FAREWELL TO SKIBO.

Otago Witness, Issue 3312, 5 September 1917, Page 59

FAREWELL TO SKIBO.

HISTORY OF MR CARNEGIE'S SCOTTISH HOME.

Mr Andrew Carnegie has taken what is probably a long farewell of his beautiful Highland home—his "earthly paradise,"' as he used to call it. Broken in health and burdened with the weight of more than four-score years; shocked, too, at the shattering of his hopes of a universal peace —these and other reasons have, it is reported, influenced his decision to surrender his castle of Skibo, and for the first time to settle in summer quarters on the American seaboard. It is a far cry from a town residence in Fifth avenue, New York, to a country seat in the wilds of Sutherlandshire"; but Mr Carnegie annually bridged the gulf, and took the keenest delight in doing so. Being an ardent Scoto-American of fabulous wealth, it harmonised with his sense of the fitness of things that the months devoted to business should be spent in New York, and thd't he should seek fresh supplies of physical and mental energy in the land which gave him birth. It is 22 years since Mr Carnegie became laird of Skibo, and 19 since he first took up residence there. From 1898 until last year without a break he passed the summer months at his palatial Highland home, where he entertained his friends, shaped his philanthropic and educational schemes, played golf, went fishing, and read Shakespeare and Burns in a superb library. The Early Lairds of Skibo.—

Skibo Castle occupies a commanding position to the north of Dornoch Firth. From it may be obtained as glorious a panorama of mountain, moor, and loch as can be fund anywhere in broad Scotland. Away to the south stretch the waters of the Firth, while if our gaze be turned inland the eye rests on the rugged mountain ranges of Ross and Sutherland, among which lie hidden Lochs Migdale, Laggan, Laro, and Budihe, all of which are on the Skibo estate. Bounded by the Duke of Sutherland's property, the' estate extends to about 20,000 acres, half of which consists of brown heath and shaggy wood. About 6000 acres are arable land, and the remainder is covered by plantations which shelter the castle from the cold northern winds.

j .xuugh Skibo Castle is for the most part a modern mansion, the -place is steeped in traditionary lore. There have been lairds of Skibo for hundreds of years. From the early half of the sixteenth century till the middle of the eighteenth the old castle of Skibo and the adjoining lands were owned by the family of Gray, whose progenitor was Sir William Gray, Chancellor of Ross. The castle originally belonged to the Bishop of Dornoch ; but about the time of the Reformation that prelate transferred it to John Gray, son of Sir William Gray, who was styled Hereditary Constable of the Castle of Skibo. In connection with this office there was a banner on which the armorial bearings of the Gray family were inscribed—namely, "arms—a lion rampant within a bordure engrailed with eight thistles, within a shield ; crest — an arm erect, grasping a heart; motto—- ' Constant.' " In 1570, when the Earl of Caithness was oppressing his tenantry, John Gray. who was then Chamberlain to the Bishon of Caithness, deemed it prudent to retire with his son. Gilbert, to St. Andrews, there " to wait for more favourable times when they might return to their native soil without danger." John Gray died at Skibo in 1586. The Gray family continued to own the lands of Skibo until the year 1744, when, owing to domestic strife. Lieutenant Robert Gray lost his inheritance. Becoming Major in 1772 in the Eightieth Foot, he fought in the American war of Independence, and died in 1776.

—An Edinburgh Proprietor of Skibo.— When the last of the Grays parted with Skibu, he was .succeeded in the proprietorship by Sir Patrick Dowali, of Edinburgh. A few years later the estate passed into the hands of the hitter's nephew, the Hon. George Mackay, son of George, third Lord Reay. This iaird considerably' improved the property by judicious planting ; but, getting into financial difficulties, Skibo changed hands once more. The new proprietor was a West Indian planter, who, though bearing the name of William Gray, does not appear to have been related to the ancestral lairds of Skibo. In 1786 the estate was sold to George Dempster, of Dunnichen, in whose family it remained for nearly a century. Then, again, it changed hands, the purchaser this time being Ewan Charles Sutherland. Despite the fact that the initial sum paid amounted to no less than £130,000, this laird spent in addition large sums in altering and enlarging the castle, in erecting outbuildings, and otherwise improving the property.

Mr Carnegie Acquires Skibo. —

In 1895 Skibo was again on the market, and it was at this juncture that Mr Carnegie came upon the scene. He had been for many years tenant of Cluny Castle, Aberdeenshire, but was now desirous of acquiring a Scottish estate of Ins own. Learning that Skibo Castle was for sale, he instantly made inquiries, and, being favourably impressed, promptly purchased the domain for £85,000. Had'the American multi-millionaire been a few days later he might have failed to drive such a good bargain, for no sooner was the purchase effected than three other oilers were received. As it was, Mr Carnegie had paid little more than half the sum originally advanced by Mr Sutherland, the previous owner. Moreover, the latter, as has been noted, greatly improved the property. Though Mr Carnegie became laird of Skibo in 1895, three years were to elapse ere his new domain in the remote north of Scotland was ready for his reception. It was not until the' end of May, 1898, that, together with his wife and daughter, and Miss Whitfield (Mrs Carnegie's sister), he arrived to take up his abode at Skibo. On the auspicious day the tenantry mustered, in full force, and the new laird and his family were enthusiastically welcomed.

