Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-12-15


RAMSEY, ISLE OF Man, Nov 2G.-Hou
will always have tho Isle Of Man clear
est as u series Of charming pictures in
your memory after you have sailed
around the island. Ii is only a little
journey Of rs or so miles. The steamers
bring you from Douglas to Douglas
again in only six hours time. Pleasanter
still is it to engage smart little craft and
alone or with friends idle along ut will
with wind or tide, gaining much manx
color and feeling from your grave and
serious shippers tales, and coming close
to the fisher life of the countless half
hid coves and bays.
Besides, in this way with good
marine glass you can scan every square
foot of Mainland. There is nowhere
greater distance than six or seven miles
from highest mountain peak to edge of
circling sea. The beautiful Topographic
cal contiguration Of the island is thus
made memorable. From mile or two
at sea, of Douglas, which shines from its
crescent bay with almost the brilliancy
of Naples, the chief mountain range
shows at its best. II extends three
fourths of the islands length, almost as
centrally as a line could he drawn.
And every one of these pleasant
Manx mountains is in full view. There
is South Barrule, the sonthernmost.
Then comes the Cairn and Greeba. Be-
tween these is the great valley pass lead
ing from Douglas, the maratime eastern
capital of Man, to ancient Peel, It's
western port, fine old fishing town, re-
minding Of Cornish ST. Ives A flood of
light seems to break each way through
this deep wide pass. Between the
Carn and Greeba is the famous Manx
Mecca of Druidic origin, Tynwald
Mount, where all the laws of Mainland
are still annually proclaimed.
Golden, Sartfell and BENNY Phott
group closely to the north, and then
comes Snaetell, mountain monarch of
Mainland, his only northern rival,
giant North Barrule, which breaks into
savage Maughold Head, by pleasant
Ramsey bay. 1t is q strange feeling
that you can see half the homes Of the
entire ManX nation at II glance. From
the top of Snaefeil you can see them
all. Besides, from the same place you
can look far into Ireland, Scotland,
England and Wales.
Coasting to the north, the ever chang
ing panorama of mountains constantly
in view, first comes LaXey bay and WI
lage, the latter at the entrance to a
witching glen, surrounded by noble
hills, whose sides are thickly dotted
with stone monuments left by the ear
lier island races. Here is also found n
great cairn called King Orry's grave,
which tradition and dim Manx history
assign to the bones of the Danish prince
who more than a thousand years ago
gave the ManXmen frGemens' rights.
Older than Orry's bones are the Laxey
mines, the oRly ones of importance in
Man, which possess the famous LgXey
overshot water wheel, said to be the
largest in the world.
Perhaps six miles farther to the north,
and your craft will be abreast of Maugh-
old Head. 1t is weird and grand old
headland, and the vicinity has for ages
possessed reverential awe to all seafar-
ing folk. This has been due to the
miracles wrought at its holy well, and
10 the odor OF sanctty left upon the
place by st. Maughold. The latter was
in his early life Il gay and wicked Irish
prince. Converted by the preaching Of
the good 81. Patrick, he determined to
renounce the world He put to sea in a
wicker boat, giving himself up to the
mercy of the winds and waves. lie was
sibe coast of Man. The holy well OF
fountain burst from the spot where he
first gained safe ground.
Then followed the wonderful CONVEX.
sion to Christianity from paganism oil
the Manx people. The very walls OF
the curious old st. Maughold Church
were built by this evangelist; and one
of the strangest and most venerable
crosses in Britain, the cross of st. Maugh
old, still standing in the ancientchurch
yard, was erected to commemorate the
Saints deliverance from the sea and his
conversion Of the Manx people. One
side of this remarkable relic contains 0
carving Of Saint Maughold; another Of
the Virgin and Child; and later EN-
Enlistment on q third side depicts Tho
cruciiiXion, to which is joined the arm
of Mantle three bent legs, with thu
brave motto: "Whicheyer way throw
Tor cast, it stands" The entire distric
is bit of Interchangeable antiquity
bound by primitive customs, enmcshcl
in the strangest superstitiOns. Ilustra
tive, the parish clerk is still elected b,
the votes OF only those parishioners VIII
put out smoke," that Is, whose habita
tlons possess chimney; and Il nea
Runic cross by the roadside is profan
old female wool-carrier who, for cursin
ut the wind, was turned to stone.
When Maushold Head is rounded
the long reach OF Ramsey Bay, extend
ing nine miles to Point of Ayre, tn
northernmost headland Of Man, gives
scene of unsurpassed beauty and inteI
est. The red cliffs trace an almost yer
million shore line between the blue O
the sea and the shimmering gold of tn
upland gorse. At the centre OF the ba
is the fine old town, its ancient wall
and roofs contrasting strangely with il
modern ways and facades. A sleep
yet bright old face has Ramsey; lili
some nudding grandam whom hoyde
children have stolen upon in her slice
to believer and beribbon and who, o
waking, has rs much mischief in he
glad old eyes as in the merry hearts thG
made the irolic. To the right and lief
villas and villages innumerable; an
behind, but mile or two away, tn
golden gorse is blended with the purple
and mists among the heights of Mort
Barrule.
In rounding the Point of Ayre you
skipper will cease his tales and atten
closely to his little craft. 1t is u danger
GUS ocean way. The meeting of the tide
causes almost u maelstrom," thc Streen,
or strife, contention, the Manx call
All around the northern coast, which
low, from sea to sward are strange te
races of sea cobbles; small, polishe
stones as round us cannon balls. The
are constantly changing their positio
from the action of the wutprs md rp ,