Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-12-22

writers ever troubled themselves at all
ABOUT the Manx people. Those have
invariably set them down as "extraor-
dinarily superstitious." Then they have
galloped away leaving the Manxmen in
mist and their readers in mystery.
A truer statement regarding these in.
teresting and sturdy people would be
that they have emerged from boundless
superstition. Everywhere one may go
In Mainland are found evidences of
that extreme antiquity which so i'm
presses and at times appalls the student
In Ireland and Cornwall. Coming to a
later though still remote period one can
not escape the conviction that the first
Celts of Ireland and the west Of Eng
land and the first people of Mainland
were not only Of common stock, but for
centuries were, while pagaus, a people
of common language, customs and
interest.
In the Interviewing of Paganism and
Christianity there was undoubtedly
large ecclesiastical sanction entertained
towards many Of the superstitious prac-
tees of the ancient Manx people. Long
isolation from the remainder of progress
sive England, and the retention of Il
distinct language, in which the Gospel
is still preached, In few instances pre-
cisely as friend Of mine breaches one
Gaelic sermon per month i'll the little
old church of Fas.na.kyle. Strathglass,
Scotland, fostered the clan theory of
society, and left countless legends, SUI
perstitions and customs among this
stoid though singularly impressionable
and sentimental people.
But | have gradually come 10 know
that, however grim visagcd the face OF
the one contiding the weird assertion of
uncanny belief, secretly the masses OF
the people scout and tlout them all, save
those of tender and winsome charac-
ter. Briefly, Manx folk to-day reject
tho essential slavery of superstitious
practices, but universally insist on re-
tanning the pleasure of subscribing to
the superstitions themselves.
One illustration out of many which
could be given will serve to emphasize
this conclusion. In olden times it was
a universal custom here on retiring al
New Years eve for the family TO care
fully strew ashes upon the floor, in the
expectancy of finding the next morning
the impression of fairy foot, 1t was
religiously believed that the direction OF
the foot predicted death, if toward the
door; and if toward the fireplace, an in.
crease in the household by birth or mar,
Tiage. The custom is quite as universal
at the present time; but the element oi
terror is wholly eliminated; foot prints
are always discovered pointing toward
the fireplace; and the superstition pre-.
walls only in its gentle and kindly aspect
to give added zest to the merry holiday
time.
In tracing Manx mythology there will
be found, precisely as in the Gaelic
mythology of Scotland, and the Celtic
mythology of Ireland two classes Of
bugaboo immortals. One of these con
sisted of imps and demons having the
power q taking upon themselves tho
form of man or woman at will, and BY
wgHng human men n women, and par
ticulariy by holding cut wishing prom
iscs Of Immortality, loading them into
fatal unions, lLrouPA which The souls o.
nostals 8 4elrded were endlcssly ban
ishtd from heayen.
The second class comprised semi-im
mortels and magicians, wholly devoted
to Druidlsm and the Black Art. Whethe
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 sepulchra
mounds, stone circles and menhirs, anC
in the making of metal ornaments anC
delicately formed spear-heads, was sucl
as to compel from less skillful ant
more warlike people the gradual deitica
D IS H., 1 IL.
eventual Identification with local rhan
toms and gods.
In the gradual evolution Of Nam
fairies, whose real origin was in tn
Finnish sylyans, satyrs and fauns, tina
portion of its dcmonology providing
impish spirits of II maleyolent natur
has been largely extirpated. The "mal
of the hills" the Identical fellow foun,
in the Irish and Scottish Highlands, wa
a wicked fellow indeed. Among tn
Manx shepherds of Snaefel and Mort
Barrule mountains | found few VIII
still firmly believe in his power TO
harm; who recognize his voice in III
soughing of the winds through Til
gorges; and, when troubled in con
science, avoid the darkness of night an
leading their ilocks to the lonelier glen!
The banshee, that fateful mother o
grewsome brood in all originally Celli
countries, has given way in Scotland t
its host of "guid neibors" or Brownie.
as mighty host Of good and iii sprite
in Ireland, and IN Mainland to an in
tangible army of gnomes, elves an
sprites. These in general possess powe
of rewarding the good and punishin
for evil. A Wesleyan Clergyman name
Coriaig a few years ago undertook I
clay" them by stoutly declaring frol
his pulpit that he saw them with HI
own eyes depart in body from the ba
of Douglas in empty rum puncheon!
scudding before the wind in the direC
ton of Jamaica. But the "weo people
are still safely ensconsed in the heart
and traditions Of ManXmen, and cannt
be deported and marooned even by wei
meaning clergymen,
One will still find among the Man
fishermen farmers clear traces Of eXat
congeners of the ancient water bulls an
horses of the misty north of Scotlan
lochs. The "tarroo ushteyh Is the vii
water-bull and the "glashtin" the fur
Gus water-horse of Mainland. Tn
former destroyed cattle, the latter LEI
the seq to chase Manx ponies over I'll
mountain crags TO destruction. Thes
have no terrors now for MaDxmen; bit
if i'll befalls kline or horses, thes
creatures of misty days always retur
in the tireside banter and gossip.
These folk have one remarkable frien
among the elves. He is called tn
"phynnodderee. For some form {
misdemeanor he was banished frol
Elfiand and became satyr with shagg
hair. Those who have seen him asse
that be has feet like an elk with PR
truding spear-like horn where the fe