The Vinita weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1905, 1903-01-08
ENcLAND's HIGH TABLELAND.
mons, Its Historic and Lit-
erary Associations, Etc.

Through the valley the bells Of a
dominican monastery are ringing. Al
intervals by night and by day they
break.
The silence that 10 IN the starry sky;
Tho sloep that Is among the lonely hills.
Monks come and go. The tintinnabul-
alton resounds through the vale and
rises high up 20 great green expanse
of tablcland, where the most perfect
atmosphere may be inhaled, air strong
and bracing, gracious and balmy, and
at times family dashed with brine
from the distant ocean. For pictur-
esqueness the scene might be laid in
certain cantons of Switzerland, or
along one of the Rhine tributaries,
such as the Abr Thai; but, despite the
monastery bells and nunnery close
by the dominican retreat, the valley
is typical English one.
1t is not the valley, however. with its
idyllic charm, that interests so much
as the tableland. This strangely un-
expected tract OF fiat country--an
oasis Of rest In a land of hill and dale
lis in the heart of the Cotswolds, far
from the life and hustle associated
with the haunts OF men. England's
highest tableland, Minchinhnmpton
common, "a broad, green sweep, moth
ing but sky and common, common and
sky" is, indeed, exceedingly inacces-
sible, and on this account itremains to-
day practically undiscovered holiday
resort. ta 4ieuf f8s
Minchinhampton common is no or
dinary one. II is not a mere waste
land, an unbroken stretch of unpictur-
esque greenness or broken wilderness
of furxe and heath. 1t stands almost
700 feet above sea level; IL covers fully
GOO acres and there is abundant space
for the playing of golf, cricket, tennis,
hockey, and simple walking room for
the mere pedestrian.
The common has n long history.
There are many traces on its surface
of Roman, Danish, and British camps.
In more modern times II was the scene
of some lively religious ongoings when
the eloquent Whitfield lifted his voice
on his "tump," which remains land
mark OF interest in days when the
strife OF sect is not thing OF the past.
The common also afforded royal hunt
ing quarters for one Of the Henrys
and the building reputed TO have
housed a king now serves as golf
house, and this not at all inappropri-
ately, as the "royal and ancient game"
is, to many, facile princeps among the
attractions of the common. II Is, of
course, claimed for these Cotswold
links that they are the finest (inland)
in England. They have preeminenee
at least in one respect-there are six
quarries, some Of them ugly, yawning
chasms, TO be negotiated in the round
Of is holes, and the course generally
Is the mettle of 90 out OF every 100
golfers, and the player who holes out
I'M so, even with the aid Of Haskell or
a Kempshall. is no mean wielder of the
clubs.
But this commonland has wider
claims 20 attention than those of golf
Lying high up amid the peaks and spurs
of the Cotswolds, there is no disap-
pointment for the eye east or west or
north or south Every prospect
pleases. Fringing the broad acres of
the plateau, and depending into the
valleys, there are dotted here and
there, and almost everywhere, tiny
villages-Amberley, Box, Burleigh, and
Brimscombe are some of them--mere
higgly- -piggedly little clusters of rose
deeked ivy-smothered cottages, and
quantity gabled villas, with now and
again spire lifting itself above the
rich foliage Of the beeches and elms
that grow with rare luxurianee in this
fertile shire Of Glouchester. The val
leys which run along two sides Of the
tableland offer scenes as dainty as they
are enhancing. "The Golden Valley"
was the name given 20 one OF them by
Queen Victoria, Perched high as any
German castle, Rodborough fort tower
looking Stroud stems the northern
outlook from the common, aud toward
the south the medieval township of
Minehinhampton stands guard. Ten
miles way the cleaning of the Severn
waters may be seen on clear days. ami
further still the black mountains OF
Hereford andthe Sugar Loaf Of Aberga-
venny.
The common has also its literary as
sociatIons. says a writer In the London
Pail Mall Gazette. II Is the Enderly
fat that figures 30 breezlly In "John
Halifax. Gentleman" Miss Mulock
wrote the work her fame rests upon in
a cottage In the neighborhood, which
she described in terms quite applicable
toit to-day. Rose cottage" Is an ideal
summer retreat. tits sheltered by the
tableiand and overlooks the Woodches-
ter vale where the monastery vigils are
musically ehimed. Miss Mulock ap-
4. Ia - n l.. A