Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1903-12-25


and fro took me away from the usual
tourists itineraries, into highways and
bywayS about which not much has been
written. Occasionally, when weary of the
"Great American Hurry" / would seize
a days rest, burrow among local tradi-
tions and write thought or two.
The manuscript that / have sent is from
my notes. The writing of it has afforded
mental rest from the rack of mechanical
engineering and therefore the object has
been purely selfishs recreation. If it is
worth worth publishing in the STANDARD, it is
My friends here say the STANDARD is the
best paper that comes to me from the Pa
cific Coast. Respectfully.
CHARLES SEYMOUR.
The Farne Isles are situated little
to the south of the mouth OF the river
Tweed, on the northeast coast of Eng.
lond, and have a history reaching back
to the Roman occupancy of Britain !;
history replete with thrilling incl
dent and battling fiction. Indeed, so
perplexing are the elusive authentici-
ties" which the visitor encounters,
that he is apt to relinquish inquiry
and give up the quest. But one should
linger long enough, and talk enough,
to get into the current of local tradi-
ton and narrative, when he will find
himself amply repaid for time and
pains.
Even the story of Grace Darling,
simple as it may seem, is so varied and
garnished by the old coaster that the
visitor hardly dares repeat what he has
CLEANED.
The ornithology of the Isles is in
tensely interesting and many sea birds
abound there that are rarely found
elsewhere. The ichthyology of the
locality is also of unusual interest.
The Farne Isles afforded the last
home Of the Irish missionaries be-
fore the usurpations of the Latin
church. No "drum.and.trumpet his.
tory" marks these isles; no great po-
litical event was rounded here; no
battle clangor to vie with the tumult
of the sea, and yet it is full OF that
which thrills the soul or depresses the
heart. This was one of the great out.
posts OF Irish civilization, at a time
when the Emerald Isle was like vast
university; the only spot in all the
Occident, almost the only spot in all
the world, in which the banner of the
cross remained unstained.
From this point Ireland's beacon
light shOne into Europe, and the rays
of her academic lamp were unbroken
from Iona to the Danube's mouth, be.
fore Augustine put foot upon the
shores OF Kent. No sadder or wilder
night ever hung over these isles or
along this shore than that in which
Cuthbert, the last of the Irish bishops,
lay dying yonder at Lindisfarne upon
pallet of straw. A well.spent life
seemed fading into failure under the
usurpations of the Southern Church.
The faint gleam OF his candle is borne
as Q signal upon the ripping waters to
an abode of his faithful followers, that
they may repair to his side to receive
his last blessing. They reach him in
time, put their ears to his feeble lips,
and what do they hear? Complaint i?
Reproach of those who should have
been his friendsf No! he is repeating
the words OF his Master to his sleepin e
warders, "Watch and pray" He
passes and his followers, more militant
than when his gentle hand restrained
them, opposed q protest which sealed
their doom; for, on the very site of
Saint Adams church, in which Grace
Darling worshipped at scarborough,
Christians, in the name of the Meek
and Lowly Nazarine," murdered their
fellow Christians. Even the Vener.
able Bede, with all the fame which
history gives him for Christian quail.
ties; clothed with sacerdotal powers !;
genius OF intolerance; stood at .
safe point of observation and gloated
over their discontinue and death.
Anon, as if in retribution. fell the
long. dark night, in which the Saxon
hammer and the Norseman's song
rang over the bigot's sepulcher.
The most honored scenes are not
always those where thousands gather
about shrines which mark great pub.
lie events; nor are they the fields
hard fought in the interests of strong
and controlling men. But they ar
often scenes illuminated by Q single
lamp, held by loving hand.
No one can visit the home OF Grace
Darling without being impressed by
the truth of this. Let one visit the
little village of scarborough, on that
bleak Northumbrian coast, and imbibe
the local coloring OF the spot made
glorious by her single act, and he will
not regret his pilgrimage. The charm
of her sweet life and the story Of her
rescuing strength, together with the
beautiful euphony and significance Of
her name, will never fail to bring the
world to the melting mood. The
adOring sentiment which prompted the
bringing to the Columbian Fair ct Chi.
cago Of the boat, in which she and her
father performed their heroic task, is
rs enduring as the requiem which the
North Sea rolls in untiring numbers
at her feet.
We CLEANED the story from a variety
of sources in conversation with the
villagers Of Scarborough, and l will re-.
peat it, waving discrepancies, for no
two versions have ever been alike:
On the morning of September Z,
1888, William Darling, the keeper of
the Longstone lighthouse, saw the
wreck OF a vessel on the reef OF a
neighboring island. His wife and
their daughter Grace, were his only
companions. He could see the ship.
wrecked people clinging to the rigging
OF their vessel and bufieted by the