The Logan Stone

The Logan Stone is near Penzance, in Mount's Bay, Cornwall, England, about eleven miles from Land's End. This famous stone rises on the summit of a bold promontory of granite, which extends some distance out in the bay. It is believed to weigh ninety tons, and yet it is so perfectly poised where it stands tb at a touch can set it rocking. It rests by its center only on a flat, broad rock, the lower rock resting on several others that strtich around it on all sides. The pivot on wh ch the Logan stono is so easily moved is a small protusion on its base, on all sides of which the whole surroundlng weight of rock is by accident of nature, so exactly equalized as to keep the enormous masa poised on this little neck. In 1824, Lieutenant Goldsmith, an officer of the royal navy, was told of an ancien t prophecy that no human power could ever succeed in overturning the Logan Stone. He laid a wager that he could do it in spite of the prophecy. He went to the po nt with a half doz'n men and M many levers. These levers he had placod under the stone at one side, and at the word "heave" the great stone was thrown from its pinnaclo. In falling the stone was caught in a crevxe in the rock. The people of Penzance were very indignan t at this desecration of their ancient, landmark, and the Admiralty commanded the Lieutenant to put the stone back. The young man did ro, but it was a very difficult and expensive task. It was raised by means of beams, ropos and pulleys; a large number of workmen were needed, andit took them a week to get the work done. The Lieutenant had to pay for it all. It took him several years, for he was poor and without friends, and nis health gave way in the last effort, so that he had no sooner made the last payment than he died. The poise of ihe rook is said to be less perfect sincelt was moved thun before. -