Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-13
Natures Wonder Stones.

Stone see-sawS that weigh tons ana yer
which can be moved up and down by the
hand Of a child are not frequent, but, none
the less, nature has sprinkled over the earth
a fair number Of these marvels. Lands
End, the queer tapering finish to the Island
of Great Britain, has several famous rock
ing stones among which is the one at Cas-
tie Treryn. This weighs ninety tons, but
the weight of a mans finger will cause 1t
to move I'D and down. and children at the
castle have lots Of fun with this huge freak
of nature. The Lennon Logan Is another
curious rocking stone on Lands End. This
rock is as fiat a floor and Is del1cately
poised on another huge flat stone. The top
stone weighs all Of twenty tons. but even
a light breeze will start it to rocking. The
biggest Of all English rocking stones Is the
one at Pendris Head. In the Scily Islands.
which must weigh 300 tons. This is per-
pendicular rocking stone and stands nicely
balanced on the top of another huge rock
which is buried in hillside. 1t sways to
and fro if a man leans against its side.
These rocking stones which would be
considered masterpieces of massive con-
struction if built by mankind, are merely
another instance of the work Of the frost.
sun, wind and rain. These ever-active
miners now and then during the course OF
centuries unearth rock that Is harder
than the surrounding strata and can make
but little impression on 1t. Inch by inch
during the following centuries everything
is worked away from the base of the
rock EXCEPT where the stones hardness
protects it's resting place. Then the ever
patient elements smooth off the stone, and
1t soon becomes a natural wonder that
sways in every breeze. but resists the hand
Of man or nature to dislodge from its rest
ing spot.
In the Alps the Gargantua rocking stone
is famous in literature. This rock Is made
of granite. and was once buried deep in the
mountain side. 1t Is situated today on the
Savena highway near the village Of Piana
Crixia. The French army once for amuse-
ment tried to smash this famous rocking
stone with artillery, but the cannon balls
bounced off its granite sides and left only
stones in the world are in our own Car
dens of the Gods" which are in Colorado
The best-known Is called the Balancing
rock. and can hold almost a regiment Of
soldiers and will rock to and fro under
their weight. 1t Is in northern Colorado and
Is not of granite, but of a very hard red
sandstone. Even larger is the so-called
Agassiz column. which balances itself on the
very verge of the terrific Yosemite canon
valley. 1t looks as II any gentle wind
has stood where 1t is for at least 5000
years Back of it are the Yosemite Falls.
Inc Cheyteyo rock, in Burmah. in India.
is one OF the most famous balancing stones
In Asia. 1t is an enormous boulder weigh
ing perhaps $50 TONS and it rocks like a
cradle In every wndstorm. Yet the ma
tives have bravely built a pagoda on the
very top OF this balancing rock and for CEN
turtles pilgrims have come to worship at
this shrine. 1t Is asserted that beneath
this rock the remains of great Gautama
Buddha lie. The Sampan rock is another
Burmese balancing stone which lies on the
very apex of ridge of mountains. 1t Is
the last remaining piece of a higher range
of mountains which have been eaten away
by frost. rain, the winds and the heat Of
the Indian sunshine.