The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-09-05

terly unsuited to their worship. They
nave adapted 1t to their purposes by
running solid partition with a large
glass door in the middle) along the west
end of the choir and choir aisles, filing
| the choir with narrow pews or benches,
| building gallery under the arches along
the north side, and plastering up all the
triforium arches. 1t is thus made as
unlike what it was originally as could
well he managed; but that was very far
better than any attempt to remodel it.
The nave, | am told, was formerly used
as the town market house, filled with
butchers stalls and such matters. 1t is
now swept clean of all this, and is desc
late and bare enough, but being left in
its original condition still has an aspect
OF dignity and reverence, and gives noble
testimony to the generosity and devotion
OF its ancient builders.
South Of the Cathedral across the
street the ruins of the Bishops Palace,
and near by IA still more extensive pile,
once the Palace of the Earls of Orkney.
1t is amazing to go through these ruins,
and to see the extent and character of
| {. = buildings of that remote period in
this snail and remote island. The kitch-
en- fireplace in the Earls Palace is not
less, judge, than sixteen feet wide by
seven feet deep, and the noble fire place
in the banqueting hall, with handsome
straight arch in eight colored sandstone,
| still in it's place, is hardly less wide,
though not so deep. All the apartments
| on the ground-fioor have stone vaulted
| ceilings, which, with the stone floors of
! the story above, are still intact. Above
were wood floors and ceilings which have
entirely disappeared
| do not suppose that three hundred
thousand dollars would today duplicate
that structure as it stood when complete.
| How strange it seems to us in our mod
ern dissatisfaction that such a palace
| should have been built in the Orkneys
perhaps five or six hundred years ago!
All this brings out the fact that six
and even eight hundred years ago the
! OrSncys were not so far from the great
world as they are today: and the further
! fact that the people and the civilization
of che Orkncys so far in advance of the
neighboring parts Of Great Britain, were
| Danish. The people of Orkney are not
! Celtic, but Danish and Scandinavian
| Their civil and ecclesiastical allegiance
were formerly due to Denmark, not to
Scotland. The inhabitants. as also those
of the neighboring parts of Cathness, are
very different from the Highanders and
represent much older civilization. This
is also true of many other islands. and
even of particular towns in Scotland and
| England. | was staying few days with
I the archbishop of York n week or so
ago, and | asked him if the Danish set
tiers in his diocese had left any marks
still to be seen among the people. In re-
! ply he told me that he had an appoint
ment the next day at a fishing town on
| the east coast of Yorkshire. where until
n very few years ago it was the custom
on a certain day in each year for all the
fishing boats belonging to the town to
proceed in body some miles out to sea,
and then to throw into the sea a silver
half-crown as their tribute to Denmark
| Now, / have not by any means ex-
hausted my day in Orkney, but l fear
l have exhausted the patience of such of
your readers as have been kind enough
to read what | have written.
| Let me say in conclusion, as bearing
upon the Danish character Of these
parts that the little parish church of the
Catholic remainder of the ancient church
of Scotland, in which it was my privilege
to worship yesterday forenoon, and in
which / had the further priyi-
lege and pleasure of Officiating in the
evening. is called the Church of st.
~laf," that being the ancient name of
this parish.
JOS. BLOUNT CHESHIRE. JR.
Il r. w hply A