Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1895-02-24

Ing mention II was completed In the
pear $50, In the reign Ct Cultured son OF
King Orry, the first king OF the Danish
line. 1t Is made Of limestone blocks that
seem like the everlasting hills Tor wear,
for II looks as fresh as n just from tho
hands Of the builders, and good FOR an
other thousand years or 50.
Then, there is sley whuallan dhe hill
Of the whelp). of which they tell this
blond-curdlng story:
Ages ago poor witch was condemned
10 die; barrel was procured and sharp,
iron spikes were driven into 1t from the
outside and pointing inward. The barrel
WAS taken 60 the top Of this hill, the
witch put Inside and then il was started,
by many willing hands and rolled to
the foot OF this long. steep hill. The story
goes on Ia say that the poor wltch still
haunts the muntaln and though never
visible to mortal eyes, her perturbed
spirit finds utterAnce nightly In strange
howllngs and mournful echoes
one or their strangest customs on this
island Is their manner Of ptomulgating
their laws, which Is done In this fashion:
The laws are made during the year by
the members OF the House OF Keys Sim
ilar to the English House Of Commons
They are then sent to England for the
royal assent" and on their return must
be read to the people before they can be
put In force.
Consequently ON July 6, which Is pub
lie holiday there Is u gathering together
OF the people. OF the island at Douglas,
the capital A grand procession forms
in the centre OF the city, and headed by
the governor, policemen, clergy, high
bIilins, sword-bearcr and members Of the
House Of Keys. they march to Tynwald
C'Hill Of Justlce'J. which Is Just outside
the city. Here court Is formed and
fenced" that ls, all persons are warned.
under penalties, not 10 modest or inter-
rupt the proceeding. The laws are then
read. first In the ManX language, then In
English. Salutes are fired, new coroners
are appointed and sworn. and then the
procession reforms and returns to the
city. Then the court sits In elaboration,
to receive reports OF public bodies, levy
public rates, etc. The rest OF the day Is
given up to merry-making OF various
sorts and kinds.
Just word concerning Tynwnld hill
II Is synonymous with the "Thingwalf' OF
Iceland and the Thiugvolly Of Denmark
1t ls an artificial tumull, formed from SOL
brought from the seventeen parishes into
which the island has been divided. The
mound IL circular In form and rises In
four terraces, each three feet in height
The lowest terrace is eight feet broad,
the second six feet. the third four feet.
and the fourth six feet. The hill is 2j6
feet In circumference at Its base.
II ones taste turns In the direction OF
"antlques." there are old churches an
Client burlnl-places, with primitive grave
stones with uncouth rhymes and shape
less sculpture dcclied' and there are
Runc crosses, stone circles with strange
hicrogyphics, and los! but not least,
there Is tumulus
a poetic youth, who, for some crime or
other, was banished from the island, re-
venged himself By writing the following
lines:
when Satan tried his arts In vain
The worship OF our Lord to gain,
The earth quoth he. and all Is thine,
Except one spot, which must be mine;
TITS barren, bare and scarce a span,
BY mortals called the Isle Of Man
That Is n spot | cannot spare.
For all my choicest friends live there"
1t ls safe to say that the young poet
would hardly care to return to his home
after the above efruslou, for others be-