The record-union., 1892-12-17

Scourging Tyrants.
Especial Correspondence of the RECORD
UNION. Copyright 1921
DOUGLAS, Isle of Man, Dec. 8, 1902.
Few writers ever troubled themselves
at all about the Manx people. Those
have invariably set them down as tex
traordinarily superstitious." Then they
have galloped away leaving the Manx-
men in mist and their readers in mys-
terry.
A truer statement regarding these in
teresting and sturdy people would be that
they have emerged from boundless su-
perstition. Everywhere one may go in
Mainland are found evidences of that
extreme antiquity which so impresses and
at times appalls the student in Ireland
and Cornwall. Coming to a later, though
still remote period, one cannot escape the
conviction that the first Celts of Ireland
and the west OF England, and the first
people of Mainland, were not only Of
common stock, but for centuries were,
while pagans, people of common Ian
guage, customs and interest.
IN the Intervening of Paganism and
Christianity there was undoubtedly large
ecclesiastical sanction entertained toward
many OF the superstitious practices of the
ancient ManX people. Long isolation
from the remainder of progressive Eng
land, and the retention of a distinct Ian
guage, in which the Gospel is still
preached, in few instances precisely as
friend OF mine breaches one Gaelic ser
mon per month in the little old church
OF tas-na-kyle, Strathglass, Scotland,
IOstered the clan theory OF society. and
lett countless Legends, superstitiOns and
customs among tins stOLd though singu-
larry impressionable and sentimental
people.
But l have gradually come to know
that, however grIm-viSaged the face Of
the one contiding the weird assertion OF
uncanny belief, secretly the masses OF
the people scout ana nOut them all, save
those OF tender and winsome character.
Briefly, ManX lol1 to-day reject the es-
sentiaI slavery Of superstitious practices,
but universally insist on retaining the
pleasure OF subscribing TO the supersti-
lions themselves.
one illustration out OF many which
could be given Will serve 10 emphasize
this conclusion. In olden times it was
universal custom here on retiring at
New ears Eve for the family to care
fully strew ashes upon the floor in the
expectancy OF finding the next morning
the impression OF fairy loot. 1t was re-
HglOuSIy believed that the direction OF
the foot predicted death ii toward the
door, and If toward the fireplace an in
crease IN the household by BIRTH or mar
rage. The custom is quite as universal
at the present time, but the element Of
terror Is wholly eliminated, foot prints
are always discovered pointing toward
the fireplace, and the superstition pre-
walls only in its gentle ana kindly aspect
TO give added ZesC TO the merry holiday
time.
In tracing ManX mythology there will
be found, precisely as in the Gaelic my
thOlogy OF Scotland and the Celtic my
thO!ogy of Ireland, two classes OF buga-
boo iInmOrtals. one of these consisted
of imps and demons having the power
OF taking upon themselves the form Of
man or woman at Will, and by WOOing
human men or women, and particularly
by holding out ravishing promises Of
immortality, leading them into fatal
unions, through which the souls of NOR
tails so deluded were endlessly banished
from heaven.
The second class comprised serni-im-
mortals and magicians wholly devoted to
Druidism and the Black Art. Whether
the latter had existence, or were solely
creatures of the Imagination, centuries
behind them some sort OF folk really ex-
listed in ancient Mainland. Their Won
derful skill in the erection of sepulchral
., al
in the making OF metal ornaments and
delicately-tormed spear-heads, was SUCH
as to compel from a less Skilifu and
more warlike people the gradual deitica-
ton of the mysterious race, and their
eventual identification with local phan-
toms and gods.
In the gradual evolution of NIanx fair
les, whose real origin was in the Finnish
sylvans, satyrS and 1auns, that portion of
It's demonology providing impish spirits
OF maleVolent nature has been largely
eXtirpated, The imam of the hills" the
identical fellow found in the Irish and
Scottish Highlands, was wicked fellow
indeed. Among the ManX shepherds OF
Snaetell and North Barrule Mountains |
found a few who still firmly believe in
his power for harm, who recognize his
voice in the soughing of the winds
through the gorges, and, when troubled
in conscience, avoid the darkness OF
night and leading their flocks to the lone
Ier gIenS.
The banshee, that fateful mother of
grewsome brood in all originally Celtic
countries, has given way in Scotland to
It's host Of guild neiborS" or Brownies,
Us mighty a host of good and i'll sprites in
Ireland and III Mainland, to an intangi-
bic army OF gnomes, elves and sprites.
These, IN general, possess power of re-
Wardlng the good and furnishing for
evil a Wesleyan clergyman named
Corjaig, few years ago, undertook to
lay them by stOutIy declaring from his
pulpit That he saw them with his own
eyes depart in body from the Bay OF
Douglas IN empty rum puncheons scud-
ding before the wind in the direction of
Jamaica. But the wee people" are still
safely enscOnced in the hearts and tradi-
tons of ManXmen, and cannot be de-
ported and maroOned even by we'll
meaning clergymen.
One Will still find among the Manx
fishermen farmers clear traces Of exact
congeners OF the ancient water bulls and
horses OF the misty north of Scotland
lochs. The ''tarroo ushtey'' is the wild
water-bull and the 'glashtin" the furious
water-horse OF Mainland. The former
destroyed cattle, the latter left he sea TO
chase Man& ponies over the mountain
crags to destruction. These have no ter
rors now for ManXmen, but if i'll Details
kline or horses these creatures of the
misty days always return in the fireside
banter and gossip.
These folk have one remarkable friend
among the elves. He is called the ''phvu-
nodderee.' For some form of INSIDE
meanor he was banished from elHand
and became a satyr with shaggy hair.
Those who have seen him assert that he
has feet like an elk with protrudiug
spear-like horn where the fetlock should
be enabling him to scale walls and
mountains at will One good old lady of
80, whom l found among the glens of
Snaeiell. remembers distinctly an en-
counter with the 'phynuOdderee" when
she was still IN her teens. She was
yarded," that is legally made serv-
ant at neighbOring estate and was set
to carrying peat in a creel by cruel mas
ter.
She was i'll unto death, but was driven