Norwich bulletin., 1913-03-12

have these moors to offer in the way of healthdiversion? First, last and in the middle they form ideal country Tor the horseman. There are many square
 miles of gentle downs free from stones where one can ride on velvet footing for the horse and without encounter ing single fence. The absence or fences is due to the former communal ownership of the moors, when many sheep grazed on the island. Old Nan tucketers often refer to the moors as the Commons
 Of late unfortunately, saddlehorses are scarce on the island in midwinter since Willy Wyer. who had nearly a monopoly of them two years ago, start ed his disheartening habit of trans shipping all his animals to New Jersey during the cold weather. There are, however few other saddlehorses that are kept on the island throughout the year.
 Riding horseback needs no dithy- ram bs to hymn it's joys; how one may start out ia terrible 'grouch' only to come home chortling Riding on the moorS of Nantucket in any season IS the surest cureall for any trouble that torments the mind of man. The wind blows it's vigor into your lungs, the dip ping downs are ever changing as you ride up the aspiring slopes and down into the bowlshaped valleys The tum bling, rolling, grumbling ocean IS always to be seen from some angle A ride to Maddequet, or a ride to Saufs Hills, or to Tom Meyers head, or to Nanahumas Neck, no matter which one you take they are all equally reward ing.
 Would that I could now get into the saddle and canter down Orange street open, over the hills and valleys that skirt the harbor, by Monomoys and Shimmo. through Quaise and past the smugglers' home to Polpis Harbor and then turning sharp to the right, out in to Saul's Hills. Being near the Gulf Stream there is rarely much snow and frost at Nantucket and even in January ing is usually soft that a sharp gallop along the hillsides is per
 .oAe o1 the hills are so steep that they cannot be easily mounted and on reaching the top of the highest, near the Altar Rock, the view is superb.
 To the east, across a broad valley, is Sankaty Head, rising beyond Sesacha- cha pond. To thel eft, and separated from the hills by swamp and meadow, are Chadwick's Folly and the little set tlement of WauWinet al the head of the long, narrow, irregular harbor. The pale winters sun reveals the sails Of several ships as they are passing the invisible elbow of Cape Cod. To the and the sand dunes of Great Point and Coatue, while under the setting sun is the silvered outline of the old town, the South Tower and the Old Mill silhouet- ted aga1nSt the gathering redS ana vel lows of the first curtain shifts of win ters sunset. The day is ending and now the chilling breeze from off the ocean has caused the mists to gather in the valleys. From the hill it seems as if the lowlands are covered with snow There is farmer driving along the Polpis road: the wheels of his wagon and the feet of his horse cannot be seen.
 Supper, A Smiling Prospect.
 But it is getting coldand late and the horse is anxious to be on the move again. So over the downs we gallop, each rise and fall of the ground as a fishing schooner out on the swell of the ocean. One of the reasons for hurrying home is the early hour that the regular inhabitants have their sup per in winter-five O clock-and the an ticipation of hot rolls, steaming tea, 1 sliced ham and chicken and fried pota- toes,. followed by damson plums and pound cake is enough to make the | most humane rider use the spur. The i empty streets echo the chatter of hoofs 1 ,ver the cobblestones at the close of the 1 -ide and the evening is spent beside | some huge fireplace with book and 1 amp When the old Spanish bell in | he South Tower rings out the curfew {; n it's mellow tones the big downy bed 1 seems to be at the end of the road to 1 happiness Nantucket is health place. | Next to riding comes walking. There 1 S nothing that the writer hates more han to '' take walk " in the city, but 1 here are few diversions more delight i ul than to wander over the moors. The i winter winds blow, the storm scuds tcross the land and the sky may be eadened and the earth white with