The Home-coming.—

.At the entrance to the castle they were met by a deputation who presented an address of welcome, and a flag bearing the inscription : '' Presented to Audi ew Carnegie, Esquire, by his tenants, crofters, and feuars, on the occasion of hi*3 homecoming as the proprietor of Skibo." In a characteristic reply Mr Carnegie spoke of the occasion as being his first experience of entering, a large residential estate as its owner, and added that the loyalty and devotion of his tenantry would be the best title-deed to the land, and the best key to the castle, of Skibo. Hardly had Mr Carnegie settled on his demesne than he began maturing plans for a comprehensive scheme of alterations, which, ere it was completed, was to cost him fully £50,000. The scheme provided for the demolition of a large portion of the castle, which was condemned as unsafe; the addition of a new wing; the erection of a spacious library; and the redecorating and refurnishing of the interior throughout. All these extensive alterations, it is hardly necessary to add, were carried out with great taste and judgment, and on lines thoroughly modern. The result was that Skibo became one of the largest and most magnificent residences in the Highlands—a fitting home for a multimillionaire. The approach to the castle by the avenue leading from the road between Boiiar bridge and Dornoch is particularly impressive; but even more so is the entrance hall—a chamber of noble proportions, from which one ascends the grand staircase, which is lined with white Sicilian marble. Remodelling the Castle.— The portion of the castle, however, which is most closely associated with _ Mr Carnegie's proprietorship is the new whig the corner stone of which was laid by his daughter. For this purpose she was prepresented with a handsome silver trowel, and in acknowledging the gift Mr Carnegie enunciated his philosophy of life. The longer he lived the more he was confirmed in the view that the greatest work men and women could perform was to establish happy, virtuous, refined, and earnest homes. The trowel, he added, would be the most treasured heirloom of his daughter, and would teach her that wealth carried with it responsibilities. Mr Carnegie also commented on a report that his daughter was the heiress of £7,000,000. "My wife and daughter," he declared; " shall not be cursed with erreat wealth, which can bring only happiness in the sense that it brings us greater opportunities of making others happy." Mr Carnegie has left his impress not olilv on the castle, but on the lands of Skibo. During his proprietorship the estate was transformed into a sportsman's paradise. Do you shoot, fish, golf, or are you fond merely of the shadowed peace of an Old World garden? No matter. All is handsomely -provided for within the spacious domain of Skibo. The pleasure grounds, with their umbrageous trees, winding avenues and walks, lawns, gardens, shrubberies, conservatories, arc exquisitely laid out, and provide a sumptuous feast for ear and eye. The golf links are situated- in a park half a mile from the castle. As regards site and equipment, it may be confidently affirmed that they have few rivals, if any, among private courses in Britain. Mr Carnegie in bygone years was a keen golfer, and nothing gave him creater pleasure than to join his guests in a foursome on the Skibo course. On one occasion he remarked to a friend who had made a particularly good drive that IO.OOOdoI would bo a cheap price to pay for the joy of making one such stroke. In the 15-mile stretch of the Evelix excellent salmon and trout fishing is afforded, and to fish this Tiver, or the fairly extensive lochs on the Skibo estate,

was a pastime not to be missed by disciples of Izaak Walton who happened to be staying at the castle. Angling also found a devotee in Mr Carnegie; but, perhaps, his chief delight when at Skibo was to take short cruises in his iuxuriouF and finely-equipped yacht, the Seabreeze. He is pashionately'fond of the sea. **To him who finds himself comfortable at sea,' he once remarked, " the ocean is the grandest of treats. He never fails to feel himself a boy again while on the wave?. . . . Many feel thus, and I am happily, one of them." Bagpipes and the Organ.—

A fervent Scot as well as a typical American, Mr Carnegie sought in every way to impart to life at Skibo a Highland atmosphere. The late Mr VV. 1. Stead, the well-known journalist, was particularly impressed by this while Mr Carnegie's guest on one occasion. In an account of his visit to Skibo, -which he afterwards published, Mr Stead wrote: *' Mr Carnegie keeps his own piper, and every morning the inmates are wakened by the shrill music of the Highlands. Before dinner the same bagpipes serve as a substitute for the dinner bell, and the piper marches to the dining room, followed by the guests." But the bagpipes did not provide the only music in Mr Carnegie's Highland home. It was but fitting that the donor of so many church organs should himself have that noble instrument installed in his palatial home at Skibo. Years ago Mr Carnegie had a magnificent organ erected in the hall of the castle, and on this instrument a skilled musician "discoursed sweet music" every morning before breakfast. When Mr Carnegie was in residence the double flag of the Union Jack and the Stars and Stripes floated on the castle tower, from which, by the way, a magnificent view can be obtained of a farstretching, variegated landscape. —Mr Carnegie as a Laird.—

If the laird of Skibo spent money lavishly in making his castle " a thing jji beauty," it cannot be said that he was unmindful of the interests and comfort of his numerous tenantry. He proved an excellent landlord, effecting not only many reforms, but taking a deep interest in the occupations of his tenants and in their home life. Frequently he was to be seen in animated conversation with them, and sometimes he would remark, with a merry twinkle in his eye, that in these wordy encounters he generally came off "second best."

At Skibo Mr Carnegie was much given to hospitality. From June till October there was a constant coming and going of guests. A record of all the distinguished visitors to Skibo during the last 20 years would at least establish the width of Mr Carnegie's sympathies and the remarkable influence he exerts. It is interesting to. recall that Kino; Edward VII. when cruising round the Scottish coast shortlj' after his accession, caused the Royal yacht to be anchored in Dornoch Firth, 'in order that his MaiWy might land and spend a social hour wren the laird of Skibo. —Scotsman.