The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-08-29
WAkEMAN'S TRAVELS.
More About the Famous Watering
Places of England.
ISLAND OF FIRE BEACON Ms,
Known as tho Island of Thanet--AIar-
gate and Ramssate.-.sconcs of His.
toric 1uterest.--People You Meet
and Sights You See.
Copyright, 1921
Special Correspondence afthe IatdtigAeer.

Copyright 1911
Special Correspondence ofdte fafeittOareT.
RAMsoATE, ENGLAND, Aug. IS, 1891.
The Isle Of Thanet-thc Island of the
Fire Beacons-once completely discon-
nected from Kent, but now wholly re.
claimed, forms the northeasternmost
projection Of that historic county Of
England. 1t is only nine miles in
length, and in most parts but five miles
in breadth; but there is probably not
in all England, and, for that matter, in
the world, u bit Of land SO valuable for
its agricultural possibilities, nor so
completely a garden Of delight for the
millions to which it is accessible in
summer.
It's situation ls very bleak and open,
from its extraordinary extent, through
countless coves Of sea front on the
north, where it is washed by the Thames
estuary, and on the east, where 1t is
dashed by the ever restless tides of the
Straits OF Dover and the North Sea; but
every square rood on which ancient
ruin, historic fortress or gay resort does
not stand, is under the highest known
state of cultivation. The reasons for
this are: All Kent Is London's truck
garden; Thanet isle is every season ac-
tually covered by a coat OF Nlga, or sea-
weed, obtainable by the farmers ut only
the expense OF carriage; there are no
hedges, which in some parts of England
DESTROYS so much produce, and the sub
soil is chalk, which acts in wet weather
as n sponge, and in droughts supplies
the land with moisture, all extrnordt-
nary system OF inhalation and e%haIa-
ton, which gave rise to the ancient
couptet:
When England wrings
The island sings.
There is no commonable land nor an
acre Of waste land in the island. The
old Kentish pillow is still used by the
farmers with stubborn pertlnacity anu
it is an odd sight to witness the plow-
man stop ut the end OF every furrow to
take out his coulter and reverse 1t, ali
operation which takes half his time ana
gives ample leisure for the contempla-
ton and enjoyment Of good old .conser-
vative English ways. Hall the farmers
are winter fishermen, and all the lower
classes of the coastwise villages! follow
the same vocation during both the sum-
mer and winter months.
HISTORIC SCENES.
The ancient timber-and-wattle cot
tage is still rs commonly found as
among the Norfolk Breads, and the
peasantry, notwithstanding their con-
tact with hosts of city folk and tourists
in summer, retain an extraordinary
number OF their ancient customs and
superstitions. Were there no free-and-
easy Margate and Ramsg9te, IN the isle
OF Thanct, there is no place IN Great
Britain where, in so compact an area
can be found such odd Old World
studies us in this tiny piece Of chalk
land over against the wild North sea-,
In its diminutive area, particularly
on its coast line, are q score OF shrines
and resorts. At the edge OF Pegwcll
bay, between Sandwich and Ramsgatee,
is the ancient farmhouse, "Ebbe's
Fleet" the scene of the ''landing OF
Henrist and Horsa," those heroic wor-
thies OF Saxon mythic warfare. At
Pcpwell itself the cliffs, with the blue
lias intermixed with layers of shell,
many thousands OF years old, is q ceIe-
brated haunt of biologists. AT Stonar,
Vortigen defeated the jutes, Nortimer
was SHIN and buried, and Thurkill
landed at the head OF the terocious
Norsemen.
At Minister, Egbert, king of Kent, COM
missioned his favorite and chief officer
Thunor, TO murder his two cousins who
lad claims to the crown. They were
buried in Ethelberts hall OF state. inns
spot was revealed by a supernatural
light which ever lowered over 1t, until
the guiltyking, filed with remorse, made
confession and repentance to the dead
PRINCES sister, Dompneva, paid blood
money (wergyld) and gave her us much
land as hind could run over at one
course, on which TO found monastery.
Thunor endeayored TO stop the fleet
creature by riding across its path, but
the earth swallowed him and flung him
into the internal shadows to keep the
dead princes company:
At Osengall Downs there is wonder
full old Saxon cemetery. Birchington
hus the most beautiful girdle OF clms OF
any village in England, and is noted as
the olden residence of one Henry
Crispe, commonly called "Bonj
Crispe, from having been kept prisoner
IN Franco for many years and never
having learned more than that word.
At Daundelion are the ruins Of Il very
ancient embattled mansion Of the Dent
de.Iions, one OF the family having
brought over the Flemish bell OF st.
Johns, OF Margaret, in his ship, the
Dog, giving rise to the ancient couplet:
John dc Dauudciyon, With his gEeSt Dog,
Brought over this bell oil IL mill cog.
ODD DlTs OF RELICS.
Broadstair has been made famous by
Dickens in his sketch Of "our Watering
n, ma, ,,, ,,,r1,, dunbar az Hnusohnld