AN OLD WORLD REMINISCENCE.

Otago Witness, Issue 1932, 30 November 1888, Page 32

AN OLD WORLD REMINISCENCE.

JO MOTHER IN-LAWS STORY;

A TRIP ON THE CLYDE.

My first visit to the Clyde was in 1851. Till then I had nev.er been on the water. My destination was the beautiful town of Rothesay. Emerging from the smoke and crowd and bustle of the streets of Glasgow I found myself on the deck of the Cardiff Castle, in the midst of a scene to me novel and charming. The crowd of living beings gave place to the darting up and down of craft of every kind and every size ; as the channel widened steamers and sailing vessels, like things of life, crossed and recrossed each other's bows, leaving the churned foam in their wake, till I began to fancy that the " merry dancers " of the north had migrated from the heavens above to the waters below. It was a bright day in early autumn, and everything lookeo its best; and as sweet npoks and cosy-re-treats came into view I was ready to join in the sigh— Oh I that some spot like that for me would smile.

From the moment the steamer cast loose at the Broomielaw till she was fast at the pierhead of Eothesay was a time of pulsequickeuing enjoyment. Since then I have visited many pretty places on both sides of the equator, but the Clyde is the standard to which all estuaries, and Rothesay Bay that to which all pretty bays, are in voluntarily referred. There I began the battle of life; there I passed from bachelor to benedict; and there in 1853 wo enjoyed my mother-in-law's first and only visit. It was the merry month of May. Our royal borough was putting on her holiday attire. The fugitives from the east coast haar were leaving, and Glasgow was sending her lung-tainted denizens for a sniff of Rothesay air. Leisurely we introduced our visitor to the places of interest. The castle, the town hall, the churches, the suburban cottages, and above all the bay in its varying moods, were seen and admired. One afternoon we strolled round that pretty lakelet with a vulgar name. Loch Fad, where we met Sheridan Knowles in sailor's jacket, with a huge umbrella under his arm ready to point out Kean's cottage sweetly embossomed in in a shady cove. Here we talked of the " fiery little tragedian,"— how he attempted to retire to private life— how he sooiv became disgusted with his own society— how he fled back to the Junipeccorner of the " City of Lushington " club, under the sign of the Harp in Drury lane, where, according] |to his mood, he could placp himself in pawn for the benefit of some needy actor, or leave on the wainscot the impress of his pewter, hurled at the head of some oifending wit of the opposite Lunacy corner. Returning somewhat tired, a far-off look revealed that she was longing for home. To change, her train of thought I said : " Come, tell us what you thought of your voyage down the Clyde." She replied : " I cannot tell you what I thought of it, except that it it's no like the Clyde at all ; for this is no my first voyage down the Clyde." Both ray wife and I started with surprise.. For myself, knowing her from my boyhoqd as living as far from the sea as is possible in Scotjamj, I suspected she had "tint her reason ' a'thegither ; " and her daughter seemed equally puzzled. Readme: our incredulity she repeated : "I have been down the Clyde before, and as Anne seems no to have heard of it, if she will sit down I'll tell you baith how it happened,"

Eagerly we listened, and she proceeded :

I cannot remember what year it was, but Sandy (her eldest) was fairly walking, and Jaufct (hur second) was not born, when at New Year time I paid a visit to my husband's mother, Mrs L , who lived ir Glasgow. She was a widow, gpd stilj kept the public house that her husband and she had kept before he died, It was a corner house in King street, not far from the Broorr.ielaw. It was reckoned a very respectable house, although a good deal of drink was sslJ. She was a very kind, motherly woman, well liked, and managed affairs so wejl that sho was thought to be, and really was, wellr to-do. New Year time was then a merry and, with some, 'a reckless time. Beginning , with " first-fitting*" ifc was carried on with parfcjek and mirth-making for a fortnight at least. After being a fortnight in Glasgow- 1 wanted to go home. Little Sandy used to toddle after Mrs L |ftn :j i wanted to get him away.beforo they were too fond of each other. You see I was a little jealous, and afraid that she would want me to leave him a while. But she! told me in such a decided but yefc so kind a way that I could -not get away for another week, that I consented. She took me to many places, and lot rae .sen many strange things that I need nut tell jou of. ■,~ But I rnu^t tell you that in the public house there wari a little* baply robnj, away iron; any noise, that fctie kept extra tidy. To that room bhe took only a few of her most favoured pustomets. Iv it she sojvietiajf-s had a friend ov two to tea, when ht-r rich gilt china and hec ■graud old-fashioned silvtr were brought out. iiitfc while I was there it was occupied for about an hour every night by four, and sometimes five, middle-figed men that I never could make out Whenever they came' they went straight to that room, and Mrs L seemed very anxious to make them comfortable. •\- was pulled to nia|tf3 onfc what they wgre } ojr what they wepe doing.; Hut I -did not iikp to <w>k, au,d Sirs L^r — never gossiped aboqfc other fo.lb&' affairs. I once or twieß had "occasion toga Into the

