Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1878-06-06
THE SHETLAND ISLANDS.

AS in Orkney, so in Shetland, notrees
are to be seen. The eye may wander
where il win. and find no shade from
the summer heat, TO wayside refuge
from the stormy blast. Long lines oil
undulations, here rough and abrupt,
there waving and continuous, cleave
the sky; great tracks of barren and I'M
cultivated land on all sides. In this,
Shetland is very different from Orkney.
There you have standardization; 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 Wis
ible. Consequently, solemn gloom
and certain grandeur Is apparent; the
idea and aspect OF intense solitude are
much heightened; a feeling of the ut
most repose, though joined to slight
suspicion ofmonotony. Long stretches
of moorland with rich blooms that blend
wonderfully with the blue sky and the
white floating clouds. Hills and hol-
lows undulate around. all covered with
the rich purple gorse that shekers the
scantY amount OF game That here forrst'
the sole delight and resource of the
sportsman. You may wander over
many and many a mile Of hill and dale,
and plunge through the gorse, and now
and then get swamped IN a morass, and
sometimes for your reward come home
at night with your bag full, and some
times return empty-handed. And you
may roam from early morning TO the
fast-sathering shades, when the birds
have gone TO roost and are too cunning
lY nestled TO be seen or disturbed, and
by chance never meet soul. Mile at
ter mile OF solitary moorland, and no
one to-exchange a 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,
watching your every motion with IFS
keen little eyes, and keeping wisely
and we'll out Of shot. Or suddenly a
raven starts across your path with a
hoarse croak, and spreading his strong
black wings, looks magnificent crea-
ture as he tries to escape. But you are
ready for any surprise, and before he is
out Of range. down he comes, and turn
ing owe. and over falls with dull thud
upon the earth, that knocks the remain
ing life and breath out of him, and ter
inmates his wild career. But il must
be bad days sport that permits you to
drop upon the fine fellow: sad want of
a shot at something, or perhaps the ne
cessity Of discharging barrel; for guils
and ravens are scarcely legitimate prey,
unless wanted for such purposes as
mounting or wiRging. All this hea-
thery Inoorland IN autumn turns to a
rich brown in the process of fading, and
in every direction the tints of declin-
ing year meet your eye. In your walks
YOU notice, from the brow ola hill, how
tremendously this purple or brown
heather blends with the sea--for there
the sea is. You cannot, at any time,
get very far away from IL IN these Is
lands; IL you are turning your back upon
il in one direction il is only to meet If
ia another; there il ever is, calm and
placid and of exquisite tints, or restless
and raging, according to its mood. And
its mood on one side or the other IS,
more oftener than not, angry and dis
tur5ed: so that the waves beat them
selves 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 ioun-
daiions. Woe betide the craft that at
such times ventures too near shore.
But on a bracing, breezy day. with
plenty Of sun TO gid the sky and water
and tap the gorse with gold, from these
hills how clear and sweet the air.
Around you nothing but solitude, moth
ing but earth and sea and sky; 'fle grand
air, as the French happily put i, an an
untranslatable expression. Who can
render Gle grand monarque" into Its
equivalent, its perfect meaning; And
here in Shetland ali this wealth Of ma
ture and coloring seems TO have been
made for you, and for you alone. The
whole earth, sea, and air are yours, TO
breathe and reveI ia with full sense Of
keen enjoyment. Every nerve in the
body responds 70 the appeal; drinks in
the almost Intoxicating, almost fragrant
breeze. Each day the brain and the sin-
ews seem to gain freshtone and strength,
to return home like giant refreshed.