200 FreL_p MEETINGS. 
the beginning of the sturm and drang epoch in his life as we 
’ 
read of it in ‘‘ Sartor Resartus,’’ and the start of his love 
affair. The small farm on Repentance Hill, te which a por- 
tion of the family removed in 1825, saw the visit of Miss 
oe 
Welsh, and presents the stage scenery for ‘‘ The Everlasting 
Yea.’’ In 1826 the Carlyles removed to Scotsbrig, like Main- 
hill and Repentance, on the heights. Here his father died in 
1832, and his mother in 1853. Over the Solway plain we 
look to Annan, whose ‘‘ Hinterschlag Gymnasium ’’ gave 
Carlyle the training for his University career, and where he 
afterwards acted as mathematical master. Beyond the town 
is the Solway shore, where at Newbie he spent a summer, and 
where at the old pier he !anded from the boat which in the 
far-off days plied between Liverpool and Annan. Take that 
illuminating book, Sloan’s Carlyle Country, as your guide; 
it will impress you most vividly with the geographical setting 
and background of the literary associations of our chosen 
area. 
22nd June, 1922. 
Earlston, Knockreoch, and Dalry. 
It took stout hearts to brave the weather this Thursday, 
but those who took part in the excursion to visit the remains 
of ancient stone works on Knockreoch, in Kells parish, had 
no reason to regret their temerity, and were agreed that the 
day had not only been successful from an antiquarian point of 
view, but enjoyable from a merely human one. Leaving Dum- 
fries at 10.30, a party of eighteen travelled by char-a-banc via 
Holywood and Glencairn, over the hill road to Dalry. 
Although the sky was black and heavy rain fell, the eye was 
gladdened everywhere by the prolific masses of blossom. 
Hawthorn and rhododendron in particular did their utmost to 
make this spring surpass all within living memory for the 
gorgeousness of its natural apparel. Nor was interest lack- 
ing in the places passed. In Holywood the extent of the 
ancient Meiklewood Muir, which began near Newbridge, was 
commented upon, and credit given to the enterprise of the 