room when they were there". They had big papers spread on the table and were bending over them. They were talking and never heeded my coming in, bufc I did not know what they were talking about. At first 1 thought }hey might; be smugglers, or engaged in something else that was neither "quid" nor "canny." But they were such nice, open, kind-looking men that I> soon gave up thinking anything of them. Mrs L called the head man otj them Mr B —. He was a man over 40— a ; little bent, with keen eyes and a kindly face. One of tho servants told me that one of them had been a schoolmaster, aud knew more than almost any man. But. he spoko- little. They ■wero not drinkers, aud never stayed late. Before they left they jusfc had one glass each of whisky toddy, and then went out together. I had been nearly three weeks iv Glasgow, and though eager to know what the little company were about, I seemed as far from knowing as ever, when.'otic night before leaving they rang the bell and asked to see Mrs L . What they said there was no time or need for asking, for the house was instantly in a bustle of preparation. Mrs L must have got a hint before, for from her cupboards were brought out bacon and ham, boiled, browned, and stuck full of cloves ; roast beef aud roasfc mutton ready for carviog. These she ordered to be packed in one case. In another she placed bread, biscuit, shortbread, New Year's bun, sugar, &c. A third was filled with bottles, tumblers, knives, and fork 6. In "short, everything needed for a graud Junch was stowed in hampers. When all was done and we had retired to our bedroom (she was so fond of Sandy and me that she made us sleep with her), I ventured to ask her what it was all for.

" Oh !" she said, "we are to have a grand trip down tho Clyde the morn' with Mr B — r-, and you and Sandy are going with us." I felt my hearfc leap to my mouth. I tried to swallow it down, but nearly fainted. (I think it was the thought of the sea and a ship that frightened me). She took me in fcorarms, kissed me, said I was a silly lassie, and helped me to bed. Soon Mrs L was asleep, with an arm round little Sandy 5 but I never winked till far into the morning. I had not slept long when Mrs L started ap and told me to dress myself and Sandy while she senfc away the hampers. She then carae back and carried Sandy to the parlour, where we found breakfast ready. She tried to make me take a good breakfast, but I could uot. She, however, laughed and talked so cheerily of how we would enjoy the trip, and seemed to have such confidence in Mr B , that I was a little ashamed of my fear. When ready we went to the Broomielaw. Ifc was just daylight, and felt chilly, I was now nearly frightened out of my wits. A orowd had gathered round a queer looking thing (110 like any ship or boat I had seen there before). This was the steamboat we were to go in. Men were going ou and off ifc. Some of the crowd said it would go to the bottom before it went a mile. Women whoso husbanus were to go in ifc were in hysterics, crying to them to come off and come home, for the thing was na canny. One of them caught my mother-in-law by the arm, saying : " Oh ! Mrs L never set a fit in that thing."

Mrs L kindly replied, " i'm no feared. If there was any risk Mr B wad never have asked his dearest friends to go with him."

"Juftt then Me B , who was in. tho boat, saw us and cried ;

" Come away, Mrs L ; here are seats ready for you.?? " I shrank back, but she took Sandy in her arm and me firmly by the hand and walked into the boat as composedly as she could have dove into her own parlour. The grip she gave me seemed to take away all fear or care from me. If she had walked into rho water instead of: the boat I would have gone with her.

We took our sweats, aud she kept my hand in hers and Sandy ou her knee. She talked cheerily to all around us, but I was in a dazed and dreamy state. I heard folk crying to us to come off the boat, but it had no effect on me now. Mrs J3 and other women folk came anil joined us, and the bgat started. The man that was said to have been a bchoo.lmasfcer took charge of the boat;, telling the men what to do. When we were fairly away Mr B came and joined us. After talking a while he took me and thowed me all about the boat. He told me it was built at Port Glasgpw, and . then taken to Glasgow to cet its engine. He showed me the engine, and how it turned the big wheel like a mill-wheel that moved the boat. His talk so took up my attention that the fear quite left me, and the fresh wind that came up the fiver m«-\j >m- 'col quite cheerful. He told me that the b ><\t- U'v! ncf-n rcat'y for a djiy pr two, but h-} bn.J to \v\uc for favour i l >le neither and a suitable- tick. Th" wind \v,s against them, atid the tide would keep > hem back,' but he was sure that; they would reach Gourpck before dark.

