The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-12-25

| places are broad and deep and high. for
burning peat or wood. with huge, vast
chimneys above them, where whole sheep
/ or pig might be roasted. and the great
chains and hooks for singing the pots above
the fire, would bear the weight Of a cow or
an OK.
In some of these habitations the chimney
Is so set back end outward into the garden
that a genuine Scottish "ingleneuk," such
as may be found In the olden weayers' viii
| lage Of Gartenside, near Melrose, is formed
with tiny deep windows, splayed inwardly.
I Others have at one side the Cornish Jung
! carnnr," or fuel receptacle. There is always
a recess for storing peat or wood, sometimes
/ finished like all old-time chest, with wide,
( long deal cover. This provides rude settle,
upon which, when not occupied By some
| member OF the family, will always be found
that strange but ever-beloved animal, the
tailless Manx cat. ''stubbins," as this
/ tatlless cat Of Man is called. is regarded in
many districts Of the island with an affec-
/ ton. bordering on veGeration. 1t Is more
| than q superstitious notion, it is a belief,
/ that any one iDjuring cat will suffer dire
harm when at sea; for the progenitors Of
this curious sDecies wers cast upon the island
from wrecked ship. from which 40 person
| was saved.
In one corner, on the fireplace side Of the
| room, will always be found the stately dres-
ser, set high in the room upon its four
crooked and slender legs \ wealth of
| geudy crockerY ware ornaments its capaci-
| Gus shelves, and one of its two deep drawers
provides for the reception OF the daily gather
ing OF eggs, while the other is heaped to the
edges with the weekly baking OF barley
clap-bread, still the staff Of life in most Of
the countryside homes. Beyond this is the
deal table, the family board for common
and festive uses. It's IA huge, stout affair
white as the stlvered hair of the dame whose
mothers mothers mother set the example Of
its daily securing.
Between this and the dresser as well as
beneath the latter, Is q row Of huge casks
and jars. The largest Of these contains the
greatest of blessings TO the ManKman, his
gray" or picked herring or "scadden." In
another is his store of salted mutton or
goose. In others are preserved fruits and
vegetables. This region is sacred to the
| single supervision of the housewife, and woe
to the Manx lad or lass in unlawful prox-
unity. In the opposite corner is the family
''corner-cupboar1 B" the mecca of all child
ish longings and eager glances. More than
all else this receptacle stamps the Many
man as bounteous liver. 1t is never known
to be lacking such comfortable matter as
few pounds sof homemade butter, tooth
| some skim-milk cheese, pots OF honey and
coarse jam, and slices of fancy bread and
cake All this, outside the family's require
ments, serves in a most genial countryside
custom. Stranger or neighbor never calls
/ at Manx cottage without invitation to eat
and drink; and neighbors children are
| never sent away from Manxman's home
| without carrying in their chubby fists some
| hospitable token from the generous corner
cupboard.
Huge wooden chairs and great arm
chairs, which might have come down from
| King Orry's time, gave the place an atmos-
! phere of restfulness. Flitohes of bacon,
/
smoke, hang temptingly from the raiters
below the matching. The tiny windows
| are shaded with snowy muslin, and the
light Is mellowed and softened as it is fl
tered through a.tracery Of plants. sThe flames
| flicker blue above an abundance OF glow
ing peat, changing the great fireplace anon
from orange to purple; while, ticking COM
fortably and with friendly and compan-
ionable sound, huge day clock looks
blandly down upon all. Not gorgeous
homes these, but they are homes of in
tegrity. comfort and content, every one.
Strictly speaking the Manx are serious
people. They are not given to festivities.
They are comfortable. happy and content
during all the year, rather than hilarious
and turbulent at stated periods, and moody
and discontented in the long and mournful
intervals. There is but one day in the year
which may be regarded as of national inn
portance That Is Tynwald day Ia mid
summer when the laws OF the land are pro-
mulgated and solemnly ratified by court
and people. Now as a thousand years ago
all Mainland comes to the purple glen
where this ceremonial takes place, for a
few hours stands face to face with customs
of saga times, and returns to the centuries
old Manx homes with the precious wraiths
Of King Orry and his Morse lawglvers re-
vived in giant presences.
The ordinary amusementS of lowIy Euro
! fo1lr ba Effia TNlaao A
surprising calm, as IL these folk endlessly
stood In the presence Of a mighty and heroic
past, seems to brood upon upon island and
islanders. When midsummer days have
come, the fires of Beltean are lighted. They
flash from hight to hight, as in pagan days.
No one can tell you why it Is done, There
is no weird and fetish exaltation in these
scenes as in some parts Of Ireland. in the
Scottish highlands and in Cornwall. OF
course, the flames drive away oil witches,
but with these staid folk the fires of Baal
must burn to-day not in superstitious need
| but because the Manx forefathers never
failed to light them.
Indeed answering loyalty to established
customs is their most marked character
istic and highest charm. They have utterly
grown out of superstitious incident, dread
or motive which gave Importance to the
origin of many, but hold TO the act and
fact of tradition with ohangeless zeal.
"Our fathers did thus and So We respect
the doings Of our fathers, caring not for
their reasons, save that they had them,"
governs ali retention of what may seem in
congruous aud uncanny to you aud to me.
Weddings are almost secret affairs. All
the tender and forgivable excitements of
preparation are attended wish rigorous and
austere repression Of publicity. No one can
tell you why. 1t is simply so. 1t has al
ways been 80. On the contrary, as in Corn
wall, funerals are drawn out TO the utmost
limit of sympathetic attention. The body
is carried, never driven, TO the churchyard.
Hours, often days. are consumed from the
start to the church. Innumerable delays
give occasion for innumerable outbursts OF
affection. and the singing of an equal num-
Der of lugubrious psalms. intoned in such
shrill minor strains that the weirdest and
most thrilling of Feent1lg at Irish wakes is
often surpassed. THE origin of this Gus
tom is also mystery. No matter to the
sturdy Manx. Anything different would
be sorrow for the living, a wrong to the
dead.
In the tender holiday time when these
words will be read, Manx folk OF the re-
mote counLrysides will have already cele-
brated their most cherished custom.
Though discountenanced by the clergy il
has almost fiercely held its own since the
| fDk Ton, - IN he i1Io nd