The record-union., 1892-12-03

WaId, ana the TynWaid Court may still,
as thousand years ago, be held at any
tlne IN special session at Tynwald Hill,
but must as then convene yearly for the
PRONUNCIATION Of the laws, though, legally,
dIIney may have already gone into effect.
! MS ceremonial has now become a ma
tIonal holiday called Tynwald Day. Ii is
held on the 9TH OF July, or on the 9Th, if
the 9TH happens to fall on Sunday. Tn
douDtedIy 10000 Of the $4,000 inhabitants
OF Man are unfalling in attendance, and
the ceremony always attracts thousands
from Lancashire. Cheshire and Cumber-
land, in England.
ihe Iynwald Hill is situated Just west
OF the center of the island between the
cltles OF Douglas and Peel, and lies in the
romantic pass between the Cairn and
GIeeba mountains. TraditioualIy it is
sad to have been formed of earth brought
mere IN carts and creels from every parish
OF the island.
Two hundred yards from the Hill,
called IN Manx Cronk-y- Keillown, or St.
Johns Church Hill, is the imposing
church Of st. John, the gift of the crown
10 the island. Ii is splendid edifice in
the Early Decorated style, built of South
Barrule granite. 1t was erected in 1877
on the site OF a former church built in
1922 which was itself preceded by
temple TO Thor. AT the southwest cor
nGr Of the present editice is a strange
RunIc monument quite thousand years
old with an almost llegible inscription
signitying that "Inosruir engraved these
tunes; and the level land roundabout
IS caIled the Curragh-Glass. or "the gray
bog or swamp"
The Tynwald Mount itself, to which
broad graveled pathway leads from the
entrance To st. Johns Church, is d curl
Gus artificial construction. 1t is 256 feet
IN circumference at the base, and rises by
Iour concentric platforms to a hight Of
about twelve feet. On the upDermOst of
Jhese stand the Governor, lawmakers,
officials and church dignitaries OF the
island during the promulgation of the
laws. Until quite recent times the entire
text was read both in the English and
the ManX la nguages; but now only the
ItIes and side notes are read aloud. \
huge canopy shelters the mount, held in
place by seventeen ropes let into rings in
rs many stones at the bottom of the hill,
one for each parish ofthe island.
Proceedings are begun at II o'clock in
the forenoon by services in the st. Johns.
When these are ended a stately official
procession TO the mount begins in the fol-
lowing order: Three policemen, the six
Coroners the Captains of the seventeen
parishes, the clergy, the four high baiIitfs,
the House Of Keys, the Council, the
SWOrd-bearer carrying the sword with
point upward, all followed by the Lieu
tenant-GOvernor with his chaplain, sur
geon to the household and the chief CON
stables.
All these officials comprise this ancient
Iynwald Court. The court is first
fenced" that is, now as in the misty
days, all persons are warned "upOn lyfe
ana lynn that no man make any disturb
ance or stirrlnge III the time of the Tyn-
wald, moreover no rising make in the
Kings presence upon pain Of hanging
and draWinge." This Fencing" is done
by the Coroner of Glanfba sheading, who
from lmmemorial custom has been chief
OF the six sheading COroners of Man.
The ManN Coroner is called ''toshiagh
jloarey," or ''chieI man of the law" and
his functions are similar to those of our
Sheriff.
When a syllabus of the new statutes
have been read by the Deemster or Judge
OF the north the procession returns to st.
Johns. The two branches of the Legisla-
ture sit apart, the Council in the chancel
and the Keys in the south aisle. The
PRONUNCIATION Of the laws is attested, when
the Governor, by messenger, requests the
attendance Of the Keys. The two bodies
then sit in Joint house and large amount
of annual routine Government business.
such as receiving the accounts of State
colleges, asyIums and road funds estab-
fishing rates for maintenance of public
l.
mittees, IS transacted.
Here is a ceremony more than a thou
sand years old. The whole of the little
ManX nation is here, just as in King
Orry's time. The great impressiveness Of
the scene is not only in its antiquity, but
IN the proof that here are people who.
while respecting their Government and
rulers, in this sacredly preserved custom
thus annually serve notice upon their rul-
ers that after all they are still but the serv-
ants OF the people, and that the people
shall ever remain greater than the thing
and things created to serve them. And
this is the same sort of intelligence which
American people are going to make
clearer and clearer to their own public
servants in good time.
IfyOu were much in England as I have
been you would become very fond of the
dear little Isle of NAM; truly, not as A
ManXman loves 1t, with an exultant and
unutterable devotion, for that could not
be, but in the idyllic way which comes
from feeling you have found a spot glori-
Gus in the heroism and traditions of it's
people, spectrally fair in its sea settings
as gorgeous rose cut from a Respondent
bed OF sapphire, and weird and tender in
It's mountain slopes, glens and streams as
the misty cOrries OF Scotland's North.
Because Of this often run away from
English mainland TO these sweet and
nOSDiLdDl6 SuOIeS. II IS DuI q few hours
sail to Man. on are scarcely ont of
sight Of England when Maxland comes
in view. Twice l have sailed entirely
around this little gem of the irish Sea
From any quarter at which YOU view it.
its entire length, which is but thirty
three miles, its greatest breadth, which is
but twelve, and its fine bold face. from
sea-edge to mist-crowned peaks, are al
ways in view; always suggesting, reveal
ing, almost thrilling, in their marvellous
panoramic changetulness; and ever SO
ruggedly noble, so solemnIy calm. SO
tenderly sweet and silent, that tbrouuh
your teasting eyes your heart is STRANGELY
stirred and stilled.
There IS not another picture like il ris
ing above the boundless waters the
throbbing sea endlessly threading its
circling foreground as with a rleamino
delicate thread of pearls. Then a purple
rim Of shade where the blue waters ripple
upon the shingle or murmur beneath The
cavernous cliffs. Then a higher thread
ing OF red and white and green whore the
towns and hamlets, massed among myr-
tie, creepers and sycamores look back
upon upland and down upon sea Then.
rounded hills atlame with gorse fold on
fold Of green and puce, melting into
dreamtul nights among the tender
clouds. Changeless, this is the ever
changing picture as you approach it,
while your heart-yoice, if not your
tongue, eau only articulate, Mystic.
radiant, redOlent Isle OF Man ~
EDGAR l.. WAKEMAN,
For the RECoRD-UNIoN.1
HOW IT CAME ABOUT.
IA -T.,