One of the men that buijfc the boat was there too. H© and one or two more were very attentive to us females. f Jßhe wind got stronger against us, and colder as we w.enl farther down, but they placed our seats in shelter aud we «?ere very comfortable. We passed a great nm>y boats with sails trying to .get down against the wind. When we waved our haudkerchiefs to them they seemed very angry. One of our men offered to thrqw a rope to. quo of them, butthoy swpre %fc us fearful oaths, They told us to go to the bad place with our devil's smoke. Mr B smiled kindly bapk to them. But what was prettiest of all was the boats and ships we met with their sails eefc. They came up the river and passed ps liko birds,

Litt}e Sandy clapped his hands and screamed with delight. We could see that the men in them stopped working and stared at us as we met. I dare say it was because our boat was pot Jjke any of tjjeirs. At that time of the yea* the days were' short; but we moved ou quickly, — about five miles an hour, they said. We passed Dumbarton Castle, Port Glasgow, and Greenock, We saw many ships lying there, and some sailing ip and out. Before dark we reached Gourock, where the fojk were all out to see us coming. We ' stayed there that night, and there was great rojolcing. Everybody was shaking hands with Mr B , and talking about his success, for this was the first time a boat bad been moved by steam on the Clyde. Next day we came back to Glasgow. We had the wind and the tide to help us, arid got up far quicker than we had gone down. The Glasgow folk could hardly believe we had been'at Gourock and back. But we "all landed safe, and had plenty to talk about for many a day.' A few'dovs aft«-r J went liqnae. I was one'e batik at Glasgow," wien Mrs L— — ' die-i,' bpf never on the Giyde till I came to see you. T-b R Clyde \s never like tho pome, Dumbarton (Js&tle-is the sa.me, bufc ]porfc Glasgow, greppQtfk, an,d Gourpck are greatly chauged, especially Gourock- There w *\h not then such hamtsvT, tmtpmerjug, and building snips as there i- now all down the Clyde. I saw Mr BB — — 's rnoMunieiii, but [ could not s&y ie was'lik^ him. The boats now are not the least li!se the Comet. It a fwee, wee tbing, not twice the length of this rqom, and had only one Wheel io move it. The boats pfiw $re grand b/..jits m%h fi'.p rpSrjis and two wheels; ' > - • Su,ch }yas. Jjer story. §he never Visited us again. ' witbiir a year she jteaoef ally c ; j osse'a

the dark river to " the land of the hereafter." A few things received by her from Mrs L she placed in our care. They are cherished not only as connected with sacred memories but as historically interesting.

The career of the Comet is well known. This little craft, b\iilt at Port Glasgow by John Wood and Co. for Mr Henry Bell, was at first only 30 tons burden, and had an engine of three horse-power. She was afterwards enlarged, and a paddle placed on each side. By a collision she was sunk in the Clyde. Her engine was rescued from the wreck and placed in another little stsamcr also named the Comet. This also was wrecked in the sound of Jura. Long after, about 1845, its engine was again fished up and placed in a museum in Glasgow. Some years -ago the museum was burnt. The engine was damaged, but not destroyed,Thereafter it was removed to the British Museum, London.*

About 1860 Little Sandy, then past middle life, emigrated to New Zealand and settled in Southland. His memory does not go back to this trip of 18th January 1812. But on a trip'which he' lately took with two of his grand-daughters he visited one of the direct steamers that with greyhound speed ohase each other round the racecourse of the globe. That the feet that toddled on the deck of the first steamer on her trial trip should have tottered on the deck of a floating steam palace at the antipodes ; — that one life should roach from the Comet to the Kaikoura are suggestive facts in the progress of steam navigation. Mr Bell himself, sanguine as he was, could have no conception that his tiny craft was the germ of such a development. For 18 years he was spared to watch the progress of his invention, by which navigation was revolutionised and the Clyde enriched; by which

Industry and gain their vigils keep, Command the winds and tame the deep.

Yet, sad to tell, Mr Bell himself dragged out an existence on the paltry pittance of £50 a year from the Clyde Trustees. His share in the pecuniary profit of his invention was little more than that of the obelisk to his memory that with stony stare still watches the commerce of the Clyde.

P.S.— Since the above was written Sandy has been gathered to his fathers, the last of that little company. He has left sons and daughters and many grandchildren in New Zealand, but some have gone before him.