Transactions, 47 
cottages and smaller farm houses. Then the saying, “ Out of the 
world and into Colvend,” had a meaning. Now it would be an 
anachronism. There is no more popular resort in the South of 
Scotland ; no place where one would feel himself less out of the 
world, or more outside civilization. Visitors come annually from 
all parts of the kingdom to spend their holiday in Colvend—from 
Edinburgh and Glasgow, from Oxford and Cambridge, from 
London and places beyond. And, returning, carry with them 
such pleasant memories as induce others, friends, and acquaint- 
ances to follow in their steps. 
Fifty years ago there were no public conveyances in the 
parish. No railway had yet come near, not even to Dumfries. 
There were two daily coaches which run between Edinburgh and 
Dumfries, and two between Glasgow and Dumfries, and there 
were two which ran between Dumfries and Kirkcudbright, pass- 
ing through Dalbeattie and Castle-Douglas. No one then could 
perform the journey from either Edinburgh or Glasgow to Colvend 
in oneday. Then, all journeysfrom Colvend to any oftheneighbour- 
ing towns, Castle-Douglas or Dumfries, had to be done on foot. In 
those days men, and even women, thought it a small matter to 
walk to Dumfries, transact their business, and return home, 
doing their thirty, and in some cases their forty, miles with little 
or no rest. Now the railway has reached to Dalbeattie, and 
between Dalbeattie and Colvend ’buses run close. All the 
summer months, from the end of May until the beginning of 
October there run three ‘buses daily, and two run between Dal- 
beattie and Douglas Hall. 
Many curious stories are told of the effect which the first 
sight of a railway train in motion produced on the spectator. A 
story was told me not long ago of the effect which the sight pro- 
duced on one of my parishioners, a simple woman who had hardly 
ever been beyond the place of her birth. A kind lady friend in 
Dumfries had invited her to come and spend a few days at her 
house in town, and had given her instructions how to come by 
train from Dalbeattie. The time for her arrival came, but no 
traveller turned up. Three or four hours, however, after the 
expected time she did arrive, and on being asked how she had 
missed the train she said, “‘ The train just geed by like.” In her 
inexperience she doubtless expected that the train, like an 
ordinary conveyance, would stop and pick her up on the road. 
Fifty years ago our postal facilities and privileges were in 
