The Julesburg grit-advocate. (Julesburg, Colo.) 1907-1972, 1910-07-28
GNeltieO head

Ut b W.T. eusieas that 0astianA
poajss DO not become even more
popular than they ars. Perfectly
bred specimens are only 70 - -
taissd at . prize which few peo
pie care TO give for what y Dsas-
Ideally ooly . playthinS for cAillrea.
One would think that IN entsrpeisinG
brss1sr might ind . good oosainG
hsrs.
Away to the north Of Scotland Ne
the group Of islands in which tAs
diminutivs horses commonly oalIed
shslties have their homo. The eAst-
lands are not all inhabited. some Il
the smaller Islands being used merely
- pasturage for . few sheep. Thsee
is little to attract either the agrieul-
turtst Of the merchant. % progress b
slow: the islanders till their land By
old.fashioned methods. and many q
them stu have recourse to barter -
. means Of obtaining necessaries.
To the lover Of the beautiful and to
the artist there ID much to charm.
Some perhaps would describe the H.
lands - barren-but what barrennsss!
The country. though destitute Of trsss.
10 20 varied In the nature Of its seen.
cry that their absence in no way de-
tracts from the general beauty Of the
landscape.
Countless tarns. streams and lochs
all serve to make the coloring Of the
heather-coversd hills and the gloomy
tints Of the moors stand out in pleas
ing contrasts. while near the sea bold
cliffs tower over the blue waters,
whose waves dash against their rocky
sides. Overhead numerous sea birds
circle on their way to their nests on
the lodges.
The largest island 10 known a. the
mainland, with a length Of nfty-four
miles and = width Of twenty-one. The
islands have sinsularly mild and
equable climate considering their ex-
posed situation and compose one Of
the most healthful districts Of Scot
land; but even the most adventurous
tourists seldom visit them, because
doubtful sea trip in small steamer
Is necessary before they can be
reached.
OF the entire area of 81 square
miles scarcely one-sixth IL under cul-
tivation, yet the Shetlanders manage
to maintain something like 100, 900
sheep, 10000 cattle and 5000 of the
famous ponies. The Inhabitants are
Of Morse origin and In their speech
and customs retain many of the char
acteristics of their forefathers. They
support themselves chiefly by the
herring and other fishing industries.
They cannot afford to give much
feeding to their ponies. SO these
hardy little animals run wild in herds
on the hills or scatholds, picking up
what food they can flnd. When the
bleak wintry weather comes on they
ind their way down to the seashore,
where they derive scanty living from
the seaweed which grows upon the
rocks or has been left BY the hixh
autumn tides and freshened by melt
ed snow or rain. At this time of year.
too, they will gather in groups near
the homestesds and are rewarded with
an occasional truss Of hay.
In spite Of this precarious existence
the shelties seem happy enough, and
they are extremely hardy. They DOS
sess extraordinary strength for their
size. being able to carry q man or
woman with apparent ease for long
distances
The little ponies. with their rough,
shaggy coats and flowing names and
tails. seem somehow to suit their
wild. rugged surroundings and the
groups Of them that are scattered
about add the needed life to the land.
scape.
Perhaps It 10 = question Of a sur.
vival Of the httest that makes these
little creatures 10 very small as
horses Of larger type would be use
less on the Doggy moors or on the
stony hillsides. They have been
known to attain the age Of thirty
years and more. due probably to the
healthful mode Of life which thew
were forced to adopt. for they were
born in the fields and lived and died
in them.
The Shelties cannot be worked until
they are three or four years old and
do not reach maturity until they arc
eight or nine. Though occasionally
employed In the shetlands to draw
carts. II b - q saddle animal that