t:

Mi

3n JJlkiuortam: MARY L O U I S A CAN NAN, AN O L D C iALLOV ID IAN (1819-1911).

r.v i : . c .

i f p ^ U 0 M 1 5 , 0 0 u > l i m ' 1 1""<1 " ^ j S ^ * v i s i t s tu T h e S h i e l i n g . C r a s i

n i n n y

m i c r o .

I n t h e g l o a m i n g , M i s s C a i m a n ,

m y f a t h e r ' s I ' o t i r i i l l , o f t en to ld

m e l i t t l e a n c c d i >l os of li«'.r f a m i l y

' a n d of h e r e a r l y l i f t ' . O i l " of

h e r g r c a t - g r c a t - g r a n d f a t h e r s , a n A l e x a n d e r

of S t i r l i n g , w a s k i l l e d a t C i i l l o d c n w h i l e

f i g h t i n g for . IV inco C h a r l i e i n I14r>. O n e

of h i s d a u g h t e r s , M a r g r a t A l e x a n d e r , w a s

b r o u g h t 141 b y L a d y K o n m u i r , a n d a f t e i -

w a r d s m a r r i e d R o b e r t K e n n e d y of K n o c k -

n a l l i n g , K i r k c u d b r i g h t s h i r e ( M i s s C a i m a n ' s

g r o a t - g r a n d f a t h e r ) .

T h o C a i m a n s w e r e a l w a y s C o v e n a n t e r s ,

a n d c o u l d b o a s t of one m a r t y r ( . l ames )

i n t h e i r f a m i l y . L o v e of l e a r n i n g a n d

t h r i f t wo r e t h e i r c h i e f c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s . M i s s

C a i m a n ' s p a t e r n a l g r a n d f a t h e r o n l y s p e n t

£4 a y e a r o n h i s c l o t h e s ; b u t t h e r e w a s g r e a t

f e a s t i n g a t h i s f u n e r a l i n t h e G l o n k o n s , a n d

£30 w o r e s p e n t o n " b a k e - m e a f s . "

M i s s C a i m a n ' s f a t h e r , T h o m a s , w a s l i c e n s e d

i n E d i n b u r g h , a n d s oon a f t e r h e b o c a n n

t r a v e l l i n g t u t o r to a y o u n g n o b l e m a n .

T h e y w e r e o n t h e C o n t i n e n t w h e n N a p o l e o n

e s c a p e d f r o m E l b a , w h i c h c a u s e d t h e m to

b e a t a h a s t y r e t r e a t . A f t e r ( h a t h e w a s

t u t o r to K i r W i l l i a m O g i l v i o ' a f a m i l y . T h e r e

w c r o n i n o s o n s , a n d t h e i r f a t h e r w a s a t s e a .

M r C a i m a n w a s h i g h l y respected, a n d w a s

o f fered a l i f e l o n g p e n s i o n to s t a y o n a s

c h a p l a i n . J l o , h o w e v e r , a c c e p t e d i n s t e a d

the p a r i s h of N o w S p y n i e , E l g i n , i n I . S I 8 ,

a n d t h e s a m e y e a r , a g e d 2 7 , h e m a r r i e d

imo o f t h e f o u r M i s s K e n n e d y s of K n o c k -

• a i l i n g , a g e d 2.'!. T h e s t i p e n d w a s v e r y

K i r , t h e i n h a b i t a n t s b e ing m o s t l y l i vhe r f o l k .

A t I l ie M a n s e uo.\f y e a r , 1811), M a r y

L o u i s a C a i m a n w a s b o r n , (.lie e l d e s t of e i g h t .

S h e r e m e m b e r e d t h e o l d w a l n u t i.re.c oppo ­

s i t e t h e n u r s e r y w i n d o w , a n d t i i e v i ew of

t h e s e a . K l g i n w a s n e a r b y , a n d a g a r r i s o n

t o w n , so t h a t h e r p a r e n t s e n j o y e d the s o c i e t y

o f t h e o f f i cers .

W h e n she w a s f o u r s h e c o u l d r e a d , a n d

s h e r e c e i v e d a T e s t a m e n t f r o m h e r f a t h e r .

