The Brussels Post, 1895-4-26, Page 5ZO
all
the
les,
icy -
Cal
Oil,
ils,
ish,
ods.
e- to
Iasll
anl-
irns
(la-
in
all
is.
lug
re ;
:lis.
Ica
1
.ch.
for
1�.
Ins BOna
s osl'QOnOenGOyWnll11aGlasgow,
at almost- four sooro years, lexaude:
Grewal', late at Glenisla, Per-
farsbire. Aloxaudes was Weil and widely
Amown, and lloesessetl talents above the
% lnary worlt a.aay llttivauibY. By
he was a tailor, but fn addition to
f handicraft he may be looked upon as
ling been a poet, botianist, phronotogist,
i naturalist, During his long life he
1v many obanges—changes in manners,
01om0 life, industries and oconpabions.
'Twsre sin and shame to let the memory
of such a man drop into the grave along
with his mortal remains, and in hope of
resorting "Sandy's" name from oblivion,
and as a last bribnte of respeeb to a de.
parted friend, the writer has taken upon
I himself to place thisshort sketch before
the public, The genealogy of Alexander
I Grewar on the father's side can only be
traced bank to his grandfather, bat that
Will cover s period of more than two
centuries at leash, Our subject's paternal
grandfather was William Gram.; who
resided at Daluasnaagbt, Glenisla, and
whose better half bore the name of
Elizabeth McGregor. We have no auto=
enbic record bow long William stayed
here, but certain it is that he removed to
Dalnamer, a short distance from his
previous abode, where he rented a small
croft, and where part at least of his
family was bora. On his demise his
oldest son John succeeded to the lease-
hold of the croft. john's first wife was a
women named McKenzie, who died short-
ly
hortly after marriage, leaving no issue. For
second wife he had Margaret Robertson,
whose father was a Cousin to General
John Reid or Robertson, of Stralooh, who
composed the air of the "Garb of Old
Gaul," and bequeathed a legacy of £80,.
000 to establish a Chair of Music in Edin-
burgh University. By Margaret Robert-
son John Grewar had a numerous family
of sons and daughters, most of whom
have died advanced in years, and. those
who are still alive are far beyond man's
allotted span of .three score and ten.
During Alexander's earliest days
COUNTRY tarn WAS lmmiriE-VC
in the extreme_ Fences there were none,
"march stones" being the only method of
distinguishing the boundaries between
a• farms, grazings, Eke. Nor was this al-
together without its advantages. Stock.
Would, of course, stray over other peoples
property and destroy props of all and
sundry if allowed outside the fold or byre
door. To guard against this the young of
both sexes were employed as "herds,"
which vocation formed the earliest oo-
cnpation of the youthful Sandy. The
farms in Glenisla are still small, but they
were much larger then.. Each farmer on
the Girlie estate, which oomnrised bbs
greater part of the upper portion of the
Glen, had then, however, a common right
to graze his sheep and Cattle during the
summer months in what is now the deer
forst of Caenlochan. Once the crops
were sown all the farmer's household left
their homes and took up their residences
in shiels, which they had erected for
greater convenience in their common
pasture land. John Grower's spiel was.
where the shooting lodge of Toloban now
stands. Cows, sheep and the other ani-
mals_ wore removed .at these annual mi-
grations, the senior members of the house-
hold only returning home at ictervals to
see how the crops were progressing. The
women 'carded and spun wool, the men
discharged the moro onerous duties, and
the children, young Sandy among the.
rest, watched that the cows diel not stray
too far away. Once the lambs were
weaned the ewe milking commenced, and
generally lasted from a month to six
weeks. During this period the women
were busily engaged, for in addition to
minting they had to convert the liquid
produce into butter and cheese. In those
early clays gas and pnraflinwereundrsamt
of, and oven the humble tallow clip was
far from common. A. cruisie with a rush
wick supplied all the light required.
Sandy remembered quite well of provid-
ing winks. It was the soft white sub-
stance that was used, all the outside green
substance being carefully stripped off. Fir
was often used instead of the crnisie. A.
