Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1891-08-20
HELCOLAED'S MANY CHANGES
OF WNERSHIP.
The Strange Little Rocky Islct aud It's
reople-Fcw Changes in It's Laws
Slowly l'cing Eaten L.,
by the Seas.

is invading. The range of rocks is
picturesque OF a dull red color broken
into by many grottos assures. chimes
vaults and arches, through which the
breakers rush necessarily with douf-
ening noise. 1t can be calculated with
mathematical precision how long it
will take the sea entirely to swallow
up the island. computing by the raw
ages it has already made and it is
said that in 600 years nothing will re-
main of the ground ceded to Germany
by England. What value it has must
be as q post Of observation; as to its
appearance it is graphically described
by its own motto:
Grun list das Land
Roth is der Kant.
Weiss list der Sand.
Das sind die Farben Won Helgoland
Her three colors are also in her flag,
and the soil repeats them accurately.
The upper plateau is called the
''Falm." and dominates the whole
area, the lower portion being only Il
narrow line of beach. Above stands
church; the new lighthouse. an older
one dating from the seventeenth CEN
fury. interesting only that it has with
stood the storms of 25O years; the
Governors villa. not Il bad building by
any means. and few mean looking
houses. The portion of the plateau
which corresponds to the green stripe
in the flag is a large meadow, on which
the precious island sheep Craze. Hell
goland rears but a very limited num-
Der of cows, and as goats cannot stand
the climate. the milk Of the ewes is
the ordinary beverage. The "Falm"
Is linked to the lower part of the vii
lage by flight of steep steps and an
elevator. On the beach or seaboard
the houses are small, built of wood,
adorned with verandas and balconies;
shops where photographs, shells and
articles of national raiment are sold;
there are no inns on the island. but
the bills of "Logis, hanging out
OF the windows of private dwell
ing houses indicate that board
and lodging can be found therein. The
whole thing looks like quaint, new,
clean toy. Queen Victoria street is
the main thOrOughfare, liliputiau
street in liliputian town; yet it leads
to theatre, actually bona fide play
| house open during the summer, where
very fair performances are given under
the superintendent of an intelligent
manager For, Notwithstanding dis
advantages. IIelgoland is a favorite
sea-bathing place. The visitors do not
battle on the island ITSELF but have to
cross strip of sea to a sand dune
some ten minutes off, opposite the
| village, but inaccessible to open boats
in rough weather.
This dune widens and broadens in
proportion as the block of rock dimip-
ishes. and the air there is so admirably
pure and invigorating that it is con-
| sidered a perfect cure for diseased
lungs and annmia The islanders are
IN the possession OF excellent health;
they make good living out of the
strangers during the short summer
months. after which they return to
their legitimate trade of fishing, their
chief hauls being Holsters and behring's.
The Helgolanders were not consult
ed when they were handed over to
their new proprietors, and probably.
If quite aware Of the change, are
not much concerned by it; some of
them thought that England neglected
them too much; others fancy that the
Germans will prove too officious and
hamper them with police and military
| pnr,,1afinnS. hat hn 1vhO ~ ko,
Indifferent. As long as Helgoland re-
manned British, no foreigner being
able to acquire land on the island.
there could be no prospect of hotel
being built likely to interfere with the
trade of the lodging house keeper; not
one OF them was rich enough to make
the venture; therefore the profits ac-
cruing from visitors were divided i'm
partially between all. Now it is prob
able that some German Spectator may
be tempted to purchase ground and
open modern hotel; little steamers
will be made to ply between the vii
lage and the sand dune and defraud
the bOatmen of their customers. and
these innovations are dreaded. On
the other hand, increased comforts and
facilities will make the island even
more popular. so that on the whole the
natives will not have much to CON-
plain of.
Gain. it must be confessed, is their
chief pre-occupation; they have scanty
political and civil faith; originating
from Friesland, they have changed
hands too often to be patriotic; in turn
belonging to the Normans. to the
Hanse. to the Duke of Gottorp. and tc
Denmark. they became English in
1906, and their island was used to sena
British produce on the continent dur.
ing the time Of the blockade.
1t has been said that the little com
munity paid no taxes, but this is incOr
rect; under the British rule the inhab
itants were taxed according to the siz.
of their dwellings and the possibilit,
OF receiving more or less visitors. I'm
der the new rule every Highlands
born at the time OF the transfer is ips,
facto exempted from military service
L