LIEUT. T. E Y. SEDDON’S EXPERIENCES

Hokitika Guardian, 14 April 1917, Page 4

LIEUT. T. E Y. SEDDON’S EXPERIENCES

The New Gretna Green

ill. We were favored with another good day. Carlisle,-: which previously we had seen at might, cow lay before as, and we saw afar off its Castle, its streets and building o , end i»s famous rive>\ There was a stir in the Caßtle for troops were stationed there and the old p ! ace seethei with fighting men as it did oncß long ago. However, we did not dally in Carlisle fop we were bound for Scotland—Bonnie Scotland—and we were going by rood —the old road by which the stage coaches used to go—and the road by which eloping couples from Eogland raced to reach Scotland—Gretaa Green aod married bliss ! It was a sparkling, clear, early day of winter, and we saDg as we spun aloDg, “You’ll tak’ the High Road l’il tak’ the Low Road,” and we tried to imagine that there was something different in the atmosphere—in the landscape between Scotland and England, AH my prosaic mind could see in the way of difference was that we had laid good-bye to Shorthorns and in every field we saw Ayrshires! This uupcetical observation was not appreciated by my friends. Presently, wo came to a bridge and the chaffeur stopped and said, “ This i-i thß Border, will you wish ?” Gracious, how we wished, .but what we wished no one knows. The wishes on this bridge always came true! —I hope so.

Soon we reached Gretna Green — bnt what a Gretna Green it was. Instead of there just being a peaceful village with the old blacksmith shop where runaway couples tied themselves into knots of oonnubial bliss, and by Scotch lav/ defied their enraged end late arriving parents, there are now miles of hutments, factories and offices. Ye 3, here was a second Woolwich and perhaps some of the greatest munition works in the world. Trains were running in various directions ; trees lately planted were growr ing, and everything was in full swing. It was hard to believe that in snch a shore time such changes had been wrought. We passed soma of the companies oi women going to their dining rooms, as chesrful as it is possible to see anyone. When one hae lived in England and has realised the terror the Zeppelin raids strike into town-folk, and the danger there is in working with ex< plosives one can appreciate the fortitude of the women who work at munitions. These women know fall well that Zeppelin raids are launched against munition factories and that the deadly bombs seek the destruction of the workers, wom6ju or men, who are fighting the Huns by their efforts at the factory bench. When a raid is on every light goes out and the women stay silently at their places just as any soldier would Btand. to his post iu the firing line. All praise, ell credit to them. These women are helping to win the war, aDd their help is greater than the worst of ns imagine.

We ware not permitted to stay loug in this area, but pushed on co. the village where we inspected the famous blacksmith shop. The anvil is still there—blessed spot—and the old room—a Btage coach—-and a few other interesting relics of half-forgot-ten romance, Even to-day scores of „ couples wend their way to Gretna / Green 3cd the register shows that even in 1916 there were numbers of oonples who could find no better place than Gretna in which to make the Great Adventure ! We had quite a lot of amusement talking to alad whose Scotch was diflioult to under-

stand. After buying a few souvenirs we left for AnnaD, in Dumpshire, where 1 waa to meet some cousins. One of these—an officer in the King’s Own Scottish Borderers—bad returned from the Somme with shell shock and I was looking forward to seeing him. He was still pretty bad, and I don’t think he will see service for some time. His regiment got badly smashed up. Annan is a quaint old place'—not far from the Solway. It is red brick for the moat part, and typically Scotch. It was here toy grandmother was born, The citizens conferred the freedom of the town on my father when he last visited Scotlund, The 1 Wilson family—my cousins—lived near the Solway and there we spent the rest of the day. Here Mias Davidson left us. Captain Dausey aud I proceeded to Glasgow and had onr tickets made out for Inverness. However, the cold was intense so we d«cided to go via Perth to Edinburgh,

On the way to Glasgow we shared a compartment with an Admiral and another officer. I went out at a station to buy some papers but the laddie who sold the journals, spoke such a queer sort of Scotch that I oouldn’t make head nor tail of it. 1 got him to repeat slowly to me what be bad to eay, and then I used a Colonialism. He looked perplexed, and was not amusedWhen I got back into the compartment the Admiral and the others were in fits of laughter. Lancashire and Cumberland, in a few days good old Cockney in London, aod now Glasgow Scotohi It was too much for me. Later, it will be French again ; and at present it is Somerset and Wiltshire. Gracious, a man nowadays has got to be a Unquiet! Give me good cld Colonial! At Glasgow we rev.ted ouc programme, and decided to postpone Inverness until a warmer season. It was fretaingly cold so we thought we should go to Edinburgh via Stirling and Perth. Again the voyagers set out and we intended to put the day in at Perth sight-seeing. The scenery from the train all along this route was remarkably fine, and gave us a foretaste of the Highland scenery, whioh both Oaptaiu Damey and 1 promised to see some fine day, the town of Stirling, the Castle with its history, all now seem like floating dreams. At Peith we called on Sic John Dewar (now Lord Dewar) to whom we had letters of introduction. He very kiodly, instructed oae of hia managers to show us tbs distillery, and then showed us the sights of thß famous city. What a glorious place Perth is, There was the North Inch —the great Campus which ODce the Romans used when they were conquering these parts, and there was the Tay, the Tay whioh is supposed to reBemble the Tiber.— “Behold the Tiber” the vain Roman cried, Viewing the ample Tay, from Baighie’s side. But where’s the Soot that would thd ? vaunt repay, And hail the puny Tiber for the Tay ? ” Anonymous,

And there was the Cathedral round whiofr stormed the populace when tha Reformation was at its highest. Our guide took us to the home of Catherine Glover, the heroine “ The Fair Maid of Perth,” and the old house, “Grace and Peace” still over the' door, though renevated — still presented the same appearance it diet daring the stirring times when Harry Gow went awooing on St Valentine’s day, and disturbed the marching band of Ramorny. Up the quaint old stairs ws went and saw Catherine’s small room aud the wiadow which looked out upon the Monastery wheie Father Clements dwelt. As we passed - the North Inch one pictured the bloody combat between the Champions of the Highland clans, the King, weak Robert and his court looking on, and we saw in fancy the heroes cut down and dying in the field until only Harry Gow and Oonaohar were left, and we saw the doe-murtured lan flaemg for his life from the combat across the Tay. Perth was cram full of interest. At the Bank of Scotland we were shown four gold cbalise bowls, the property of the Cathedral. These ornaments were stored at the bank for safe keeping and despite most fabulous offers from American millionaires, they remained there jealously preserved as the possession of the church. One of them, a masterpiece of the goldsmith's art, was presented by Queen Mary Stuart, and at the time of thß riotp was thrown through the window of the Cathedral. It was picked up by a poor woman who terrified in the thought of her valuable possession, buried it in her husband’s grave. It was afterwards dug up, quite unimpaired and now is one of the most interesting relics of the city. The other bowls were wonderfully artistic. Apair of them were unmistakably Italian, ifhey were richly carved and the symbolical figures oan only be vaguely interpreted for no reliable historian or authority has yet given the world an authentic history of the bowls, or stated definitely the meaning of the ornamentation. They were priceless possessions, and it was good to know they were so jealously and proudly guarded.