, piece of this wood, rich in rosin, and
generally dug out of peat moss, was split
small and placed over the fire to dry on
at article somewhabrssemblingagridiron,
but called a calIiachan. Once thoroughly
dry, placed in a socket in an upright
position, or sometimes oven held in the
Land, it gave a much bettor light than.
many may suppose.,
,A,PBII'i 24, 18996
falritgraIMMIneerreariEMOOMMMISEMMMOMIS
ALEXANDER ORE.WAR1
7AII.QR, i°G,E'T, BQTANI$T
A Seobtisli paper gives the following
iniereetbxg particulars of an anteeedeub
1 —J Grower of out tot4 nS nwn na G war':
On rlltristntas Day 1804 there died ab
EDUCATION IN TUlISO nate
was not of a very high order, especially in
country districts. . The Bible was the
educative sinequa' non of the time, °lose-
1y followed by the shorter and proof nate- I
ahisms. We may imagine that Sandy's
schooldays did not cover any protracted
. period,'but from personal knowledge we
know that he could read and write well,
and was conversant with elementary
arithmetic. Once our subject's school•
days carne to a oloso;, and when about
fourteen years of age he left the parental
roof .to become initiated into the ancient
and honorable craft of tailorship, - At
Dolvanie,' a little more than a mile from
bis home, lived James McIntosh, a master
tailor, and on the 22nd day of October,
48, Alexander Grewar entered his ser-
vice as an apprentice, and in the follow- d7
of General Bold, before mentioned, at
11110 time became extinct, and it was be
•
1'e 1 1
lvoa flat William- I a Alx r
e anao oldest
1 s
d0 tr
Mother, o b was ns •ori
r, xb 1 zn to a fortune of
4360,000 that General 1104 bad bequeath.
all bo 140 daughter—Ms sou, who had
gone abroad, leaving been previously de.
ceased. The following genealogical trap
will1' c
show at glance the foundation
a e
whish the Grewar Claim rested 00
maim OAnnnTSON,
0AIi0N IIONER'bSoz. AN0T11517 SOW.
•
0EN05,11 111$10, LAVOnL1N 110nxnIS0N,
I
I I h...._�
HON, PAUO1TE;It, - 110n1MT lealloA117tx
I10bIllare0N, 1i011ea'ra5:
wOLLLttr
AnEWAlt.
It would seem that General Reid re-
garilocl Robert Robertson as his probable
heir, for he took him under his own roof,
educated him, and afterwards apprentic-
ed him to the trade of coppersmith in
Perth. While in the latter place Robert
fell' into a decline, and died without issue.
After Robert's death the: next-of•kin
would be his sisters family, his said sis-
ter being now deceased ; so Alexander
thought, and so he sought to prove. He.
searched records and Session books every-
where he was likely to find an additional
item to forward his Claim, and interview-
ed aged parties who were personally at-
quainbed with General Reid and Robert
Robertson. Alexander Grower spared
neither time nor pains in attempting to
establish his brother's claim, but all his
efforts roved futile, ,and the brilliant
prospects of i'nmense wealth , and afflu-
ence vanished into thin air. Coming in
contact with so many people as he did,
our subject had every opportunity for
gaining information on whatever tome be
wished. He made a study of phrenology,
and averred that be could tell each indi-
vidual character by the Contour of his
head and the predominance of the vari-
ous bumps. Many of our elderly readers
will doubtless remember James Carnegie,
better known as "Trottaok," who peregri-
nated a large braeb of country in pursuit
of his avocation of
• 1'1t0P1 SSOE Or 221010
and Legerdemain. This second wizard of
the North mystified many by his sleight
of hand, and among others Alexander
Grewar, who resolutely set himself to
find out how the apparently magical
effects were produced. Ere ingratiated
himself into the favors of "Trottack,"
who, seeing that be had an apt scholar,
oonfided almost all his cabinet of tricks
to our hero under promise of secrecy.
The result was that when he took a
thought to act the magician Sandy form-
ed no bad conjurer. The latter part of
Alexander's life was spent at Altiltan,
Glenisla, in a cottage specially built for.
his accommodation.
Here he was but a few yards from the
Tela, where in due season he proved him.
self au ardent disciple of old Isaac. As a
fisherman Sandy had few equals in the
glen, and many of those who . sought it
as a Summer resort werenotabove taking
a lesson from the old veteran. At first
his attention was principally directed to
quantity, but latterly it was quality be
angled for, and in his basket was almost
invariably found the pick of the river.
