202 AT THE SIGN OF THE STOCK YARD INN 



ward admirably the excellence of the parent stock, 

 WILLIAM DUTHIE of Gollynie, Aberdeenshire, and J. 

 DEANE WILLIS of Bapton Manor, Wiltshire, England, 

 came to the rescue and saved the most of the 

 more valuable material for the northern hemisphere. 

 It was not until several years after this had 

 taken place that I was able to indulge a long-cher- 

 ished ambition to personally meet and talk with Mr. 

 GRUICKSHANK. Mr. DUTHIE accompanied Senator 

 HARRIS and myself to Sittyton, and there we met 

 not only the master of the house but his nephew, 

 JOHN W., above mentioned, the latter a man of high 

 intelligence and refinement. The old man sat in 

 the chimney corner, wrapped in a warm gray woolen 

 robe with a red skullcap upon his head, and although 

 he gave us hearty welcome he permitted neighbor 

 DUTHIE to do most of the talking. Now those who 

 knew both men will readily understand this situation, 

 I am sure. Collynie is ever ready with his words 

 and there is commonly both wit and wisdom in 

 them. Sittyton was always chary of them. From 

 the two one good average conversationalist could 

 have been readily made. However, I managed at 

 last to put a few pointed questions to the reticent 

 old man, to which monosyllabic answers only for the 

 most part were returned. In fact, I was reminded 



