The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-08-04
A LITTLE WORLD
OF THEIR OWN.
Mr.. CatIin Tells interesting Facts
About Targier Island.
LAW IS NOT NEEDED THERE.
The Church Settles All Disputes
Drunkenness and Dishonesty Are
Unknown = Something About
the Habits Of the Tangierites

Mr. e A Catlin, who returned few
davs ago from a trip 70 Tangier Island.
gives a most interesting account OK the
community which lives and nourlshes
there.
II Is wonderful how little is known ccn-
corning this little island when the fact
Is considered that IL is so near al hend'
II lies in the midst OF ChesaI sake cay.
nearly midway between the counties OF
Northumberland and Accomac, twenty
miles ca Il E mainland
A WORLD IN ITSELF.
The population OF Tangier forms COM
munity as separate and apart from Nir-
ginia, as though It were thousands or
miles away At the beginning OF tnis
year there were 1855 persons on the
island-a thrifty, happy, healthy aggre-
cation. perfectly satisfied and feeling the
need OF no active intercourse With the
great world.
The people OF Tangier are. OF course.
seafaring. Their food all coraes from the
water, and the man who has a staunch
boat, a modest cottage. and wife ana
children, feels as independent as the Car
of Russia In the whole community, u
is said. there are only two men who DO
not own their own homes.
There are no courts of law. justice. or
equity on Tangier. The whole community
Is one vast band OF brothers in the Meth.
odist faith, and should one go wrong he
is tried by the church. and abides with
out a murmur by the sentence pronounced
upon him.
The offences committed are not serious
however. There is no stealing. no MUIR
der, no arson. Sometimes a man. irri-
tated beyond endurance, may be so IN
discreet as TO give way 10 profanity In
public, and for this he is brought up be-
fore the church and lovingly chast!sed-
There are no bar-rooms on the island,
and drunkenness is. therefore. compare
lively unknown. This also accounts IN
large measure for the absence of crime.
and the absence OF lawyers. justices OF
the peace, and the usual paraphernalia %
the law.
Horses and vehicles are not used by the
Tangierites. In their settlements the prin-
cipal street is eight feet wide, and the
side streets four feet. There are canals
cut trayersng the towns in different d.
rections. which, at high tide, float boats
laden with supplies and fuel up TO their
doors
OF SIMPLE TASTES
s~The people are simple In their tastes.
and are not given to putting on any I'M
due style. Many OF them go bare-footed
the most OF the time, and on Sundays
ladies' may be seen vending their way 20
church, carrying their shoes under their
arms. Just before reaching church, now
ever. they put on their shoes.
Land on Tangier Island is very costly
an ordinary sized lot costing $500. There
are many men on the island who are ac-
counted wealthy-one especially. who has
large possessions is the leading spirit IN
every movement. and Is known as the
king Of Tangier."
one especially remarkable fact conern'
ing the Tangierites is that during the civil
war not one man enlisted IN either army
| They preserved an attitude Of strict neu'
! trality.
The above facts were CLEANED by MT
! Catln during his brief stay on tbs island.
and he was much interested ana I'M
pressed by what lie saw and heard.