Nor did he confine his operations to the
Isla, or river fishing. Be was equally at
home on the loch as on the river, and
there was not a tarn for many miles
around that he was not personally ac-
quainted with. He could describe their
scenery and surroundings, the depth of
their various parts, the color and nature
of their trout, and the localities likely to
afford the best sport. He bad thrown
his line over Lochs Baiafe, Drumore,
Nanuan, Btrothachan, Ceannmou, Dubh,
Esk, Lee, Brandy and Wharral. The
nature and habits of the . trout Were to
him an engrossing study, and many a
pleasant hour has Sandy spent expound-
ing the tactics of the finny tribe. In the
course of his observations he became con-
vinced that the otter was a deadly foe to
the inhabitants of his native streams.
The destruction of their. enemy was forth-
with resolved upon. This led. to a study
of the life and habits of the otter, against
whom he latterly waged so successful a
war that the species became almost ex-
tinct on the Isla and its tributaries.
About' mid life our subject'sttttention was
drawn to the medicinal properties of Ger-
lain plants, and a Iouging to become more
fully acquainted with their qualities, and
for a more extended knowledge of botany
in general, at once seized him. With the
Latin names and stereotyped definitions
Sandy was altogether unacquainted; nor
slid he set himself to empire these.
What he sought was a text -book free from
the technicalities of botany,, or at
least giving the designations and descrip-
tions of the various plants in language
easily understood by the ordinary reader.
Such a book he found in "Culpepper's
Complete Herbal andEnglish Physician,"
It was the herbal or
amnion= nnANWI of nonANs
that Alexander got himself to master, and
as his studies progressed he became deep-
ly imbued with a conviction that the Al.
mighty had sent no malady to afflict the
human frame short of death forwhich He
had not also supplied a remedy among
the various plants and wildflowers.
Man's ignorance and even contempt for
this work of the All -Wise he sorely and
continually regretted.' So snocessfolly
'd Alexander prosecute this stay that
dog 0100111 of May was .bound
over by indenture. As, • lie
roadbed n'ap's estate Alexander
gave tokens of a keenly observantdis-
position. Among other towns visited iu
pursuit of his craft we may mention.
Glasgow, Dumbarton, Perth, Forfar,
Breollin, Stonehaveu and Aberdeen. Ila
these journeys he picked.upa mass of in-
formation on men and maunere, anoisnt
customs and observances, history and
tradition. To visit the ruins of 'indent
keeps and fortresses he would have gone
miles off his way. The ruins of Dunnot-
tar Castle perhapsimpressed him most
deeply, for on ivast Strength and al t
most impregnability he was never tired 1
expatiating. His memory was also most,
retentive, .fn proof of which we may state
that if he heard a Sermon width attracted
ifs attention he could afterwards repeat
large portions of it, word for word, as it
left the minister's mouth. Of a family
long noted for strength of lung and fleet -
nese on foot, Sandy had few equals in a
short race, and none in a long ono.
Shortly after reaching years of disoretioll
Alexander Grower's attention was direct-
ed to his genealogy. The lineal descent p
we question if there was •a single plant
mentioned in bis "Herbal" which he did
not know, and with whose medicinal prop-
erties he was unacquainted. Far and
near he sought his favoribea now in the
sunny corn fields of the Howe of Strath-
more, now on the sterile, rocky oraigs of
the Grampians ; now in the rioh, clover
field, redolent wibh perfume and musical
with the hum of bees, anon almost up to
the 'times in the dank and turgid marsh,
whose oily inhabitants were the frog and
loathsome water -newt. In buoy Ivo can
even yet dislern his Well-known form
wandering along the scent -laden banks of
he Isla, parting and peering into the
uxnriant vegetation in search of some
new specimen. We eau yet even hear the
beep, strong intonations of his voice, loud
praise in
1e
of
p such favorites as scallions or
gentian, or discoursing on the doubtful
propprtios of henbane or jaw's -ear, We
now come to the last, though not the
least, of Alexander Grewar's many gtoali-
floatione-vis., that of poet, Like many
other bumble Scotch' ppoets,'. he had a
marked aversion to publication, and to,
the host of our knowledge only out of his
iecos has appeared' in print, and that
avitoaub 1115 Aonsont, Wo bavo often
hoard him dsolare that he never wished
Roy of his poetry published as long as he
lxvgcl,-••a wish wl7ioh w0 have scrupulous.
