The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1878-08-03

summer heat, no'wayside refuge from the
stormy blast. Long lines of undulations,
here rough and abrupt, there waving and
continuous, cleave the sky; great tracks of
barren and uncultivated land on all Sides
In this, Shetland is very different from
Orkney, There You have semi-cuhivation
not smiling plains and rich corn-felds, but
plains and fields that would be smiling and
rich If they could, and attempt it. In
Shetland very little cultivation is visible
Consequently solemn gloom and certain
grandeur is apparent; the idea and aspect
of intense solitude are much heightened
feeling of the utmost repose, though
joined to slight suspicion of monotony.
Long stretches of moorland with rich
blooms that blend wonderfully with the
blue sky and the white floating clouds.
Hills and hollows undul2te around, all
covered with the rich purple gorse that
shelters the sc0nty amount of game that
here forms the sole delight and resource
of the sportsman. Y u may wander over
many and many mile of hill and dale,
and plunge through the gorse, and now
and then get swamped in morass, and
sometimes for your reward come home at
night with your bag full, and sometimes
return empty handed. And you may roam
from early morning to the fast gathering
shades, when the birds have gone to roost
and are too cunningy nested to be seen or
disturbed, and by chance never meet a sonl.
Mile after mile of solitary moorland and
no one to exchange word with; no sound
to break the silence save the popping Of
your own gun, or the shrill clang of a gull
winging its flight across the island, watch
ing your every motion with its keen little
eyes, and keeping wisely and well out Of
shot. Or suddenly raven starts across
your path with hoarse croak and spread
ing his strong black wings, looks magni-
fcent creature as he tries to escape. But
you are ready for any surprise, and before
he is out of range down he comes, and
turning over and over falls with dull
tlud upon the earth, that knocks the re-
manning life and breath out of him, and
erminates his wild career. But it must be
bad days sport that permits you to drop
upon the fine fellow; sad want of shot at
something, or perhaps the necessity of
discharging barrel; for gulls and ravens
are scarcely legitimate prey, unless wanted
for such purposes as mounting or winging.
All this heathery moorland in autumn turns
to rich brown in the process Of fading,
and in every direction the tints of de-
clining year meet the eye. In your walks
you notice, from the brow of hill, how
harnoniously this purple or brown heather
blends with the sea-for there the sea is.
You cannot, at any time, get very far away
from it in these islands; if you are turning
your back upon it in one direction it is
only to meet it in another; there it ever is,
calm and placid and of exquisite tints, or
restless and raging. according to it's mood.
And its mood on one side or the other is,
more often than not angry and disturbed;
so that the waves beat themselves against
the rocks with noise of thunder, and whirl
and seethe around the skerries, and rush
into the caverns as if they would shake
their very foundations. Woe betide the
crafts that at such times ventures too near
shore. But on bracing, breezy day, with
plenty of sun to gild the sky and water
and tip the gorse with gold, from the hills
how clear and sweet the air. Around you
nothing but solitude, nothing but earth
and sea and sky: ''le grand air." as the
French happily put it, in an untranslatsble
expression. Who can render ''le grande
monarque" into its equivalent, its perfect
meaning? and here in Shetland all the
wealth of nature and coloring seems to
have been made for you, and for you alone.
The whole earth, sea, and ain are yours, to
breath and revel in with full sense OF
keen enjoyment. Every nerve in the body
responds to the appeal; drinks in the
almost intoxicating, almost fragrant breeze.
Each day the brain and sinews seem to
: gain fresh tone and strength, to re-
l turn home like a giant refreshed. .-Iht
ArgoOy.
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