A t a v e r y e a r l y ago s h e w a s s e n t to a d a m e -

s c h o o l t o l e a r n s e w i n g , b u t t h e b o y s t h r e a d e d

h e r need l e s f o r h e r a n d t h e g i r t s d i d hoi

s e w i n g , w h i l e s h e h e r s e l f r e a d s t o r i e s to

t h e m . A b e d s t o o d i n the c o r n e r of the

r o o m , on the t op of w h i c h w e r e l a i d f r e s h

b i r c h t w i g s , h a n d y f o r c h a s t i s e m e n t . T h e

b o y s b r o u g h t o a t c a k e a n d ohoeso f o r t h e i r

l u n c h , a n d , w a n t i n g to be l i k e t h e m , wco

M a r y w o u l d o f t en e x c h a n g e ; h e r b r o a d - a n d -

j a m p i e c e l o r t h e i r h u m b l e r f a r e . Sho

a l w a y s r e m e m b e r e d h e r m o t h e r w e a r i n g w h i l e

d r e s s e s a n d m u s l i n t u r b a n s . S h e h e r s e l f w o r e

w h i t e j e a n i n s u m m e r a n d u g l y y e l l o w s tu f f

i n w i n t e r a n d n a n k e e n b o n n e t s . H e r

e a r l i e s t r e c o l l e c t i o n i n h e a d g e a r w a s of a

c l o s e - f i t t i n g p l u s h c a p w i t h a g o l d b a n d

r o u n d i t .

T h e K e v . T h o m a s C a i m a n r e m a i n e d a t

S p v n i o e ight ' y e a r s . T h r o u g h L o r d S e l k i r k

h e w a s t h e n p r e s e n t e d to t h e l i v i n g of

C a r s p h a i r u . K i r k c u d h i i g h l s l i i r o , 182(1. I t

w a s i n t h e g i f t of t h e C r o w n . T h e s t i p e n d w o t

m

I N M E M O R I A M : M A R Y L O U I S A C A X X A X . 85

better than that of Spynie, and Carsphairn had the further inducement of being near Mrs Caiman's old home at Knocknalling. B y this time there were five children ; Mary was seven years old. and David was the baby. They all travelled by coach from Spynie to Edinburgh, which took a week. At Edinburgh they had to wait a week, as

She was happy at Carsphairn. I t was a free, wild life, running about the hills with her brothers and sisters, playing hare and hounds : while a large stone wrapped in a rag served for a doll, its top, stained green with grass, for a face. In winter there was culling and sliding, and she did not feel cold in her short sleeves and low-

M A R Y L O U I S A C

all the scats in the coaches were booked up. One day when she was walking down Princes Street with her mother, Walter Scott was pointed out to her, dressed in dark blue with brass buttons. Near Moffat the snow was so deep every one had to got out and walk. Eighty years after, her nephew remarked to her, l i I t must have been very uncomfortable." " Humph," she replied, " we didn't think so much of comfort in those davs."

>IAN (1819-1011'.

necked dress. Mr Carman kept sheep, three cows, and a horse, and the children all learned to ride. They had a ram for a pet—a huge brute. They used to ride on his back, and lie came to the kitchen clipboard for oatcake. He was savage with strangers, and once knocked over the Rev. G. Hamilton, minister of Kirkcud­bright, as he was putting on his boots. Mr Caiman had pupils who boarded at the Manse. He was severe as a teacher, and con-

8G T H E G A L L O V I D I A N .

•4.

R i a n t thrashings formed p a r t of tho sohool-room discipline, l i e taught Mary L a l i u along w i t h his pupils , and languages woro novor a n y difficulty to her. Sunday was not an unhappy d a y . T h e children learned their Psa lms and Paraphrases and Shorter Catechism, a n d attended their father 's mid -day service a t (he P a r i s h Church of Curs-pha i rn . T h e shepherds came from miles around, wearing their plaids through al l tho seasons—in summer Ui keep out the heat and in winter to keep it i n — a n d they woro attended l iy (heir faithful sheep-dogs, which lay at their mastois ' foot during the service in Iho most exemplary m a n n e r ; hut tho moment the minister had pronounced the blessing, (hoy rushed on I . and nld scores woro paid <>(T in (he churchyard . Mr Ca iman Mas a good preacher, and must, have boon a v e r y pract ical one, for he used to admonish h is parishioners bo whitewash their cottages.

