Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1867-11-01

organ, to aid In the worship OF the
Lord.
With all their incongruity of char
acter, the Scotch are kind and hospit-
able, energetic, shrewd, Industrious
and thrifty-able to push their way
anywhere in the world, but terribly
tenacious of old customs. The clan
nish spirit is kept. In the shop win
dows you see all the plaids of the
clans-the McGregors and McIvors
and Rob Roys. You meet men on
the street wearing the kilt, with bare
knees, and a silver handled knife
stuck into their boot leg, wearing al
so the Scotch cap. To foreigner it
seems a silly custom, but not so to the
Highlander. He is proud of his an
cestry-of their fierce fights, and il
lustrious deeds, and this is his way of
showing it.
GIANTS CAUSEWAY.
An excursion was planned by the
citizens of Belfast, for those attending
the Social Science Congress, to the
Giants Causway. 1t is seventy miles
north Of Belfast and six east of Port
Rush. Starting from Belfast at eight
in the morning we reached Port Rush
at eleven, where .jaunting cars were in
waiting to carry US to the great natu-
raj wonder. | was fortunate in hav-
ing Col. King, the U. S. Consul of
Belfast, and a lady and gentleman
from Rhode Island for travelling COM
panions. The route to Port Rush is
through a country ofsurpassing beau
ty-fertile, we'll tilled-the manu-
featuring region of Ireland. Around
all the villages were acres of linen
cloth spread upon the green grass to
bleach.
On the highway we met loads of
flax. A man in red hun6ing jacket
and jockey cap swept past us with d
pack of houndS-out exercising them
for the next hunt. Port Rush is a
small watering place on the north
coast, with d beautiful beach, where
the breakers from the north pole are
always rolling. We pass the ruins Of
an old castle, situated on a rocky
promontory, jutting into the sea, which
in the feudal days could withstand a
seige so long as provisions held out,
but since the introduction of gunpow-
der, could be knocked into the sea in
a few hours from a neighbor hill.
Arriving at the Causeway Hotel
the visitor is beset by guides, who
will tell you that they know all about
the geology Of the formation, and can
point out all the interesting localities
but if a person has time to see for him
self they may all be rejected. The
formation here is limestone, and there
are numerous caves along the shore
some of them several hundred feet il
depth. If the tide is out and the sea
comparatively calm, they may be Ell
tered.
The sea was somewhat rough and
the tide setting in, but with four stout
oarsmen our party boldly entered one
of the caves. 1t was not prudent tC
go far, for the waves were dashing in
!, rolling up the sides of the cliff, rush
ing furiously past with thunderou:
roar. 1t was grand, the believing
which came from that dark and gloomy
cavern. There was just enough
chance for getting through high anc
dry upon the rocks, or a ducking il
the waves to make it exhilarating.-
, We had careful, boatmen who watch
ed their opportunity, and with a few
strokes Of the oars we rode gallant,
r over che breakers out into the ocean
! and then pulled for the causeway, !
, mile east OF the cavern.
; The Causeway lies at the foot of ;
limestone cliff, four hundred feet high
t The basaltic columns composing tn
2 Causeway, geologiSts say were throw
= up by volcanic actiOn-a mass of mat
4 ter which took its present form unde
q we'll known laws of crystalization.-
= Some of the columns are forty fee
t high. The general appearance of tn
|. Causeway is that of a pavement con
r posed of octagonal and other side
p blocks, thrown out of shape. To th
geologist it is field of surprising il
r terest. The columns are usually o
o 5, or 8 sides. There are fe'
diamond-Shaped, and here and ther
V triangle. They are all cracke
a more or less-the result of the radis
q tion of heat. The columns are ais
jointed-a ball aid socket fractur
a resulting from contraction. The SUI
e rounding scenery is very pretty, r.
e sembling the palisades of the Hudson
i No tourist to the North of Irelan
4 should fail to visit this wonderfl
+. formation which has not counte
D. part anywhere in the world.
% CARLETON.