Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-12-29
THE FOLK OF MANX ISLAND
Homely Pictures of a Pleasing
Bit of Land.
LIKE THE CUMBERLAND PEOPLE
Also, Akin to the Fisher Folk
of Cornwall.


special correspondence Gazette and 10 urnal.
PEEL, Isle OF MAN, Dee. 13.-In a
somewhat extended study of the home
life of Manxmen, have come upon
many striking similarities between the
character and habits of these folk and
those of the Statesmen" 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 feudal 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
and conscious independence in their
great gray eyes, which on occasion
would flame into exalted heroism.
All this you see in ManXmon 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 headducking, tuft-pulilng,
fawning human whom the English land
system has merged into a hereditarily
bringing, farthing splitting vassal called
an English small farmer.
Most ManXmcn, indeed all save the
proprietors of mountain farms, arc also
fishermen In population of less
than 10000 souls, including all town
folk, it is estimated 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 proximity to
the sea of every inhabitant, and the
endless mental ABSORPTION OF the facts
and fancies of sea environment have
through the centuries certainly moulded
the Manxman's face in sympathy. In
repose, it is a handsome face with u
PARKWAY, dreamful look. In ANNA
ton it has sternness and fire In ordi-
nary attentiveness it bespeaks great
caution. When it has pleasing peat
fire for background and your own
face Is opposite, set in Il perspective of
wind whipped landscape or stccly blue
sea, think II is truly one of the most
hospitable faces in all the world.
You would be chased down noun
tain side or tossed over cliff here in
Mainland, if you offered money for
any form of hospitality. The host of a
farm house or cottage regards your COM
ing as an honor, your staying pleas
ure, your going with regret. From
time immemoral, no tramps or mcndi-
cants have been allowed to land upon
the shores Of Man. Not so very long
ago vessel breaking this law was for.
feited. Locks and keys are unknown in
the countrysides. Utter simplicity and
al at inn ia, ,t11 g.,
cottage homes. "CiYiliZation" repre-.
sented by au influx of Sightseeing
strangers from all parts of the world
has not yet disturbed the serenity of APP
parently changeless thought, feeling
and habit. Strangers are as gratifying
to the equable interest Of Manxmen as
tho simplicity of the latter is satisfying
to the curiosity Of those who come from
far-oH lands. Outside of the towns I'M
cventful life TO these honest souls
u is measured in three parts
A simple way 1.-The birth, the toll, the rest.
The Manx woman is ruddy of face.
broad of girth and has q tongue which
deals in cordial candor. This face OF
hers is comfy withal, and there is a
light behind her pleasant eyes which
tells that her fine rosy mouth and ready
better face altogether than YOU will
find in any of the Latin countries; YOU
are not as afraid of it as you are OF The
more rogish Irish face; it is less selfish
than the faces of women you see in
England; and it is not coniuring i'll OF
you as the Scotch woman sometime.
makes you conscious. Altogether il
speaks loyalty, earnestness, some sym.
pathy and about all The trace Of merri,
ment you will find in little Mainland.
This woman before marriage is nc
wondrous blossom. She is often sweet
enough to look at, fair enough to re.
member, shy enough TO make pursuit
plquant; but she shows improvement
with age-ono of the best fortunes thai
can come to woman. She is wonder.
ously prolific and her children make hel
u glowing mother. Burdens develor
her real hcroism. The unwritten law
is, from superstitious custom, that she
shall never precede her husband: but
mentally and in all hearthside and mari.
tai exigency sheis his permanent guidOn
and superior. In old age she is The
brightest, cheeriest, peachiGst, hand.
soonest women you can find in any land
Ohly IN the more ancient quarters
Will one find folk and customs peculiarly
characteristic OF the little AIanx nation
in towns. In Douglas. Ramsey and even
here i'll antiquated 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 entity for many hundreds OF
years, is the home of the Manx high.
lander 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 til,
fair island have not been able to fine
one abode of yeoman or fisherman where
poverty is apparent. Even discomfort
is seldom seen. Cleanliness and snug
ness are universal. There is songiul
sunny atmosphere within the wall
and without; an amplitude tempered BY
thrift, but enliyened by content, good
will and often cheeriness; though tn,
Alanx nature is bland and interpretive
rather thun demonstrativc and turbulent
Nearly every cottage Is like the Cum
berland "statesman's." 1t is low, broad
ample. Its walls are practically indie
structible; and the building, hoodel
with snug brown matching, runs out il
all manner of picturesque ways int
stables, cow-houses, sheep-folds aul
cart-sheds. These tell their own pleasan
story of prudent preservation OF posses
Bions and kindly comfort for duml
beasts, There is always line garden
This is not only bit of rare bloom anC
color in summer, u rich contrast to tn
vast breadth of golden, ever bloomin!
Rorse the purple heather and lichen