On Sunday afternoon the children could go for a w a l k , .and in the evenings, as a great treat , they woro al lowed to look a t a n i l lus ­trated Pilgrim's 1'rngress. Thero was a good garden at the Manse, and plenty t f strawberries , gooseberries, apples, and poars and abundance of vegetables in summer. Mrs C a i m a n was a notablo housekeeper, and mado quantit ies of prosorves. I n winter tlioy worked through a sheep, salted, and owing to lack of vegetables, s c u r v y was very prevalent i l l the d i s t r i c t . Coal was cheap at hal f -a -crown a cart load from Dalmol l ing-ton and a penny for the to l l , and p e a l was to bo had for the ask ing . Servants ' wages were vory low ( M r Ca iman ' s m a n got £Jl per a n n u m ) , but they grow attached a n d stayod long. A woman , Joanie Mil ler , used to weod tho Manse garden a t ninepenee a day . She had a v e r y independent Scotch s p i i i t , and her grandfather hav ing received par ish relief, J o a n i e gave a donation of £5

out of her savings lo the par ish . On S u n ­days sho a lways wore the same blue p r i n t gown, drawn through the poekot-holos of a stuff petticoat. T e a was s ix shi l l ings per lb. , and Miss Caiman 's grandmother K e n n e d y only drank i t on S u n d a y s . Meal and mi lk were abundant . T h e r e was a l w a y s broth, and meat was to be h a d from N e w - G a l l o w a y . There was no lack of l ight in Ihn long wint.er evenings, for home-made candles (made from rushes and shceps' tal low) were p l e n t i f u l ; but Mrs C a i m a n did not s p i n , as her husband could not endure tho sound of the w h i r r i n g wheel. A t the neighbouring v i l lage of Hairy the col tagos^vero a l l thatched and wore j u s t a collection of hovels , (here being only one slated loof among lb em. JLu one co l lage , " C r u m i n l .," opposite K n o o k n a l l i n g , the " lu in " was in the middle oj tho lloor, and the smoke found i t s w a y out through a hole i n tho roof. E v e r y t h i n g inside was coloured a r i c h , sooty b lack . S t i l t s were used at Carsphairn by the shepherds, a n d Miss Ca iman ' s mother remembered being carr ied

• over a stream on tho back of the school­master (Douglas) whi le ho w'alkod on s t i l t s .

T h e a r r i v a l of the p a c k m a n was a great ov?nt in the quiet l iv es of lh&*$, anuau chi ldren. Those in carts were much grander than those who w a l k e d . T h e y brought B i r m i n g h a m wares — k n i v e s , " b r a w s , " ballads, & c . — a n d a dea l of " t i ok ing " went. on. T h e r e was no bank i n the d is tr i c t in M r C a i m a n ' s d a y , tho nearest being a t A y r , a n d there woro no cheques. Ho s imply wrote , " Pleaso debit account . ' ' L e t t e r s were brought i n tho coal -ca i ts from Daln ie l l ington . Miss C a n -nan's earliest pol i t ical recollection was of tho Catholic E m a n c i p a t i o n B i l l i n 1820., She heard i t much discussed by her father and D r M a i l l a n d of K c l l s . M r C a i m a n was the only minister i n the d i s t r i c t who approved of the B i l l . l i e lock i n tho

m •-'via

m M.

I N M T C M O I U A M : M A l t Y L O U I S A C A N N A N . 87

Dumfries Courier, a weekly p a p e r , The

Spectator, a n i l f or books h e s u b s c r i b e d to (.he l i b r a r y at, A y r . M a r y w a s o f t e n a w a y f r o m h o m o v i s i t i n g w i t h h e r u n c l e s ' a n d a u n t s in t h e n e i g h b o u r h o o d . H e r f a t h e r ' s

e l d e s t b r o t h e r , J a m e s , r e n t e d T h e S h i e l , a l a r g o f a r m b e l o n g i n g to S i r W i l l i a m M i l l a r of G l o n l e e . T h e r e n t w a s £ 1 2 0 0 , a n d t h o s u r r o u n d i n g c o t t a g e s p a i d a n a n n u a l r e n t of £1 w i t h p e a t f r e e . T h i s f a r m h a d been l e a s e d b y t h e C a i m a n f a m i l y s i n c e tho r e i g n of J a m e s I ! . . a n d w a s o r i g i n a l l y c a l l e d " T h e S h i e l d . " M i s s C a i m a n ' s u n c l e , • lames , w a s a l w a y s k n o w n a s " S h i e l , " a n d i s r e p o r t e d to h a v e h a d a n e x t r a o r d i n a r y k n o w l e d g e of t h e f a c e s of s h e e p . O n c e at, a p r i z e d a y , t h e s a m e s l i ce ] ) b e i n g s e n t h i * f r o m l a s t y e a r , a n d b e i n g t h e r e b y d i s q u a l i f i e d , h e , as j u d g e , e x c l a i m e d w r a t h f u l l y , " I k e n t h a o f a ces f r a e l a s t y e a r . "

