died in that quiet spot, and she, who had shown once more what the true heart of a woman is, like a flower torn from the soil pined and perished at his side. And so they, united in life by the silken ties of love, in death were not divided, for the simple country people then, unlearned although they may have been, were quick to understand a true love story, and so they buried the pair where they died, and there

"Unto this day there may be seen,
Within a circle bright and green,
A little stone-protected mound,

"T was here the faithful pair were found;
And often travellers pause awhile

Beside the little rustic stile

Which guards the grave of Mary Rae
And him who fell on that sad day."

The well is now covered with a stone slab, now broken, bearing the inscription: "Mary Rae's Well, covered by Mr. Douglas of Douglas Park, 1827." It may also be remarked here that tradition finds another memorial of the battle in a large stone which stands among the trees near Woodhead. Some would identify this with the grave of the brave but violent Balfour of Burley, so powerfully pictured by Scott in "Old Mortality"; but this is impossible, as he died in exile. It may, nevertheless, be some memorial of an unknown hero of the

cause.

Between the farm steadings of Bankhead and Orbiston stood at one time the Bankslap Smiddy. Here the first iron plough manufactured in Scotland was produced, the beginning of an industry which in

other hands made the name of Uddingston, as we have already seen, well known throughout the world for the excellence of the agricultural implements produced there. This interesting relic at one time belonged to Blackie of Bellshill, but afterwards it fell into the hands successively of Wilkie and Gray & Co., where a few of the older residents speak of having seen it. Suitably labelled, it has now found, perhaps, a more secure home in the museum of Edinburgh. In its day it was frequently exhibited at agricultural exhibitions, and formed an interesting example of one stage-and that a most important one-of the evolution of the plough.

ORBISTON:

Robert Owen and his Social Experiments.

"No man's labour for good is in vain,

Tho' he win not the crown but the cross;
Every wish for mau's good is a gain,

Every doubt of man's gain is a loss."

"O, human soul! as long as thou can'st so
Set up a mark of everlasting light,

Above the howling senses' ebb and flow,

-Anon.

To cheer thee and to right thee if thou roam.
Not with lost toil thou labourest through the night!
Thou mak'st the heaven thou hop'st indeed thy home."

-ARNOLD.

IN previous chapters we have dealt with local scenes which conjure up before us a past which has almost wholly vanished, and which we would not seek to recall even if it were in our power; but now we pass to the consideration of an interesting experiment in sociology of which Orbiston was the scene, which future years may look back upon as the pioneer work of a noble man much maligned and misunderstood. But this, after all, is the lot of the seer: the very power which lifts him above his fellows, isolates him, and it is well for him if he find consolation for his many disappointments in the brightness of the inward

vision, for it is all the comfort generally vouchsafed. Those most fitted by education to understand him, misrepresent his motives, while the humbler classes, for whom he sacrifices all, meet his efforts by dull, stupid opposition. Such was the experience of Robert Owen; and although the Orbiston experiment, outwardly must be classed as a failure, we should like to show what sort of man the moving spirit was, and what were the motives which actuated him.

Robert Owen, the son of a small saddler and ironmonger, was born in Newton, Montgomeryshire. Life did not open brightly for him. At the age of nine he left school and was employed locally until at the age of ten he went to Stamford, where he was apprenticed to a draper for three or four years. After a short time in a London shop, he came to Manchester, where his career was one of brilliant success. At the age of nineteen he was manager of a cotton mill, and that under circumstances which would have damped the spirits of any youth. The place had been but poorly managed, and was in a wretched condition, but Owen placed it on a sound business footing-an achievement not of a dreamer, but of a man of fine business habits. We next find him a partner in and manager of the Chorlton Twist Company, which he made a very successful concern. Acting under his advice, his firm purchased the Mill of New Lanark, owned by Dale & Arkwright-a transaction which was of great importance, not only to his head, but to his heart. In the business arrangements he had been brought into

contact with David Dale, one of the original partners of the New Lanark concern, at whose house in Charlotte Street, Glasgow, he was soon a welcome guest. But there was more than business talked. On one occasion he met Miss Dale going for a walk on Glasgow Green, and volunteered to accompany her. Love in gentle hearts is quickly learned, and Robert Owen, while arranging other partnerships of more or less uncertain. duration, in this case carried out one to end only with life. The marriage took place in Mr. Dale's house, and was of the simplest character possible, so simple, indeed, as not to satisfy modern craving after a ritual sufficiently long as to justify elaborate toilettes. The ceremony, if such it can be called, was performed by the Rev. Mr. Balfour, an old friend of Mr. Dale, although he was of the Established Church, while Mr. Dale belonged to some small sect. The account is given in the words of the biographer-" When we were all met on the morning of our marriage, waiting for the ceremony to commence, Mr. Dale being there to give his daughter to me, and the younger sisters of Miss Dale acting as bridesmaids, Mr. Balfour requested Miss Dale and me to stand up, and asked us if we were willing to take each other for husband and wife. Each simply nodding assent, he said, without one word more, then you are married, and may sit down,' and the ceremony was over." Mr. Balfour, however, it may be explained, afterwards told him that he had left out any exhortation as he knew Mr. Dale's daughter did not need it.