The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-12-25
observation-disclosures
THE LITTLE MANx ISLAND AND
ITS FOLK-IV.

IFS FOLk-lN.
Ssnxmen and Their Wives, Their
Homes and Home Belongings-am-
plitude Tempered by Thrift-Homely
But Pleasing Pictures of Maux Inte-
riors - Interesting characteristics
and Customs-The "Oiel Verree."
CCoDprt0ht.l
PEEL, ISLE OF MAN, Dec. Elm a some
what extended study Of the home life OF
Manxmen, have come upon many strik-
ing sImilarities between the character and
habits of these folk and those of the STATES
men" of Cumberland and the fisher folk Of
Cornwall.
Cumberland statesmen" the actual
peasant owners in perpetuity of little
mountain tracts Of land, which have passed
from father to eldest son since the border
necessities OF feudel times compelled the
warlike northern barons to parcel out their
lands to their serfs, are tall Of stature,
stout of frame, grave Of aspect, but with a
certain fire of calm aad conscious indie
pendence In their great gray eyes, which on
occasion would flame into exalted heroism
All this you see in Manxmen in their
comfortable homes, and one has only to nc
quaint himself with the heroism of this
handful Of islanders in the past 10 know
that their looks do not belle their real char
acter. There IL nowhere on English soil
greater contrast TO be found to the head
ducking. tuft pulling, fawning human
whom the English land system has merged
into hereditary cringing, farthing split
ting vessal called an English small farmer.
Most Manxmen, indeed all save the pro-
prietors Of mountain farms, are also fisher
men. In a population OF less than so, 900
souls, including all town folk, 1t is esti-
mated that at least one In every five derives
his chief support from the harvests OF the
sea. When boat builders and net makers
are taken into account, the proportion
would be far greater The immediate prox-
unity to tbs sea Of every inhsbitant, and
the endless mental absorption of the facts
and fancies Of sea environment, have
through the centuries certainly moulded the
Hanxman's face In sympathy In repose i,
1t is a handsome face with a far-awaY,
dTeamful look. In animation IL has stern
ness and fire. In ordinary effectiveness it
bespeaks great caution. When il has q
pleasing peat fire for a background and your
| own face is opposite, set In perspective of
wind-whipped landscape or steely blue sea,
| / think 1t is truly one of the most hospitable
faces In all the world.
You would be chased down q mountain
| side or tossed over a cliff here In Mainland
| If you offered money for any form of hos
| pitality. The host OF farm house or oot-
tage regards your coming as an honor, your
staying pleasure, your going with regret.
From time immemorial no tramps or men,
| dicants have been allowed to land upon the
| shores of Man. Not so very long ago a
| vessel breaking this law was forfeited.
| Looks and keys are unknown in the coun-
| trysides Utter simplicity and complete re
| pose reign In all farm and cottage homes.
Civilization" represented by an influx of
| Sightseeing strangers from all parts Of the
world has not yet disturbed the serenity of
| apparently changeless thought, feeling and
habit. Strangers are as gratifying 70 the
| eQuahle interest of Manxmen as the sim
plicity Of the latter is satisfying to the Curl
| osity of those who come from far off lands.
| Outside OF the towns uneventful life to
these honest souls
is measured in three parts
simple way-the birth, the toll, the rest.
The Manx woman is rudy of face, broad
| cordial candor. This face of hers Is comely
withal, and there is a light behind her pleas
ant eyes which tells that her fine rosy
mouth and ready tongue are not given to
deceiving. II 10 better face altogether
than you will find in any of the Latin coun-
tries; you are not az afraid of 1t as you are
| of tine more roguish Irish face; it is less self
England; and it is not oonjuring ill of you
| as the Scotch woman sometimes makes you
| conscious. Altogether it speaks loyalty,
earnestness, some sympathy and about all
the trace of merriment you will find in lit
| tie Mainland.
This woman before marriage is no won
drous blossom. She Is Often sweet enough
70 look at fair enough to remember, shy
enough to make pursuit piQuant; but she
shows Improvement with age-one of the
best fortunes that can come TO woman. She
is wondrously prolific and her children
make her a glowing mother. Burdens de-
velop her real heroism. The unwritten law
| Is, from superstltious custom, that she shall
never precede her husband; but mentally
and in all hearthside and marital exigeucy
she is his permanent guidon and superior.
In old age she is the brightest, cheeriest.
peachiest, handsomest woman you can find
in any land.
Only in the more ancient quarters will
one find folk and customs peculiarly char
acteristio Of the little Manx nation in towns.
In Douglas, Ramsey and even here in anti
Guated Peel. the humble folk live much as
they do In all little old English coast cities.
The real Manx home, preserved in its
material and human entirety for many
hundreds OF years, 10 the home OF the Manx
highlander or fisherman, or Of both. All
habitations of these Manxmen are places of
genuine, though rude and simple comfort.
In wandering in all manner of out OF the
way places on the fair island have not
been able to find one abode Of yeoman or
fisherman where poverty is apparent Even
discomfort is seldom seen. Cleanliness and
snugness are universal. There is songful,
sunny atmosphere within the walls and
without; an amplitude tempered by thrift,
but enllvened by content, good will and
often cheeriness; though the Manx nature
is bland and interpretive rather than
demonstrative and turbulent.
Nearly every cottage is like the Cumber.
land "statesman's," II is low, broad, ample.
It's walls are practically indestructibIe; and
the building, hooded with strong brown
thatching, runs out in all manner of pictur-
esque ways into stables, COW houses, sheer
folds and cart sheds. These tell their own
pleasant story OF prudent preservation OF
possessions and kindly comfort for dumt
beasts. There is always a fine garden. This
is not only bit of rare bloom and color in
summer, rich contrast to the vast breadth
OF golden, ever-blooming gorse the purple
OF heather and liohen-covered rocks, but
Msnxmen get as much as Hollanders for
home comfort out of these richly-tilled
half-acres. The earthen fence inclosing the
garden and every hedge between the fields
are beautiful from painstaking care. En-.
riched with roses, where the tiny Burnet