S h e a l s o v i s i t e d h e r m o t h e r ' s o l d e s t s i s t e r , " A u n t y H e s s , " w h o h a d m a r r i e d , w h i l e v e r y y o u n g , M r H a r b o u r , f a r m e r in M i i i i d n i c k -w o o d . T h e r e w a s m o r e a m u s e m e n t t h a n c o m f o i t s t a y i n g ( h e r e , f or e x c e s s i v e e c o n o m y w a s p r a c t i s e d i n h o u s e a n d p e r s o n . I n d o v d , so m u c h w a s ( h i s the c a s e t h a t t h e y n e v e r h a d in l l i o h o u s e f u r n i t u r e nor a p p l i a n c e s c o n s i d e r e d n e e c s s a i y in t h e p l a i n e s t - l i v i n g f a m i l i e s n o w a d a y s . O n t h e c o n t r a r y , the s m a l l r o o m s , o ld f u r n i t u r e , a n d t h r i f t y h a b i t s p e c u l i a r to S c o t l a n d l o t ) y e a r s ago w e r e a l l r e t a i n e d w i t h o u t c h a n g e . " A u n t y L e s s " n e v e r c h a n g e d I h e f a s h i o n of h e r d r e s s — a b l u e p r i n t w i t h a largo t i p p e t i n tho m o r n i n g , a n d a b l a c k s i l k w i t h a l a r g e t i p p e t in t h e a f t e r n o o n , a n e t c a p w i t h no s t r i n g s , w h i t e s t o c k i n g s , a n d s tout , bhoes. S h e g a v e u p g o i n g to c h u r c h n e a r l y 3 0 y e a r s be fore she d i e d , so h a d no o c c a s i o n f o r a b o n n e t . W h e n s h e b e c a m e a w i d o w , h o w ­e v e r , in IS ; " . " ) , s h e b o u g h t one of Ihe h i y l i -c r o w n u i l s h a p e f a s h i o n a b l e in h e r y o u t h , a n d tho o n l y t i m e s h e o v e r lo f t h o r h o m o

w a s w h e n s h e c a m e i n i t to h e m o t h e r ' s f u n e r a l ( M r s K e n n e d y ) t h a t s a m o y e a r . T h o u g h m i s e r l y i n a l l h e r w a y s , s h e y e t w a s e x c e e d i n g l y k i n d to t h o b e g g a r s , p a r t l y , no d o u b t , f r o m t i m i d i t y , f or t h o y w e r e a l o n g w a y f r o m n e i g h b o u r s . A t M u i r d r o c k -w o o d s h e h a d a n o u t h o u s e f i t t e d u p for t h e m t h a t t h o y m i g h t bo k e p t a l l n i g h t , a n d s h o a l w a y s g a v e t h e m a good s u p p e r a n d b r e a k ­f a s t of p o r r i d g e a n d m i l k .

W h e n M a r y w a s n i n e y e a r s o l d s h o w a s v e r y i l l w i t h t y p h u s f e v e r , a n d s h e w a s s e n t away f r o m h o m e to t h e M a n s e a t Bal-

l n a c l e l l a n , t h e L e v . G a v i n C u l l e n h a v i n g m a r r i e d h e r m o t h e r ' s s i s t e r , M a r y K o n n e d y . S h e w a s s h u t u p b y h e r s e l f i n a s m a l l r o o m f o r i n i n } r w e e k s , a n d t h e w i n d o w w a s n o t m a d e t o o p e n . A l a n C h a r t o r i s , t h o h e r d b o y , l e n t h e r b o o k s , s c a r c e l y f i t t e d f o r h e r t e n d e r y o a r s , w h i c h w h i l e d away t h o t i m e , a n d D r D o u g l a s p a i d h e r p r o f e s s i o n a l v i s i t s . H e r f a t h e r o n c e r o d e o v e r to see h e r , a n d to h e r j o y b r o k e t h e w i n d o w w i t h h i s fist, b u t s h e h a t e d t h e r o o m o v e r a f t e r .