ly attended to. A shill of lgabura—a
man that "looited through Nature up to
l''abure's God3
nmauy of Sandy's p
000
s
were finely anddevoutly
religious, The following aro four linos of
his on "Sunset" ;-.• ,
Ton tinged, dappled drapery acotued partial
unfurled
Bre ma Soo yet had puttied o'or Gbo Gage of
the world;
That orb, going down, oloudsblended with
rt4ys,
Agony thousands of stars being 1115 in his
blase,
'Tiers' lofty, though not devoid of merit,
were his verses on "The Overthrow of
Ohedarlaomex•" by Abralutm, a few selee-
tions'of which are givon underneath,
That mighty monarch laid a plot
By stratagem to 0aptti1e Lot,
A signal to the etre Was given-
- A herald was sent down from heaven,
Had winged a passage tothe worlr
With banner for the war. unfurled.
A oavaleade of warliks,pride
ZIarebed down on IItamro s mountain gide ;.'
That valiant Abram lea that host
Along tba side of Jordan's coast
There Obedarlaomor. Came in wow,
Attended by a retinue
Of warlike men, that victory Moline,
Ancestors the Auakims,
No orders to outpostsLaomsr bad given,
For bis oat -Aare was nigh, being decreed by
Heaven,
Thre0 hundred boldwarriors arrived on
the spBCt—
were headed by Abram; the uncle of Lot.
The robols were routed west sudah's wide
plain
Between van and Beersheba Lowlier was
slain.
The enemies' spoil, they had leftter a prey,
And camels and asses were drovedaway.
Alexander Grewar was uo 'prentice
band at portraying nature in her many
and varied forms in verse. His observant
eye always noted his surroundings, and
his inquisitive and penetrating mind al-
ways. sought to trace from cement° efieot,
or vice versa. The following descriptive
verses are introductory tohis poem on
"The` Nymph of Caenloohan"—a piece of
some fourteen stanzas—
Where
tanzas—Wbore Isia's wimpling stream is fed
Wi' torrents free their rooky bed,
All over some great projeetions Intl
In whiteness foamin',
These lonely wilds I Chanced to tread.
Ae summer glowiie.
The sky assumed a Crimson hue.
what aeon did overcast the blue,
The blinking stars came peeping through
In boundless space
Perspiring fell the luxuriane dew •
On Nature's face.
Barth's vegetation was inereassd—
A beauteous board, with bouuteou1 tenet,
Which welcome bade to every guest
And stranger flower,
To hang the tender head and taste
The nursing power.
But dreadful could did soon arise,
And dark and darker crew the `skies ;
The vivid lightningdimmed my eyes
Each sudden shook,
And eehoetng thunder made replies
Free ilka rook.
But louder still the thunder crashed,
And quicker still the lightning flashed,
In ilka pool tbehailstones plashed,
As ifwi' sp ito;
On bows an' hillock head they thrashed,
'fill a' wee white.
Time does its Ahannea Seep Wee',
And Alton whoa w010asb Gah,eO'
toed a •r t
it o1.Its.batthG!l1 didd0o
g oA k
No,ylaw:tbe
Y s'
li
ih10 in Beauty 40 rea,
ooG—
IAr aalunh
deo,
• A. Quebec man named Cote fell into a
ca
uidrAnf maple sugar
o m pl sod is dying.
',fie was trying to Close a ventilator on top
OE a 11buee where the anger was made,
When the roof gave way,
The other day Albert Bendriok, of
Winchester, purohasod a fox family, con.
sisting of sex young reynards and their
mother, The old fox was se00rea by a
strap but by some means gob loose during
the night and deserted her progeny. 1dr.
Kendrick wished bo raise the young foxes
and was puzzled flow to do it until bhe
house cat having joeb lost a libber Of
kittens adopted the six young 011151ssn
thieves. 7128 tabby and her new family
seem very happy in their new relations.
IlifeLEOD'S
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TESTED REMEDIES
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LABORATORY OODERICH, ONT.
