Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1892-12-24
wAKEMAN,s WANDERINGs,

The Little Manx Island and Its Folk
-Mauxmen and Their Wives, Their
Homes and Home Belongtngs-Am-
plitude Tempered by Thrift-HOme-
Iy but Pleasing Pictures of Mnnx
Interiors - Interesting Characters
tics and Customs-The "oiel yer-
ree.1
PEEL, Isle of Man, Dec. 8.
To the Editor OF the JOURNAL AND COURIER:
In somewhat extended study of the
home life of Manxmen I 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 "statesmsn.n 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 feudsl times COM
PEELED the wsrlike northern barons to par
Gel out their lands to their serfs, are tall
of stature, stout of frame, grave of as
pect, but with 9 certain fire of calm and
conscious independence in their great gray
eyes, which on occasion would fame into
exalted heroism.
All this you see in Manxmen 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 char
acter There is nowhere on English soil
a greater contrast to be found to the head
ducking, tuft-pulling, fawning human
whom the English land system has merged
into hereditarily cringing, farthing split
ting vassal called an English small farmer.
Most Manxmen, indeed all save the pro-
prietors of mountain farms, are also fish
ermen. In population of less than fifty
thousand souls, including all town folk, 1t
is estimated that at least one in every Ave
derives its chief support from the hsr-
vests of the sea. When boat builders and
net-makers are taken into account, the
proportion would be far greater. The i'm
mediate proximity to the sea of every in
habitant, and the endless mental absorb
ton of the facts and fancies of sea envi-
ronment, have through the centuries GER
tainly moulded the Man1man's face In
sympathy In repose it is a handsome
face with far-away, dreamful look. In
animation it has sternness and fire. In
ordinary attentiveness 1t bespeaks great
caution. When it has pleasing peat fire
for background and your own face is op-
posite, set in a perspective of wind
xpbfnrad 1ondoaana ataalv hlna
think 1t is truly one of the most hospit-
able faces in all the world.
You would be chased down a noun
tain aide or tossed over a cliff here in
Mainland, If you offered money for any
form of hospitality. The host Of farm
house or cottage regards your coming as
an honor. your staying a pleasure, your
going with regret. From time immemo-
rial no tramps or mendicants have been
allowed to land upon the shores of Man.
Not SO very long ago vessel breaking
this law was forfeited. Locks and keys
are unknown in the countrysides. Utter
simplicity and complete reposs reign in
all farm and cottage homes. "Civiliza-
ton" represented by an influx of sight
seeing strangers from all parts of the
world has not yet disturbed the serenity
of apparently changeless thought, feeling
and habit. Strangers are as gratifying
| to the equsble interest of Msnxmen as
| the simplicity of the latter Is satisfying
| to the curiosity of those who come from
| far-off lands. Outside of the towns une-
l ventful life to these honest souls
is measured in three parts
| simple way tho birth, the toll, the rest.
The Manx woman is ruddy Of face
| broad of girth and has a tongue which
deals in cordial candor. This face OF
hers is oomely withal, and there is &
light behind her pleasant eyes which
tells that her fine rosy mouth and ready
tongue are not given to deceiving. 1t 4
a better face altogether than you will
fnd in any of the Latin countries; yor
are not as afraid of 1t as you are of tn,
| more roguish Irish face; 1t Is less selfish
| than the faces of women you see in Eng
land; and it is not oonjuring Ill of yor
| as the Scotch woman sometimes makes
you conscious. Altogether 1t speaks 10y
atty, earnestness, some sympathy ant
about all the trace of merriment yel
will find in little Mainland.
This woman before marriage is no won
drous blossom. She is often sweet enough
to look at, fair enough to remember, shy
enough to make pursuit piquant; but sh'
shows improvement with sge-one of tn,
best fortunes that can come to woman
She is wondrously prolific and her chill
dren make her a glowing mother. Bur
dens develop her real heroism. The IN
written law is, from superstitious ous
tom, that she shall never precede he
husband; but mentally and In all hearth
side and marital exigenoy she is his per
manent guidon and superior. In old ag
she is the brightest, cheeriest, peschiest
handsomest woman you can find In an!
land.
Only in the more ancient quarters vii
one find folk and customs peculiarly char
acteristic of the little Manx nation il
towns. Ia Douglas, Ramsey and eyei
here In antiquated Peel, the humble foil
live much as they do in all little oil
English coast cities. The real Maux home
| preserved in its material and human enti
ty for many hundreds of years, is tn
home of the MsnI highlander or isher
man, or of both. All hsbitations of thes
Manxmen are places of genuine, thougl
rude and simple, comfort. In wsnderip
In all manner of out of the way places o.
: the fair island have not been able to hn
one abode of yeoman or fisherman wher
poverty is apparent. Even discomfort
seldom seen Cleanliness and snugnes
! are universal. There is q songful, sum
atmosphere within the walls and without
an amplitude tempered by thrift, but er
Z livened by content, goodwill and ofte
1 cheeIiness; though the Manx nature
bland and interpretive rather than d.
monstrative and turbulent.
Nearly every cottage is like the Cumbe
, land "ststesmsn's." 1t Is low, broad, an
. pie. Its walls are practically indestruct
u Bile; and the building, hooded with snu
brown thatchipg, runs out In all mann,
( of picturesque ways into stables, COY
}. houses, sheep folds and oart-sheds. The
i tell their own pleasant story of prudel
l. preservation of possessions and kind
comfort for dumb beasts. There Ia slws
K a fine garden. This is not only bit
rare bloom and color in summer, a RI
1t contrast to the vast breadth of golde
ss ever-blooming gorse. the purple heath
and hchen, covered rocks, but Manxm
get as much as Hollanders for home col
fort out of these richly-tilled hslf-aor,
The esrthen fence enclosing the gard
III and every hedge between the fields {
beautiful from pains-tsking care. I
>, riched with roses, where the tiny Burr
sil rose is marvel of color and fragran
with hawthorne and honeysuekle, II
n, furnish one of the most exquisite char
n of the Island.
Within the Manx yeomsn's home
nk picture Is homely but pleasing. 2