The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1924-06-25

remains Of a circle of similar stones
not quite so large as the Watch Stone
In the midst of which is q rude table
or altar, made of three short stone
standing on end, and surmounted by 6
large fiat stone or slab. This Is the
Ring of Stenness, or the Circle Of the
Moon.
Across the bridge, a quarter Of &
mile away, is larger group, properly
designated as the Ring Of Brogar, but
commonly known as the Circle of the
Sun. 1t Is about 120 yards In diam
eter and was surrounded by fosse or
trench at least six feet deep, the out
lines Of which are distinctly traceable.
The stones Of this large circle are
from 8 to 16 feet high; one is from
s to 6 feet wide, and all are crude
and irregular In shape.
Fifteen remain standing, although
the group originally contained 30 or
40. They have strange, shaggy COW
ering of unusually long lichens, like
an ancient sheep whose coat has be-
come scraggly with age and exposure
to the weather.
North Of the Ring of Stenness was
the famous Stone of Odin, which diff
fered from the others chiefly In having
hole through it. The Stone Of Odin
was visited by Sir Walter Scott In
1914. and he made a romantic use of It
In 1.-THE Pirate" In the same year a
neighboring farmer broke it up, with
several other stones from the Ring
of Stenness, to build foundation for
his cow-house for which act Of van
dalism he was boycotted and driven
out of the country.
There is nothing about the stones
themselves that is wonderful. Any
body could erect similar circles with
modern appliances. But these monu-
ments we're here when the Norsemen
landed and were probably at least
three centuries old even then. They
doubtless quarried with stone nipple
ments and set in place by the exertion
of sheer brute force Their history
is shrouded in obscurity, their very
purpose mere conjecture. They are
a part Of the mystery of the islands
LerwIck, ShetIand's Capital.
No mention has been made so far of
the largest and most commercial city
Of the archipelago, because its impor-
lance is entirely modern and its place
In history small. This Is Lerwick,
the capital Of Shetland. 1t is far more
as well as more imposing,
than its southern rival, Kirkwall. It
Is the center Of vast fishing industry,
and from Saturday to Monday, in the
season, its harbor Is crowded with
'steam-d rifters" the modern style Of
ishing-boats which now control the
herring industry.
Lerwick Is on high ground, with a
'oad running along the shore, as at
Stromness. 1t is narrow street,
hough wide enough for vehicles to
,ass, and much buster than the streets
# Kirkwall. Narrow lanes, for pedes-
rians only, lead Off the main thor
up the slope of the HILL and
hese are curiously provided with
opes along the buildings to prevent
tipping IN Icy weather.
The city has a large fish market, (
7here the boats dispose of their catch {
y auction. handsome town hall, and G
lany substantially built churches and o
welllngs. e
Shetland 1t must be remembered,
es north of the Goth parallel. Trace
he line around the globe and 1t will e
e seen that 1t touches Greenland, q
asses above the northernmost extrem. !;
y Of Labrador. goes through the up. :,
err half Of Hudson bay. skirts the :,
lore Of Alaska. and traverses the .
reary wastes of Siberia.
But the climate of the islands Is so
odlfied by the sea that they are >,
either excessively cold In winter nor =,
arm In summer. A strong wind =,
ows across them most of the time. -
I'D this has interfered with vegeta. "
on to such an extent that few trees ~
e to be found. The inland scenery "
therefore, not attractive, but the al
lgged outlines Of the coast, cut up ~
, the action Of the sea into numerous Of
lets or woes, and carved into fantas- III
, stacks" and Castles" like the I
ID Man Of Hoy, have q wild beauty b
their own. ii