| Description | Journal entitled "A Run to Greece" kept by Sir Alexander Ogston during a trip to Greece in 1881.
On the first page Ogston states that this journal is reproduced in a better form in 'Scattered Recollections' but evidence of this book has yet to be found. Enclosed in the front of the book is an envelope with a letter in Greek giving Alexander Ogston safe passage. On page 175 there is an index to the 27 chapters and also to photographs but these are no longer in the volume. There is also an index of the pressed dried flowers enclosed on page 176. There are many small detailed pencil sketches throughout the volume illustrating the places and people he has observed during his travels. Some pages have a line drawn through the middle that suggest the writer wanted certain passages deleted. The chapters are as follows:
Chapter 1: Introductory (page 4)
Chapter 2: Through Britain (page 6) - journey on London and North-Western Railway from Aberdeen; Charing Cross.
Chapter 3: Through France (page 12) - observations on Dover; journey from Dover to Calais; Grand Hotel, Paris; train from Paris to Dijon; Professor Robertson Smith; observations on countryside; crossing border into Italy.
Chapter 4: North Italy (page 29)
Chapter 5: Ravenna (page 35) - impressions of town and architecture with sketches; comments on Italian customs.
Chapter 6: Bologna (page 43) - San Petronis Cathedral; leaning towers.
Chapter 7: Down through Italy (page 49) - comments on towns in south east Italy.
Chapter 8: Brindisi to Greece (page 55) - observations on port at Brindisi; ship and fellow passenger; Messenia; sketch of Cape Matapau; the hermit of Saint Angels (with sketch).
Chapter 9: Athens (page 71) - first impressions of Athens; walls of Themistocles; comparison of old and new Athens; sketches of Acropolis, man in Greek costume and Priest; impressions of local people; description of military funeral; description of local dress;
Chapter 10: The Piraeus (page 97)
Chapter 11: Athens again (page 101)
Chapter 12: Marathon (page 109)
Chapter 13: Greek Cafes and Tobacco (page 114)
Chapter 14: Religion of the Greeks (page 117)
Chapter 15: Eleusis (page 121)
Chapter 16: Country and Climate of Greece (page 125)
Chapter 16A: Aegina (page 128)
Chapter 17: Good Friday (page 132)
Chapter 18: Phyle (page 134)
Chapter 19: Easter Morn [in Athens] (page 137)
Chapter 20: General Remarks on Greece (page 140)
Chapter 21: Athens to Corfu (page 141) - Easter morning 24th April 1881; "The boat was a litter of soldiers, Greeks, babies, young pigs, spittle, and fragments of Easter Eggs. We sailed through a multitude of little islands towards Corinth"; Gulf of Corinth - description of mountains; stop at island of Zante.
Chapter 22: Corfu (page 148) - positive description of Corfu, "an island of corners...every nook hides a brilliant flower or a rich fruit tree"; sketch of citadel of Corfu with Albanian mountains in background; visit to view mummy of St. Spiridion, patron saint of Corfu.
Chapter 23: Corfu to Brindisi (page 154) - enclosed between pages 153 and 154 is a short printed article in French on "Saint Spiridion".
Chapter 24: Brindisi (page 154) - meeting with Dr. Kennedy of Dingwall and his wife.
Chapter 25: Brindisi to Paris (page 158) - discusses travelling companions, scenery; sketch of himself sleeping.
Chapter 26: Paris to Calais (page 164) - discussion of French travelling companions.
Chapter 27: Dover to Aberdeen (page 166) - arrives home on 1 May 1881; "The journey has been a profitable one. I went to see the ancient, the dead Greece and I have seen as well the modern, the living Greeks, the Scots of Southern Europe". |