Edinburgh Castle, an ancient seat of Scottish kings, has a most magnificent situation on a rocky height above the city. On three sides the mountain on which it stands drops almost sheer. On the east it slopes gradually off toward Holyrood. THE HOME OF MARY, QUEEN OF SCOTS There at Holyrood we find the scene of one of Scotland’s most affecting dramas,--the tragedy of Mary, Queen of Scots. Holyrood Castle, which was the unfortunate queen’s home for many years, is part ruin and part in good repair and occupied. It is there that the visitor can see the bedroom of the fair young Scottish queen, and there also the spot where her unfortunate minstrel and counselor, Rizzio, was murdered. Holyrood is intimately associated with the memories of Mary, Queen of Scots, and all who have followed with interest her sad story and want to feel an impression of her actual presence should spend a day in and about the castle. [Illustration: HOLYROOD CASTLE _Associated with the most dramatic years in the life of the unfortunate Mary, Queen of Scots._] The modern Scottish home of British royalty is Balmoral, situated on an estate of ten thousand acres about fifty miles from Aberdeen. This beautiful palace was purchased by the Crown in 1852 from the Earl of Fife for one hundred and fifty thousand dollars. It was for years the favorite country home of Queen Victoria, and is now said to be the most cherished residence of British royalty. THE SCOTTISH ISLES Months could be profitably spent in touring through the Isles of Scotland, and they would be months of unalloyed delight. Two small islands should be visited even in the course of the briefest Scottish tour, the Island of Iona, where Saint Columba, the missionary, landed from Ireland in 563, to begin his missionary work in Scotland, and on which are to be found the tombs of ancient Scottish, Irish, and Norwegian kings. For over a thousand years the Island of Iona was the chosen “God’s Acre” for the great chieftains. The land was held sacred on account of Columba, and it was regarded as the securest spot on earth for mortal remains to rest in. Therefore the bodies of kings were taken there even from distant points in Ireland and in Norway, and for centuries Iona was the Mecca of religious pilgrims who went there to pray and to pay reverent tribute to the tombs of the great. [Illustration: BEDROOM OF MARY, QUEEN OF SCOTS _Visited by many every year, this is the most interesting spot in Holyrood Castle._] FINGALS CAVE