O n c e w h e n sho w a s v i s i t i n g h e r m o t h e r ' s nuc le i , M ' M i l l a n , a t T h e H o l m , s h e h i d ho i s e l f a t i n t e r v a l s u n d e r a p o s t e r - h o d a n d r e a d _'n a weo l . t l i i i l c e n v o l u m e s of W a l t e r S c o t t ' s n o v o l i , w h i c h w e r e j u s t b e i n g p u b l i s h e d . S h o s . iw imii . 'h of h e r g r a n d - p a r e n t s ( K e n n e d } ' ) a t K n o c k n a i l i n g . H e r g r a n d m o t h e r r e ­m e m b e r e d w h e n i t w a s c o n s i d e r e d Q u i t o t h o c o r r e c t t h i n g for t h e g e n t l e m e n to g e t d r u n k a t a d i n n e r p a r t y , a n d to be i n n o l i t s t a t e to j o i n Hie. l a d i e s l a t e r . B y t h i s t i m e ( 1 8 2 8 ) h e r g r a n d f a t h e r ' s b r o t h e r , J o h n K e n n e d y , w a s l i v i n g a t A r d w i c k H a l l , M a n c h e s t e r , a n d t h e f i r m of M ' C o n n o l & K e n n e d y h a d m a d e i t s f o r t u n e i n t h e c o t t o n s p i n n i n g t r a d e . A t t h o a g e of 1 5 , i n 1 7 8 4 , h o h a d l e f t K n o c k n a l l i n g a n d b e g u n w o r k i n g a s a n a p p r e n t i c e to M r C a i m a n ( M i s s C a i m a n ' s g r e a t - u n e l o ) at, C h o w b e n t , n e a r M a n c h e s t e r . H e t h e r e l e a r n t tho b u s i n e s s of m a h i n o -

88 T H E G A L L O V I D I A N .

making , a m i a f terwards ho invented m a n y of the improvements in cotton spinning macl i inery . T h e R e v . T h o m a s C'annan suffered greatly from the lack of society in the neighbourhood. E x c e p t for D r M a i t -land a t K e l t s there was no one w i t h whom he could exchange ideas. H o was a L i b e r a l in polities, a n d a t this time Fcrguoson was the L i b e r a l member for K i r k c u d b r i g h t s h i r e . E v e n in the C a i m a n s ' nursery the passing of the Reform Hi l l in 1832 had left its m a r k , for on the w a l l Mary had pinned up a coloured handkerchief representing a tree w i t h nests which the bishops were s u p p o s i n g . T h e nests were the rotten boroughs, and Lord J o h n Russel l a n d his p a r l y were t ry ing to cut the tree down w i t h a n axo.

T h o bleak c l imate of Carsphairn d id not sui t Mr C a i m a n , and a t the early age of 42, in Docomber, 1832, he died of i n w a r d con­sumption—preaching i n the cold, indicated church a fortnight before his death. Mrs C a i m a n was left w i t h sevon children (Mary tho oldest, being 13), and an income of £ 100 a yoar. T h o y soon migrated to K i r k ­cudbright , mak ing tho long days ' journey of 31 miles i n car ts . I t was a h a r d struggle for the young widow. A k i n d re lat ive paid the rent of her house i l l Castlo Street , but beyond t h a t she received no pecuniary help whatovor, a n d sho was called tho proudest woman in Ga l l oway . T h o S e l k i r k f a m i l y wcro vory k i n d to hor, and L a d y S e l k i r k i n v i t e d M a r y to jo in the drawing elassos of hor daughters, L a d y I sabe l la and L a d y Cather ine . T h o C a i m a n children wero a l l sent to the K i r k c u d b r i g h t Academy. Thoro tho boys and girls woro oducatod togolhor, but thoy p layed separately and h a d l i t t le intercourse out of school. Mrs C a i m a n was v e r y part i cu lar about her chi ldren 's frionds, a n d she did not approve of M a r y ' s democratic w a y s . A t this t ime Mr I Iopo was tho dominio. l i e was a great

character, and an autocrat i n his o w n domain. One day one of h i s class w a s miss ing , and on tho boy's reappearance n e x t day M r Hope asked h i m w h y ho h a d p layed t r u a n t . " Ma mitlior tolled mo," repl ied the boy. Whereupon tho dominie adminis tered tho tawsc , and remarked , cm the conclusion of the operation, " Y e can send yor luither here too, a n d I ' l l gio hor tho s a m e . "

