The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-11-18
KINGS ON THEIR OWN ACCOUNT

Although His Majesty King Edward | VII, Is the ruler of the British Empire, several of his loyal subjects are kings on their own account and are as au- tocratic as the Czar of Russia. There are the fortunate owners of islands round the coast, many of which are exempt from rates and taxes and some times beyond the sphere of the pariia- mentry legislation. Just now the most prominent of these miniature mon archies Is Lundy, In the Bristol Chan nel As 1t is for sale, every ambi@ tious millionaire has an opportunity to become it's ruler.
 Devonshire folk call the island the Kingdom of heaven because it's present owner is the Rev. Hudson c. Heaven. overlord of 1900 acres and some fortS souls. He resides at the Villa. agran- ite-built mansion commanding a mag nIf1cent view of the bay and surround ed by hills. Unlike many of the other private kingdoms Lundy Is beautiKub though isolated. q fitting contrast to the Isle of Man, ovar which Mir. W. Cary. the son of Colonel Cary, the we'll known American, reigus. The lat ter 8 an almiost barren land. chiefly celebrated for rabbits and rats and remarkable echo, called into being by the sirens of excursion steamers.
 Lundys staple industry Is agrtcul- ture, some 400 acres being rented Dy one farmer Here bulloclSs, sheep, goats and horses are raised Granite was once quarried, but the works have long since fallen upon evil days. ai- though the mineral is of excellent quality. Much of the Thames eTn- bankment Is built of 1t.
 The manor farmhouse is close to St. Helen's Church, a siugutarly fine structure for 50 small a kingdom. and .aIw aF the island, ana when sailors have to make an enforced stay in the neigh borhood. owing to adverse winds ana other circumstances, it is made to do service as a reading room. The tower is fine specimen of the sculptor.s art, and the stained glass windows are fit to grace any church. The present Lord of Lundy succeeded to the sovereignty of the island on the death of his father. Sir We're Hunt Bark, its previous pro prietor rIcked it up for mere song at a London auction, so the story goes, the auctloneer declaring that the is- land never paid either tax or tithe; that 1t acknowledged neither king nor parliament, civil or ecclesiastical. Its proprietor is pope and emperor at once in his own scanty domain"
 As a matter of fact, the Rev. Hudson 'G Heavens rule is absolute. and mo- body can be married or buried without his consent Tourists who wish TO land cannot do so unless he gives con- sent. which, however, Is seldom if ever refused.
 Romance fingers about Lundy Island. Some years ago the remains of giant, eight feet two inches tn height. were discovered, while a conpanian skeleton was only slightly smaller. A willy member of Parliament bargalned with the state to transport convicts to ViT- ginia for a price and then sent them to Lundy and there made them work 10 his advantage. Pirates and snug glers found the isolated spot good for their trades. It sheltered the would be murderers of Henry III, and Ed ward IT., and on mOrS than one oc- casion 1t fell into the hands of ma rauders.
 Today the shore affords an excellent anchorage for vessels, as many as BOO having been there at the same time. but O wreck off Lundy Is not at all an unusual thing. more particularly in winter and early spring, 1t being in the wreck radius" of the Bristol Channel.
 The lighthouse is a conspicuous ob- feet and its revolving light, $40 feet