MIDST BANKS AND BRAES

Chronicle (Levin), 10 July 1946, Page 8

MIDST BANKS AND BRAES

MR. BILLENS SPEAKS OF SCOTLAND Writing from Glasgow on June 20, Mr. R. H. Billens, managing-director of "The Chronicle," states that the tour' of the great industrial cities was a wonderful experience. Interspersed had been committee meet-. ihgs, some lasting until nearly mid-1 nigh't. "To-day was a delightful change," he continues. "A trip doWn the Clyde lasting six hours on a beautiful, little, fast steamer. We visited John Brown's colossal shipbuildiiig yards where the Queen Elizabeth was launched, and then weht on towards the river-mouth — one of the most delightful spots w6 have yet seenj recalling the topography of Queen Gharlotte Sound. We are now parked in the Central Hotel adjOining the railway station. The Scots are not going to infliet a torrent of words on us to-night — they believe Glasgow can speak for itself " in Edinburgh on June 23 .he says: "The great belts of the chureh acros's tlie way are booming out their not very nuisical chimes as 1 write this note^ ih niy luxurious suite in the Caledonia^ Iiotel. It is just after. 6 p.m. on a IovgIv Bundav {ittcrnoon and; as it tvill

be daylight "until after midnight, we could go on oxploring this most lovely city for hours, but we have to boaid our •train at !) o'c.lock. A visitor is jtist due also to take us out and sliow us just liow lliuch a Bi'itisli family has to eat — that is the tragic side of life of wliicli we have seen uothing yet. The Scottish hospitality has been^the most lavisli and cordial vve have yet experienced. Something of Bobbie Burns "Our ride from Glasgow to Prestwick, the great airport of westerti Scotland, was truly a mentorable oue througli ' some of the loveliest dairy coiintry we have yet seen. We left the train and went by bus to visit the birthplace of Bobbie Burns 011 the outAkirts of the charmiiig little city of Avr. We stood k tlie dark little room vvlie tScotlaml's greatest son was born aiul heard the curator, a typical Scot, recitc Burns on tlie least provocation. Tlu'p we saw the Burns' museuin and various otlier places connected with the great poet, the loveliest of all being the Brig '0 D0011. Tlie old bridge is jealouslv guarded from vanrlals, altliough it is still in use as a highway, aml the D0011 itself is lilto a fai ryland stream. No wondur Bobbie sang such sweet songs about the banks and braes of Bonnie Scot land. Flight Across Scotland

"A lovely motor ride toolc us to Prestwick, a busy little city, bright and clean like so many of the Scottish towns witli eharining old houses and alniost spotless streets. Narrowness has its advantages in that the streets are so easilv lcept neat. Tliere is 110 untidy grass but orderly rows of houses with ' neat gardens. Prestwick was during the war tliO greatest airport of the nortli and is still very busy. Liners come and go from Iceland, America and the different capitals of England and Scotland. We had a very ample and appetisiiig luncheon with only two speeches — a vigorous advocacy of civil aviation by the Earl of Selkirk, chair111 a 11 of directors of Scottish AirWays, Ltd. Then tlie company sprang a surprise — tliey offered us an airliner for the return trip to Edinburgh. It could onlv take 21 and I was lucky to get oue of the last seats. I11 the glorious summer day the 30-niinute trip right across Scotland was a memorable event. We ci'rcled over the great Eirtli of Forth iiridge and saw warsliips in the naval base below us. O11 landing a bus was waiting for us and the iive-mile ruu inlo Edinburgh carriod us througli fair farni lands, golf links and delightful suburbs, right to the door of our Iiotel, where we arrived at 4.45, nearly two hours aliead >f the rest of the party. "The Caledonian is one of the Bailways Company 's luxurv hotels — it is decorated with tvpical Scottish dignity and austerity as befits the traditions of this noble ciiv regarded by authorities as the second most beautiful in the world.- The hotel overjooks Edinburgh Gastle and part of • Princ.ess GStreet. What a lovely city it is— an austere loveliness, symphonies of sombre greys and greens," stately buildings, skvlines dominated by chureh steeples, scores of slender spires. Just across the road are two large churches. We have had little time to explore tne city and last night we liad dinner in the City Hall and this morning we attended service in John Knox 's Church, St. Giles' (^athedral, the eer.tre of Presbyterianism. It was a notable gath'ering, between 1500 and 2000 being present. The interior is a very reniarkable piece of architecture with nianv great pillars, and the pulpit right in the c.entre. It was quite an ornate service and very impressive. After the service we went on a tour of Edinburgh Castle and the superb war uiemorial. "