Mary was a prodigious favour i te w i t h hor ) n as tors. T h o Commerc ia l m a s tor did not mind how m a n y <piill pons he mended for her, and the other girls knowing th is , a lways gave her their pons to bo handed up along wi th her own. She once drew tho dominie on the side of her s late , but, beyond a mild " E h 1 w h a t ' s tha t you ' ro doing ? " nothing was sa id , whereas, the other pupils would have got a slap in the face. Mrs Ca iman sent a l l her chi ldren to learn dancing, which Mary enjoyed ; but sho great ly pre­ferred act ing, a n d often took p a r t i n charades.

Mrs C a i m a n sa.w tho f irst s i lver spoon in use a t K o n i n u i r Cast le . .Before that , horn had a lways been used, a n d long after s i lver had becomo general , horn spoons wero s t i l l kept for supping porridge. M a r y saw tho first lucifer m a t c h s t ruck i n K i r k c u d b r i g h t ; before that sho remembered tindor-boxes being used.

When sho was 10 ( in 1835) sho went for one winter to u school i n E d i n b u r g h as pupil teacher. Among other subjects , tho use of tho globes was taught . M a r y so hated this lesson t h a t once sho played t ruant and escaped to her a u n t , Mrs Douglas, at Newington, greatly to tho amusement of Mr Douglas, tho ret ired schoolmaster.

When sho was 17 ( in 183G) she went to her first s i tuat ion as governess to tho young children of a lady a t S k a l o r a w , east of Dunbar . Thoro she h a d hor f irst love affair. I t was not on her side, a n d every ono said tho m a n was " d a f t . " A t this

I N M E M O M A M : M A R Y L O U I S A C A N N A N . 89

time she h a d to p a y tenponco for hor letters, which she often grudged; but hor mother used to got L o r d Se lk i rk to f rank her epistles to her daughter.

W h o n she was about 20, sho wont to E d i n b u r g h as hol iday governess to two l i t t le Miss Wilsons, and there hor clovornoss was m u c h appreciated, a n d she greatly enjoyed meeting their uncle , " Christopher N o r t h , " and a l l tho l i t e rary lions of the day , and from t h a t timo began a lifelong fr iend­ship w i t h the Wi lson f a m i l y .

Sho preferred teaching boys to gir ls , and her knowledge of L a t i n enabled her to coach them i n t h a t language preparatory to going to school. Among her pupils wero the two B r u n e i boys, grandsons of tho famous ongineer; and a t Wansfol l , on L a k e Windermere , sho taught P e r c y and E u s t a c e C r e g , sons of W . R . Greg , i n 1840. W i t h his help sho thoro gave £140 for a n annui ty wor th £20 a year , to begin twenty years later , and this a n n u i t y sho drew t i l l tho timo of her death, i .e., for forty- f ive years . A t Wansfol l sho began to nourish tho ambit ion of sett l ing eventual ly in tho L a k e D i s t r i c t , a n ambit ion realised t h i r t y -eight years later. Thoro sho got acquainted with tho Claudes of Ambleside, and sho wont to v i s i t the ir relations in B e r l i n . Thoy found a n opening for her in a German fami ly . Sho l ivod in lodgings, taught hor pupils E n g l i s h i n tho mornings, and in the evenings had lessons in Gorman grammar and litoraturo, and she became friendly w i t h G r i m m , author of tho famous Fairy Tales, and w i t h other celebrities.

Before loaving E n g l a n d , i n 185(1, sho stayed i n London w i t h the Brunols , a n d on tho night of M a y 27th sho hap]>onod to ho a t tho Opera House when Queen V i c to r ia was prosont. T h o enthusiasm of tho audience was roused to a tromondous p i tch , and there was groat cheoring, and loud

singing of " God S a v e the Queen, " for that afternoon whon dr iv ing sho had been struck on tho forehead w i t h a cane b y Robert Pato as she was leaving Cambridge Houso, P i c cad i l l y , where her unclo was i l l , and tho bruise on her forehead was s t i l l evident as she sat in the R o y a l box.

