Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-12-25
LOCKS ARE UNKNOWN.
The People of the Isle of Ean Know
Not What Robbery Means.
HOSPITALITY HAS NO LIMIT,
A Feep Into the Homes That r0t tht
Beautiful Country ides.
STUFF OF WHICH HEROES ARE MAD
CORRESPONDENCE OF THE D1spArcr.1

tcoR9ESPoSDENCE OF THE DIsPArCr.I
PEEL, ISLE OF MAN, Dec. 15-There il
a certain fire OF calm and conscious indie
pendence in the great gray eyes of the
Manxmen, which on occasion would fame
into exalted heroism. ALI this you see in
Nanxmen in their comfortable homes, and
one has only to acquaint himself with the
heroism of this handful of islanders in the
past to know that their looks do not belle
their real character. There is nowhere on
English soil greater contrast to be found
to the Eead-dueking, tuft-pulling, fawnins
human whom the English land system has
merged into a hereditarily cringing, farth-
ing splitting vassal called an English small
farmer.
Most Manxmeu, indeed all save the pro-
prietors of mountain farms, are also fisher
men. In a population OF less than 80, 900
souls, including all town folk, it is esti-
mated that ut 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 the sea of every inhabitant, and
the endless mental absorption of the facts
and fancies of sea environment, have
through the centuries certainly nodded
the Manxman's face in sympathy. In re-
pose it is handsome face with
a far-away dreamful look. In AMI
nation it has sternness AID fire. In
ordinary attentiveness it bespeaks great
caution. When it has pleasing peat fire
for background and your own face is op-
posite, set in a perspective of wind-whipped
landscape or steely blue sea. 1 think it is
truly one of the most hospitable faces in all
the world. You would be chased down a
mountain side or tossed over z cliff here in
Mainland. if you offered money for any
form of hospitality.
From time immemorial, no tramps or
mendicants have been allowed 10 land upon
the shores OF Man. Not 50 very long ago
vessel breaking this law was forfeited.
Locks and KEYS are unknown in the cOun-
trysides. Utter simplicity and complete re-
pose reign in ali farm and cottage homes.
Within the Manx yeOman's home the Dict-
ure is lonely but pleasing. The house
plnce, hving-rOom and kitchen combined, is
on one side of green painted door and
short passage. On the other is a narrow Slip
of a parlOr, for. as with the Stafford shire
potters, the parlOr is a hereditary and neceE-
sary dignity with the Manxmen. 1t is, as
usual with other places of dignity, the only
place of discomfOrt in these kindly island
homes. In the center OF this room will
always be found II little square mahogany
table. A family Bible rests upon it. a haii
dozen ancient mahogany chairs are adj
justed against the walls with Il view TO
their support. A short, low-backed
chintz settle is in
the window. Over the mantel
piece is huge mirror whose texture is as
choppy as tile surface of the Man-encircling
sea; but this reflects in a Ztg-Za2 way q
collection OF stuffed birds. dried
grasses, China dogs, vases and rampan5
with sundry carvings rom
Druidic days and huge shells which sailor
sons have brought from far-Of shores. This
dim little retreat is seldom disturbed. Fifty
enough it is almost exclusively sacred to
the uses of funerals and wedding.
But the comfort of the roomy old house
place and Kitchen atones for all this. The
stone hearth is deep and wide, and the feet
of great family might all have place npon
IL, with room for hide-Gnd-seek Tor the little
ones between the owners chairs Not
gorgeous homes these, but they are homes
Of integrity, comfort and content. every
one. EDGAE l. WAREMAN.