NEGLECTED EDINBURGH 
By Gilliam Field 
/ T'HE most picturesque city in Europe lies 
somewhat aside from the well-beaten 
path of the professional tourist. Of those 
who now land at Liverpool, a majority 
pass on to the southward and eastward, and 
the decreasing influence of the author of 
JVaverly is evidenced by a yearly diminution 
in the number of Scottish pilgrims. Added 
to this, the growing popularity of the South¬ 
ampton route diverts a large number of 
travellers either directly to the continent or, 
placing them practically in London, makes 
North Britain seem too far away to the mere 
curiosity seeker. And finally, the recent devel¬ 
opment of the Mediterranean approaches to 
the continent attracts many voyagers in that 
direction as well; so that, in spite of the 
rapidly increasing army of annual invasion 
from the New World to the Old, we have the 
melancholy accompaniment of a steadily 
decreasing list of visitors to Edinburgh. I say 
melancholy, because to one who, tho’ not 
to the manner born, loves Scotland and her 
history; her picturesque scenery, highland 
and lowland, and her hospitable and clever 
people, it is difficult to view this lessening 
interest in any other light than that of an 
unmerited desertion of one of the most 
charming cities in the world. This charm 
of Edinburgh is due both to her beautiful 
physical aspect and to her rich historic 
associations; each appealing with equal 
force to the appreciative visitor. 
Upon two parallel ridges the city is 
mainly built—the old town and the new 
facing each other across the Princes Street 
Gardens, but distinctly separated by the 
narrow valley; with Princes Street itself 
as an esplanade from which to view the 
town of Queen Mary, Knox, and many 
another actor of those and earlier pic¬ 
turesque and tragic ages. In the near 
foreground of the view of the Scott monu¬ 
ment note the ingenious treatment of the 
roof of the market in the valley below. One 
is not conscious at first of anything unusual, 
as it appears to be a portion of the Park 
itself, set out with flower beds; and it is not 
THE CASTLE FROM PRINCES STREET GARDENS 
9 