J. M. MCLEOD,
Prop. and Manufacturer.
Sold by JAMES' FOX,
Druggist Brussels.
ALLAN LINE.
'Mater a71iY1gS,
1895.
PORTLAND, HALIFAX do LIV-
ERt'OOL SERVICE.
Thom Prom From
Liverpo'l STIIAMsoIPs. Portland. Ha Hex.
ltlar. 7 Mongolian " 98 " 90
1Nin,.. A' 05A07Api. 4 Laurentian
"
Steamers will sail from Portland about
1 p. m. Thursdays, and from Halifax-
about 1 p. m. Saturdays, after arrival of
Western Trains.
For farther information as to rates,
&a., apply to
W. H. KERR,
• AGENT, BRUSSELS.
Is the Power that Draws.
Fully alive to this important fact we have
visited the markets and have succeeded in
securing a large quantity of
IIE
CO�DS
in every line. We say, without hesitation,
that we have the Best values in the Trade.
This week we are showing special values in
Carpets, Japan Matting,
Curtainette, Lace Curtains,
Chenille Curtains,
CA
PETS. Tn
Iu Carpets we are showing nice designs in Hemp, at 10c,
Dad, 15c and 20e. We have Union 'Carpets, delicate col-
orings, beautiful designs, at 22c, 25c, 80c, 45c, 50c and 60o.
Special`vaiues in All Wool and Moquette. Japan Matting
is the.vory thing to make a Dining Room or Bed Room
cool for Summer ; it will not soil and will weal like iron,
and only 25e. and 85c. per yard.
CURTAINS.
Our Chenille Curtains at $8.25 are really handsome. You
• cannot fail to be pleased with the endless variety of Lace
Curtains from 40c. up. Curtainette at 12ic. per yard.
Call ancl Compare Values. We are -not afraid of the result.
We will be pleased to show our goods—that's what we are
here for. Bring your Farm Produce here. We give the
Highest Always.
A. llcGOAN & Co.,
GARP I ELD BL,,,'OCK1
BRUSSELS,
SpCClBI Alillaeh!ells IV Furnilure.
r
at
e
Is showing a splendid stock that
cannot fail to. please the, public,
Elegant Parlor Suites,
Eznclsome Dining noom Furniture,
Fine Beamer , Furniture,
ChirSolid Oak Suites give eminent satisfaction. We
suit all tastes and purses. No person should purchase
an outfit without first (lalling on us..
Repairing Promptly attended to.
Pianos and Organs,
7
I handle the Best Pianos and Organs Manufactured
and can save you the Agent's profit by buying from me,
Picture Framingp
donee Neatly and Cheaply,
r
Big Bargains in Window Shades.
UNDERTAKING
Having had a long experience in this Department, combined with a
Large Stock and First-class Hearse, satisfaction is assured.
Special attention given to Arterial Embalming as,
I am a Graduate of the Toronto Em-
balming School.
Curtain Poles and Trimmings in
the Latest Styles. Very Cheap.
R. Leatherdale,
BRUSSELS.
Impo ratio
We have received the greater part of our Sluing Stock of.
Boots and Shoes, comprising the Finest and most Stylish
Footwear that the market affords. In Ladies' Misses' and
Children's Black and Tau Oxford Ties we are showing ex-
ceptionally good value. In Ladies' Gaiters, etc., we have.
a fine lino which are very popular just now. Ladies'
Misses' and Children's Button Boots in endless variety„at
prices to suit the times. In Gents' wear we have all the
leading styles in Dongola, Shell Cord and Calf. Boys'
and Youths' School Shoes at prices that defy competition.
Call and see our Ladies' White Canvas Oxfords.
OWNING
BMb/$. 1.7=1•. ,al$.
Rips Sewed Free of Charge.
1
Farmers who require Plows,
Turnip Seed Drills, Gang
Plows and Horse Hoes,
Should give me a call as I keep the best
in the market. I have three different
manufacturers make of Plows.
TERMS LIBERAL, -
Any Quantity of Potatoes Wanted.
Daisy Churns, Washing Machines,
Wringers, Tin Pails, Fence Wire, Lane's 'at,
elft Barn Door Hangers, &c., Cheaper
here than any other store.
,1. H. THOMSONg,
EA E, , t14V e1