Newspapers / The Pinehurst Outlook (Pinehurst, … / April 1, 1916, edition 1 / Page 4
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I 1 DIXIE GOES AHEAD THE BALSAMS DIXVILLE NOTCH, N. H. Open June to October Remembering Flora MacDonald By Frederick J. Haskin I The new GOLF COURSE fulfilled every expectation in 1915. Each season the playing conditions will be improved. The Club House, really magnificent and harmoniz ing perfectly with its surroundings, occupies a site that could not have been better chosen nor more excellently arranged. The Hotel Plant, complete in every detail, is situa ated among forest clad mountains, upon an extensive tract including farms, dairy, fish-hatchery, hydro-electric plant, garage and machine shop. Pure spring water is supplied in abundance. Indoors there are rest and homelike comforts; out of doors every opportunity to enjoy tennis, boating, bathing and wilderness life. The Balsams Winter Inn, having steam heat, electric lights and private baths is open from October to June. For booklet and information address CHARLES H. GOULD, Manager, Dixville Notch, N. H. ,""""""'""""""""'""""""""". "Choisa" Ceylon Tea i lb. Canisters 60c 1-2 lb. Canisters 35c Packed in Parchment-Lined One Pound and Half-Pound Canisters We invite compari son with other Teas of the same or higher price. .... Tremont and Beacon 8U Copley Square. 185 Milk St (Wholesale) S. S. PIERCE CO., BOSTON. Coolidge Corner, BROOKLINE Bank of Pitiehurst SAFE DEPOSIT BOXES TO LET CHECKING AND SAVING ACCOUNTS 4 PER CENT INTEREST J. R. ricQUEEN, President F. W. VON CNON, Cashier 1 1 n j IF YOU say Flora Mac- Donald to a Highland Scotchman, wherever you find him, he will offer you a smoke and may even try to lend you money. For Flora MacDonald is to the Highland Scotch what Joan of Arc is to the French a name that summons stirring memories, a per sonality that embodies the deathless ideals of a race. And a vastly more human and sympathetic figure than the inspired French heroine is the Highland Flora, who loved as well as fought and used her charm to win her way. But if you press your Schotch friend for information about this immortal woman, you will probably not get much. He knows that she was one of the Scotch Jacobite sympathizers who tried to put Bonnie Prince Charlie back on the Eng lish throne, and failed; that she came to America and espoused the cause of King George, and lost again; and finally went back to Scotland to die. She was a cham pion of lost causes, a born leader and a romantic personality that is evident but just exactly what she did, especially in America, has never been a matter of detailed record. Now there is a movement going for ward here in the North Carolina hills, where Flora MacDonald lived and led her clansmen, to found a college in her memory, to piece out from countryside legend and local literature the whole of her story, and to make of this institu tion a center of Scotish culture in Ameri ca, an archives of Scottish tradition, and incidentally a first class woman's college. The nucleus of the institution already exists at Red Springs, a few miles from here. It is called the Presbyterian Wo man 's College, and is an up-to-date school with a fine location and a beautiful cam pus. Eev. C. G. Vardell, president of this institution, is the sponsor of the movement to make this the Flora Mac Donald College, endowed by the Scotch in America and devoted to the preserva tion of their ideals and traditions. Al ready large sums have been subscribed and Sctoish societies all. over the Country have endorsed the plan. Single contribu tions of $10,000 have been promised. The Flora MacDonald College seems assured of a substantial endowment and a bril liant future. Meantime Dr. Vardell has been devot ing himself to the study of Flora Mac Donald's career, especially in America, and from the lips of her descendants he has learned many interesting details of Aer life. He has located the site of her home, the graves of her children. Perhaps the least known and most sur prising historical fact brought out by his investigation is that the throne of America was ottereu by the Carolina Scotch men to the deposed Prince Charlie. If the prince had not been a mental and physical wreck, what is now the United States might have been a kingdom ruled by an English-Stuart. The whole story of Flora MacDonald outdoes the invention of Dumas in the quality of sheer romance. She was born on the Island of South Uist in the Hebrides, her mther was abducted by a man of a hostile clan and she was brought up by the chief as his own. When she was a young girl in 1746, the battle of Culloden was fought in which the Scotch received their most crushing defeat. Prince Charles Edward Stuart, King of Scotland by divine right and a f ugutive with a price on his head by circumstance, sought refuge in Benbecula, where Flora lived. The island was held by the gov ernment but it was a hotbed of Jacobite sympathizers. All of them wanted to help the prince escape, but none of them dared except the resolute and beautiful Flora. She obtained a passport for her self, a boat crew of six men, and Betty Burke, an Irish spinning maid. Prince Charlie donned the petticoats and hood of the Irish girl and was passed by the authorities. The party affected a land ing on the continent and Prince Charlie escaped to Rome, where he ended his days in exile. Flora was about to return to Benecula when she was arrasted by royal command. One of her boatmen had revealed the method of the prince's escape to the authorities, and Flora was imprisoned in that dungeon where so many famous lives have ended the Tower of London. There she was the object of all sorts of plots and attentions by Jacobite sympa thizers. Among other things she was pre sented with a set of silver dishes (which must have been a great comfort to her in her prison) and these are still in th possession of her descendants here in Moore County. Had she been of a less magnetic and winning personality she might well have been forgotten and left to die; but she quickly won the favor of her goalers, and ultimately the ear of the King. He was so pleased with her address and appear ance that he set her free and she appears to have become something of a favorite at court. Dr. Samuel Johnson reports having seen and been charmed by her. It is also said that she told the Duke of Cumberland, son of George III, that she had befriended Prince Charlie solely be cause he was hunted and unfortunate and would have done as much for the duke under the same circumstances. Evidently Flora was canny a well as brave. Meantime she had married Hugh Mac Donald of Armadale, and in 1773 they joined a large party of Scotchmen who came to America on the ship Baliol. Flora quickly became a leader. Her hus band was a man of some means, and in North Carolina he obtained a tract of 550 acres where this village now stands, ana built thereon what was probably one of the finest homes in North Carolina. The i
The Pinehurst Outlook (Pinehurst, N.C.)
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April 1, 1916, edition 1
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