Memories Of Strathmore.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 44, 22 February 1927, Page 11

Memories Of Strathmore.

An Aucklander's Reminiscences of the Valley and its Earl. How pleasant are the memories of his young days! Father and mother's little farm was situated on rising ground, what we in Scotland call "brae set," and pretty high up at that, commanding a splendid view of the beautiful home or valley of Strathmore. We children used to go to the highest part of our land to see the Queen Victoria's train passing on the way to Balmoral Cast|e, a bonnie white train with two engines. It whs a pretty sight. We always knew the time of day us we I'ould hear the clock at Cilamis Castle chiming every hour, although two miles away. The castle is a stately mansion towering above tall elm trees which grow nearby. The River lsla flows past and in ancient time.' surrounded the castle and a draw-bridgo was used for communication. These days are past and gone, and ;i more pleasant spectacle meets the eye now. What conns to my memory übout tlic Stratlimorc family is liow mother used to tell us about Karl Thomas and ln> Cuiinte.se. The late Countess used to ride out •: good deal, and when she passed uiir way .-Ik- used to call on my grandmother, and her pony would eat a piece of oatcake out of her hand, ami her ladyship would smile, and say how foin! the animal was of oatcake. But my remembrance is of Karl ( laud an«l his Countess. They were married the same year a.« my father and mother, so the two families grew up side by side as it were. I well remember when the three young ladies '.ore growing up, we children used to see them riding past, the vouiigwl lady's pony strapped to the coachman's horse. All that was of great interest to us, especially when they would BUiiliiigly say, "How do you do? ' Then Lord Glaiuis' coming of agu was a big thing lor us. Father, being a tenant, was invited to the tenants ball, along with mother and my eldest sister. Then, being in tiharge of his Lordship's prize stock, he was aUo iuvited to the workman's dinner. Last of all, but not least, came the school children's day at the Castle. Two of us were at school, so the day was looked forward to. I feel now that I must have been on tip-toe all day. The village school was fully a mile from the Castle. I can see the children yet march ing in through the grand old gateway two by two, through the wooded drive, Un:n straight down for a mile on the beautiful avenue past the tryeting tree, where bonnie Betsy, the llower of GUmie, used to meet her lover. It was a tree stump overgrown with ivy, aliout eight feet high. Many lovers met there, but bonnie Betsy capped them all. When at last we reached the Castlo. which was *een all the way, but in full view right from the trynting tree, we passed on to the beautiful (lower gardens. The scene was magnificent; flowers everywhere. About eighty of us wound out and in through the paths, then on to the front of the Castle, where

another fine sight awaited us. On the lawn were placed large tables, laden with good things. We wire wailed on t>y her ladyship and the three yuunj Imlipfe, Lord G lam is, and the Hon. Frank. Tea over, we had {raine* and twinging under the trees, liis lordship enjoying himself as much as any. Then i-ariic a wramli'i" for sweets am! so on, till darkness fell. 1-ist of all, fireworks on the lawn. These were the rejoicings for the coining of age of the present

Larl, the Duchess of York's father. A Dundee poet %vrot« a Miliar. which was Ming at the tenants' dinner. I can only remember part of it, which ran: May Earl Claud and bis lady fair, Tlicir children's children tee. And live long in their Cattle Ha', Frae smith and trouble free, For they're aye been true, the Lords o , Glauiis, ' To the guid auld faith, and the King.