Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-09-13
10 slRsAY ~ BICYCLE.
They See Some Big Rocks by the Way, and :
Youth Studying Chemistry.
Can Rights Reserved.l

Ophir, August %, 1897.
Especial correspondence of Kennebec
Journal.)
We took advantage Of the first
fine day last week to cycle to Bir
say In the extreme north of the island,
a distance Of about 25 miles We left
the Manse early in the morning taking
our lunch with us, as we heard there
was no hotel in Birsay We were i
larger party Of cyclists than is gen
orally seen in these parts, and we at
tracted good deal of attention. We
took the Stromness road as far as the
Bridge of Waith, then turned towards
Kirkwall and paid another visit 70
Maeshowe as two of us had not seen 1t.
l was struck afresh by the immense
size of some of the blocks of stone and
the tremendous amount Of strength re-
quired to put them into place. AS we
walked back to where we had left GU.
bicycles one of the party, doctor, no.
ticed youth sitting by the road side
reading book on chemistry, and
often see country lads sitting by the
wayside studying chemistry. He told
us his name, and that he was studyin;,
versity. He had won a scholarship of
80 pounds (S150) which he said kept
him. After chatting few minutes we
preceded on our journey wishing him
good luck and success. | am sure that
he deserves to succeed.
We found the road to Birsay a very
good one and had splendid run there.
For the last four or five miles we rode
by the edge of a beautiful loch of the
most intense blue, with high hills on
the opposite side. In front we caught
occasional glimpses of the sea, until
coming to the top of hill we saw Bir-
say spread out at the bottom and IA
lovely bay beyond. The town is n very
struggling place, and on making in
quiries we found there was a hotel, but
we decided to have our lunch out of
doors. We went on foraging expedi-
ton and got huge jug OF milk from
n cottage. and when we offered pay
meEt the woman was quite insulted,
and exclaimed: "Hoots. mon, What
do we take me fort" and would not
have it. However a little girl came to
carry the jug back. and with much re-
luctance she accepted shilling
Luncheon over we left the bicycles At
the cottage and stroled To the shore
near which stands the ruins OF Birsay
Castle. This castle was built by Lord
Robert Stewart, father of the wicked
Earl Patrick. over the gateway was
an inscription: "Dominus Robartus
Stewartus Films Jacob Quinti Rex
Scotorum hoe opus instruxit," and
when Earl Patrick was tried for trea-
son this was used against him, the
construction put on ii being that Earl
Robert had assumed the title OF King
of Scotland. Nothing remains but the
outside walls of the palace. 1t is in
the form of a square and has a square
tower at each corner. and is built OF
fiat pieces of sand stone placed one
upon the other without mortar or ce-
ment to hold them together 1t is mar
Vicious that it has stood so long. Near
the place is also the ruins of St Peters |
chapel which is believed to have been
built by Erlend, the father of st. Mag
nus, about the year 100. Only a few
stones overgrown with grass and weeds |
remain.
The parish church of Birsay. very
ugly barn-like building. stands upon
the site of Christ's kirk which was |
built by Thorfinn in the 18th century. !
Thorfinn was one of the earls of Ork- !
ney and was always fighting. Just be- |
fore he died he visited Rome, and after |
his return he built this church which |
he dedicated to Christ. He was earl |
for seventy winters and his widow
Qugibiorg married King Malcolm Can
more.
Christ Kirk is famous because the re- |
mains of st. Magnus We're buried here |
before they We're taken to Kirkwall. |
His tomb soon became a shrine to |
which pilgrims came from all parts OF
Orkney.
After seeing as much of the church |
and palace as we wished we went down |
on the beach where we sat and rested |
for an hour. We We're in little bay |
shaped like a half circle with a very
high headland at each point The one |
on our left was quite perpendicular
We had tea at the hotel which proved
to be very miserable place on the |
bank of the loch. There was only one |
girl in the house and she was very |
doubtful if she could give us tea with |