Miss C a i m a n l ived abroad for four y e a r s , from 1850 to 1854. F r o m B e r l i n she wont to Rome, where sho had rooms on tho T a r p e i a n R o c k . Sho kept hersolf there by wr i t ing artic les on art is t i c subjects for Chambers''a Encyclopaedia. She then became private secretary to a D r E m i l B r a u n a n d his wife . H e was a Gorman professor, and sho helped h i m i n his translations and in wr i t ing his guide book to The Ruins and Museums of Rome. Sho greatly enjoyed this romantio t imo, and in her spare moments sho learnt I t a l i a n , and found leisure for sketching. Ono summer she travel led w i t h her friends on muleback from villago to village through the Sabean A l p s , and she was struck by the good looks of the I t a l i a n peasantry. T h e great, drawback to l iv ing in Homo was the plague of (leas. Tn one room, near tho F o r u m , not far from the Capito l , she used to s i t surrounded by basins of water to keep thorn o i l , and often a t parties she had soon ladies pick them off their dresses. T h e bedding, however, was clean, and tho mattresses were often aired. T h e y wero stuffed with leaves of I n d i a n corn, and s l i ts being left, tho loaves were often turned over and changed. She had very good introductions, and often attended great functions. Once she wont to a grand reception given in honour of Pr ince Frederick of P r u s s i a (afterwards Emperor of G e r m a n y ) , a n d thoro woro present tho Prince, the D u k e of H a v a n a , and m a n y others of high r a n k . T h e cardinals i n thoir red robes, the white marble staircase lined w i t h soldiers, and tho splendid dresses

DO T H E G A L L O V I D I A N .

and flashing diamonds of tho ladies made up a picture she never forgot.

On hor w a y homo in 1854 the Cr imean w a r broke out, a n d she saw tho F r e n c h soldiers embarking for tho C r i m e a , and was struck by their sad faces, their short s tature , and their baggy red trousers. She then for a short t ime l ived a t S t . Loonards , looking after the chi ldren of her cousin, General Rober t Cannon, whi le their father was a t the C r i m e a . Af ter tha t sho l ived for some time in George Street , E d i n b u r g h , translat ing from the German for Chambers's Journal. Thoro, in 1854, her uncle, R e v . D r D a v i d C a i m a n , died. When 74 ( in 1848) ho had thrown up his l iv ing of tho Mains , near Dundee , a n d ret ired to E d i n ­burgh. H e used to wr i te a good deal , pr inc ipal ly for tho Edinburgh Couranl, and must havo been rather eccentric , for, i n the interva ls of l i t e rary inspirat ion, ho would take a hugo pair of scissors out of his desk and proceed to cut his ha i r . H i s niece sometimes s tayed w i t h h i m a t tho Mains , where he was looked after b y two old sorvants , N a n n y a n d Dot ty Morrison, types of a former age, who spent their l ives i n the same f a m i l y . H e was a m a n of some intel lectual power a n d scholarship, and on a r a i n y d a y ho would shut himsolf up in an old tower i n the products of the Manse called tho " Dook i t " (dovo-cot), and there road Greek authors . H i s first par i sh , K i r r i e m u i r , F o r f a r s h i r e , became famous a contury later, as being the original of Barr io ' s Thrums.

Aftor a short v i s i t to Eloronco, Miss C a i m a n resumed her teaching, and was for Romo timo w i t h tho Lacos a t I n k t h o r p e , near S k i p t o n . l l o r e , under t r y i n g c i r c u m ­stances, she performed her duties heroical ly , and thereby a lifelong friendship sprang up botwoon herself and tho Sidgwiek f a m i l y , who wero cousins of tho Locos,

She also taught two Miss Cloughs a t K i n g s t o n , and for a short t imo W a l t e r a n d Vic tor , sons of J o h n . H o r s l e y , R . A . , wero her pupi ls i n 1808. Sho m u s t havo become acquainted w i t h their parents beforo that date through Mrs B r u n e i , sistor of tho famous a r t i s t , a n d w h e n s tay ing w i t h thorn in K e n t she wont to a ba l l g iven by the ar t i s t s of t h a t county in honour of tho Pr ince of W a l e s ' wedding, M a r c h 10th 18G3. I t was a vory grand a l l a i r ; the ballroom was beaut i fu l ly decorated b y the ar t i s t s , the supper was served on gold plate , a n d ono lady h a d her diamonds mounted as hops, in honour of tho hop country.

E o r a time Miss Cannan re turned to hor beloved L a k o country , and taught a t A m b l e ­side, a n d sho a f terwards took rooms a t Clappersgato, near )>y, and kept herself by t rans lat ing U n l i k e a n d others into E n g l i s h .

