Beverly banner. [volume] (Beverly, N.J.) 1877-1964, 1924-06-20

Prepared by the National Geographic So
ciety. Washington. D. CD
Shetland ponies are sure to be
thought by most persons the principal
product Of the Shetland islands, such
is the power Of a<name. AS a matter
OF fact the Shetlands and their sister
isles. the Orkneys. just to the south,
are the seats Of a great fishing indus
try: and ponies and cattle are merely
raised as a side issue. just as shawls
and stockings are knitted.
There is much of mystery about
these northern outposts of Great
Britain. Relics Of an ancient race
presumably Picts-that inhabited the
islands are numerous. but practically
nothing is known of that race. The
Romans called the Shetlands ultima
Thule" roughly "the end of the EARTH"
but recorded nothing worth while
about the people Of this ultimate spot.
Briton and Scot seem to have been
equally In ignorance of their near
neighbors to the north during the early
centuries.
APE q DCN olIC Va LlCSC oaRPO9O0AJ
Pictish inhabitants is a mystery, for
when the Vikings swarmed down to
the islands before the Tenth century
they found no one to challenge them.
So they took possession and set up an
independent regime under Scandi-
navian earls. In 1908 these rulers be-
came subject to the king Of Norway,
- 49, go1o~1Ic Ahounfa~a knoovnn Mo-
wegian possessions. Not until 1853
did the isles pass to the Scottish
1crown.
Kirkwall, the largest town Of the
Erkneys, the base Of the American
hvy's minesweeping squadron which
perated in the North sea In 1919. is
quaint place, and In ordinary times
quiet enough. A very narrow lane.
a9glled Bridge street, leads back from
the steamship landing. 1t is paved
with fagstones, and when a team
passes the pedestrians have to stand
close to the walls or enter the door
ways.
Facing a broad plaza stands the
Cathedral Of st. Magnus, distinctly
the "show-place" Of the Orkneys. It
is not remarkable so much for It's
length and breadth and height as for
its fine state of preservation, despite
it's age. 1t was founded In 1896.
Where Hakon Died.
Across the street from the cathedral
are the remains Of the bishops pal
! ace. a building with a large hall and
M great round tower. The latter was
built In 1910, but the hall is much
older, for here Hakon, the last Of the
great sea-kings OF Norway, died in
1868. This event occurred just after
the battle of Largs, on the coest Of
Scotland, which, though a mere sSir-
mIsh, was fateful because 1t gave u
Scotland her first claim to the islands.
RESULTING two centuries later In then
annexation. Hakon, sick and weary,
came to Kirkwall hoping to be re-
stored to health by st. Magnus; but
the saint did not intervene and
Hakon's body was temporarily in.
tered in the choir Of the cathedral.
Stromness, the second town In I'M
portance, lies on the opposite side of
the island from Kirkwall and Is dis
tfnctly more picturesque. 1t stands
on the slope Of a hill. overlooking a
beautiful harbor, and its single street
twists and turns through it for about
a mile.
Stromness was the home Of John
Cow. the famous pirate, whose career
suggested to Sir Walter Scott the
character Of Cleveland in 'The Pirate"
Here also lived Bessie Mile, an old
mag who sold 'favoring Winds to the
mariners and from whom Scott devel-
oped the idea Of Norma of the Fitful
Head. From the hill back of Strom-
ness one may have a fine view of the
island of Hoy. the highest land in the
Orkneys.
Ring Of Stenness.
A most interesting feature of the
islands is their huge stones appar-
emily used In religious services like
those found In Britain at S~tonehenge.
Separating the Locks of Stenness and
Harray is a narrow neck OF land.
known as the Bridge Of Brogar. at the
Asuuthern entrance to which Is a huge
tone, is feet high, popularity desig-
pred as the watch Stone" or Sen
eL~ In ! field at the right are the