Ayr Advertiser
30 May 1844
Glasgow and Ayrshire Railway
We observe the directors have arranged a pleasure trip from Ayr, Monkton, Troon, Irvine, and Kilwinning, to Glasgow, and back, on Monday next, at half-fares; and we have no doubt the boon thus conferred on the public will be eagerly embraced by many.

Kelso Chronicle
30 May 1845
A Curiosity
Everybody has seen a robin's nest; there is scarcely a boy in the parish but has both seen and robbed them too perhaps. It is rather uncommon, however, for red-breast to build inside a dye-house; and yet there is a robin's nest in Mr Turnbull's dye-house, Crescent, in a hole in the wall about four feet from the ground, and only a yard or two from one of the vats; and there at present is the old bird sitting on six eggs, unsecured by the workmen, and evidently quite at home amid the din of machinery and the incessant whizzing and rattling of a steam-engine.

The Scotsman
31 May 1817
On Thursday's night, as several farmers were returning from a roup at Hallmyre, one of them, who was a little in advance, had reached the bridge at Pennycuick, when his horse started suddenly, and left with his rider clear over the bridge into the Esk, a height of nearly 40 feet. The bottom is rocky, and the water not being high, the gentle man was dreadfully bruised; he was discovered soon after by his companions and carried to the inn. It is remarkable that the horse sustained little injury.

Aberdeen Evening Express
1 June 1914
Post for Everyone
Most blind and deaf people are not nearly so sensitive about their afflictions as we think they are. The 'Deaf Times', for instance, tells this story. The railway chairman was explaining his re-organisation of the staff, and came to Spriggs. The chief shareholder gasped. 'Spriggs! What on earth can he do? Why, he is so deaf that he can't hear thunder. What post have you given him?' 'I think you will agree,' returned the chairman, stiffly, 'that the directors understand their business thoroughly. Mr Spriggs will attend each day and hear all complaints from passengers!'

Shetland Times
2 June 1900
Eclipse of the Sun
On Monday last the eclipse of the sun was seen from Lerwick by a large number of people. Shortly after noon, the sky, which had been clear for an hour or so, began to get overcast, and by the time the eclipse commenced was covered by a thin veil of clouds, obscuring the sun completely. A little before four o'clock, however, a rift in the clouds revealed the sun just when the eclipse was at its greatest magnitude, and although the view was somewhat obscured owing to the presence of vapour-like clouds, a good view of the eclipse was obtained. The sky was comparatively clear until about 4.20 when cloud again completely obscured the sun, thus preventing a view of the last stages of the eclipse.

Rothesay Chronicle
2 June 1883
Intelligence in a Dog
Mr J W Schaub, a mechanical engineer at the Edgmore Ironworks of Wilmington, informed me of an exceedingly interesting case of intelligence in a black and tan terrier belonging to him. The old mother dog and her playful family entered his bedroom while he was dressing, and one of the pups snatched his stocking as he was in the act of putting it on, running out of the room with it. The mother at once followed the young offender, took the stocking from him, and returned it to the master. Mr Schaub said that her conduct gave evidence of displeasure at the action of the pup, and she impressed him with the idea that she felt in some way responsible for the conduct of her young. Being greatly interested in the matter, Mr Schaub contrived to have the offence committed on many successive mornings, the same performance being repeated each time.

Fife Herald
3 June 1824
Wednesday was the 'flitting term'; a day which exposes the nakedness of many families, and verifies the words of Sterne's mendicant, that 'there is misery enough every where.' A singular instance of this occurred at the Witchknow. A woman, the mother of three children, was turned out of doors, from inability to pay her rent. On the forenoon, before going, she placed one of her children in a neighbour's house and went off with the other two. The deserted innocent amused itself for a considerable time; and no notice was taken of its mother's absence, till a line was discovered in its little hand, bearing the following words, – 'Necessity makes me leave you. God knows I'm way enough to do it: But though the foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, I have no where to lay my head.' It was true; she had been born to a better fate; but an unconquerable love of ardent spirits led her from time to time to sell every article of furniture she had, till she left herself nothing but bare walls. The last rag she possessed was a piece of bed furniture; and this she sold on the previous night, for sixpence, to buy, as she said, some food for herself and little ones.

Islay McLeod

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