B y this t ime , i n 1809, M r s C a i m a n h a d gono to l ive a t P r e s t w i c h , Manchester , a n d as she was now so l i tary , hor daughter M a r y wont to l ive w i t h hor. I t w a s a t r y i n g t imo, for Mrs C a i m a n h a d no respect for l i terature , a n d l i t t l e ' s y m p a t h y w i t h her daughter 's inte l lec tual pursu i ts . One Sunday , horrif ied a t finding a daughter of hors reading l l o raco , she e x c l a i m e d : " I t is l ike T o m P a i n e ! "

F o r th ir teen years they l i ved togothor, a n d by degrees tho old lady ' s hea l th grow more and moro i n f i r m . Sho lost hor eyesight, and hor mind became clouded. Nob ly Miss C a i m a n took up tho uneongonial task of nursing now la id upon her , a n d w i t h tho exception of a woman to help at night , she peiformod i t single-handed, t i l l hor mother died, a n d sho was a t last free to realise hor darl ing scheme of sett l ing i n the L a k e D i s t r i c t . I n 1879 sho h a d bought land a t Easedalo , Grasinore , from Mr Fletcher , a n d there i n 18S2 T h o Shiel ing

I N M E M O R I A M : M A R Y L O U I S A C A N N A N . Di

was bui lt , tlio architect being G e r a l d I l o r s l oy , son of hor old fr iend. , ..

T h e whole d is tr i c t was hal lowed by memories of Wordswor th a n d his sistor, a n d i t was L a d y R i c h a r d s o n , Wordsworth ' s friend, who f inal ly induced Miss C a n n a n to settle thoro. 'When she w a s a t Wansfol l she herself remonibored seeing Wordsworth , not long before his death. T h o old m a n was s i t t ing i n a porch engaged i n tho homely occupation of shell ing poas, and tho glory of tho sunset shed a halo round his venerable head.

F o r twenty-e ight years Miss Cannan l ived in ret irement a t T h o Shie l ing , enjoying tho company * of hor books and of hor m a n y l i t e rary friends. Most people regret their y o u t h , but sho a l w a y s said t h a t tho best t ime of her life h a d boon after the ago of 0 0 , on account of roposo aftor strenuous work and freedom from anx ie ty about her resources.

A s a young lady sho rocoivod sovoral offors of marriage, but sho a l w a y s declared Professor Forr ier was tlio only m a n sho could havo marr ied , and t h a t s t ra ight off, from sheer admirat ion of his character a n d talents. She behoved unmarried people attained a bettor lovol of happiness than marriod ones, a l though not c l imbing to tho same heights, nor s ink ing to tho same dopths.

She was once asked if she believed in ghosts ? " G h o s t s , " sho ropliod, " a l w a y s Beom to appear dressed, and I cannot believe

i n the immorta l i ty of clothes ! : : H e r favourite chapter i n the Riblo was 1 Cor in ­thians x i i i . , and i t was peculiarly appropriate to hor, for m i x i n g w i th so many different people and l iv ing so much abroad made her very charitablo in hor religious views and in her judgments of other people.

She attonded Grasmoro Church very regularly t i l l w i t h i n a few yoars of her death , and a l w a y s showed hor Presbyter ian upbringing b y shutt ing her P r a y e r Book w i t h a bang when tho Athanas ian Creed was road.

W h e n sho was 80 sho was present for the last timo a t tho Grasmero Rush-Bearing F e s t i v a l ; and that same year F r a n k B r a n d e y , R . A . , took a sketch of her as one of the spectators i n his largo picture of the " G r a s ­mero R u s h - B e a r i n g . "

L i k o hor father a L i b e r a l in polities, sho was a constant rcador of tho Manchester Guardian, a n d she a lways insisted on her rights as a citizonoss by voting on the U r b a n D i s t r i c t Counci l , T h e last timo sho voted sho was dr iven down to Grasmore i n a motor car , but to one accustomed to stop and gaze on tho beauties of Nature this rapid mode of progression proved distasteful .

A n d so, in Wordsworth 's lines, often quoted by hor,

" a n oltl ago sorono a n d b r i g h t , A n d l o v e l y aa a L a p l a n d n i g h t , "

led her to her quiet gravo among tho ever­last ing hil ls that wero so dear to her.