New-York tribune., 1903-06-07

These were some or the questions Wh1cn proud
Brtishers asked one another.
But the sixty dead monarchs who, according
to tradition, have been buried at Iona, need not
tremble at the coming OF the Carthusans, for
the monks are not going to disturb the sacred
associations of the island. The ruins of the
ancient abbey church, the relics of st. Columbia,
who first established there missionary station
in the sixth century, and the royal tombs are to
be preserved with religious solicitude. Such
are the terms of the sale IL 1t should be consum
mated as stipulated by the Duke of Argyle, the
owner of the island. That the duke is certain of
imposing such conditions before he closes the
bargain may be seen from the sentiments of his
family. In the book entitled "Iona," printed in
1871 which was written by his father, these
words:
"Columba's body has been resolved into in
dstinguishable dust But what he did and said
has acquired a permanent place in the history of
that being for whom the sea has been made and
the dry land prepared"
For who desires to live apart from the
world, both physically and spiritually, Iona
offers exceptional opportunities. William Winter
visited the island in September. 1891, and was
stormbound there for several days.
''The wanderer who lands upon the little stone
ledge that serves for pier at Iona" writes Mr..
Winter in "Old Shrines and IVY" should not be
he likes. but long as he must In the
Hebrides the weather is sovereign. At
any moment the storm wind may sweep over
them. . .. The present pilgrim landed at
Iona about noon on September %, intending to
return to Oban the next morning. Five days
have passed. and there is but faint prospect of
his escape. Postal communication with the
mainland-regularly occurrent but once every
forty-eight hours in fair weather-has practi-
cally ceased. Resting, however. in such
a homelike haven as the St. COLUMBIA Hotel and
cheered by companionship with the kind High
land hearts who dwell there. the practice of
patience should not be difficult"
Iona Island once called Icolmbill. which
means the island of Columba's call church.
A strait three-quarters Of a mile wide separates
it's craggy, precipitous shores from the island
of Null to the eastward, and enables one In ap
preaching it to view its rugged mountains of
Laurentian gness which is the oldest sedi-
mentary rock in the world.
Iona is three miles long and at its widest
point mile and half wide,' writes Mr.. Win
ter, "and it contains about two thousand acres
of land, of which about quarter is under cul-
tivation for oats, hay, vegetables and flowers.
Three-quarters of II is devoted to pasture.
There are within its limits, of cattle, horses,
sheep and other animals about thousand. The
collie dog and the household cat frequently
encountered. and you will not stroll far upon
the noors without meeting the dark and stately
Highland bull. I counted about fifty dwellings.
The population is small about fifteen
hundred persons, of whom three hundred dwell in
Null. The church is the Presbyterian Church OF
Scotland but there Is also a free church. One
of the buildings is the manse. Another is the
schoolhouse All the houses made of stone
and of them have a roof of thatch
which is held in its place by clamps, superin-
cumbent timbers and heavy weights of stone or
THE village consists of single street, with
those humble huts ranged upon one side of It.
their doors and windows facing eastward toward
the sound. The postotiice is also a shop, and
there are two three shops besides Three
times a week a little steamboat, sailing out of
Bunessan, town of Null. sheltered in Loch-na-
Keal. calls at Iona. II she can. and takes away
a mail or leaves one, touching. by means of a
skff at st. Romans Bay.
No doctor dwells in the place and no resi-
dent of 1t is ever sick Death may come by
drowning or some other accident, but as a rule
the people live until they out and SO
expire naturally from extreme age. The Gaelic
language although IT is dying away in the High
lands is still spoken here The minister preach
ing sp alternate Sundays at Iona and Bunessan