Paisley for Ever.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1994, 18 April 1885, Page 2 (Supplement)

Paisley for Ever.

Some thirty years ago an English tourist was standing on the Castle Rock, Edinburgh, with a Scotchman for interpreter And guide. " Now, my good friend," said tho Southron, " you have talked quite enough about your native town. Pray, forget Paisley for a moment, and let us look at Edinburgh." " It's no that easy to forget Paisley when ye look at En bro 1 ," replied the offended cicerone. " Seest 'ou ?" and he pointed toward the University buildings ; " that's Embro' College, where they come from England and a' parta to learn to be doctors, and chancellor', and members o* Parliament : and it has the cleverest men in the three kingdoms for its professors ; but by far the cleverest o' them is ane John Wilson, and he's a Paisley man. And sepst 'ou ?" pointing to a distant spire — "yon 's the spire o1o 1 North Leith. It'a the best stipend in Scotland, and at this present it's allowed to have the best preacher in Scotland for its minister. Ye must have heard tell of the Rev. James Buohanan ; but ye may have forgotten that he's a Paialey man. And seest 'ou that kirk wi the dome on't ? That's St. George's, where a' the gentry attend for the suke o' the singing ; and I's warrant yell no' hoar the like o' the precentor in a' England. They ca' him R. A. Smith, and he's a Paisley man. And seest 'ou where a' the coaches are waiting to start ? That's the Register Office. Ye may say it's the keyutane o, tho kingdom ; for lairds and lands hang by it. But though it's the plaoe where dukes and carls keep their titles, and the king himself keeps his papers, every day, when the clerks gae bame and the door is steckit, the entire placo ii left in charge of an auld wife, and she's a Paisley woman." — Scotch Paper.