magnificent steamer on the ocean,
and as swift as any,"


I was just thinking what a grand
world this would be to live in, if every
human being was minding as faithfully
his own business as these quiet, honest
Scotchmen; if every one was driving
right square on the head of his own
nail, and every nails purpose was not
only to play to the advantage of every
one who might choose to use it, but
also to increase his general comfort and
safety-when we came into port and
alongside of the wharf. There were
tears Of joy in many an eye on board,
and in many one on land. Friends
were waiting for friends that were COM
ing. And, only the day before. the
telegraph had announced the wreck of
a ship of another line when near it's
journeys end.


In short time, we were pleasantly
put away in hotel, and again improv-
ing our opportunity of taking views
from the window. And what was
our continued impression? Naturally
enough, that of heaviness and strength,
with an apparent Observation-Disclosures
of stone in the pavement; heaviness of
coaches and carts; heaviness of wheels;
heaviness of coaches and horsemen.
These all joined together made heavy
rumbling, that shook the great heavy
house we occupied. There was not the
jam and press and hurry of any of the
New York streets, but conscious ris-
ing and swelling and dying down of the
rumble, put me in mind of the crescen-
do and diminuendo of the locust's song.


There was an absence of nervousness
on all sides; kind of steady jog and
satisfied air in all that was going on;
an honest, quiet devotion to what the
hands found to do. Not many children
were on the street; the older ones be-
ing in school or at labor, and the little
ones were in nurses arms or in little
wagons, enjoying the public gardens,
where there was marvellous abundance
OF flowers and plants of every color
such beds of contrasted colored pansies
as think might occupy the real Elysian
Fields without accusation of presump-
ton.


Again. there was every where, and
with scarcely an acception, clear rud-
diness of complexion that was really re-
freshing to see. Even those we counted
at home as having an almost faultless
complexion, took somewhat sallow
cast beside this Scotch freshness. How