The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1899-09-19
sTRANoETowNs OF 1HEwoRLD
One Built on the Ocean, Another on Ice
md Another /, WomanI,.s

ono Built on the Ocean, Another on Ice
"nd Another Is WomanIess.
The marine village Of Tupusciei. l.
rev Guinea. would take a lot OF beat
ing tn the score Of sinSularity. Here
the houses are all supported on piles
and stand right out in the ocean. some
considerable distance from the shore.
The object of this strange position is
TO protect the Inhabitants against sud
den attacks OF the dreaded head-hunt-
ers, who are always on the lookout for
victims Other villages in this happy
land are perched up in all but mae
cessible trees, for the same weighty
reason.
Another curious place Is a town
without name on one of the arms Of
Lake Huron. This consists OF some
600 wooden nuts. During the summer
these little dwellings are hidden away
in clearing on shore. and the town
contains not a single inhabitant. But
on the arrival of winter. when the lake
Is frozen over with a thick coating Of
Ice, the owners of the huts arrive and
proceed to move their houses out onto
the surface of the lake The floor of
the huts is taken up and a hole cut
through the ice. Through these holes
the residents fish. carrying on their
operations until the spring releases the
lake from its icy bonds. when this ex-
traordinary town is once more broken
up, the shanties 90 back to their rest
ing place and the fishermen scatter
over the country. This place even
boasts curing factory and church,
not to mention several saloons-all on
the ice.
Athos, town situated on a promon-
tory on the coast of Macedonia. well
deserves the title of the most curious
town in the universe. The peninsula is
known as The Mountain of the
Monks" from the fact that a score or
so of monasteries are dotted about the
rough hillsides or the valleys In these
establishments dwell a numerous body
of ascetics. kind and hospitabe to
wanderers, but full of superstition, and
believing in the doctrine of separation
TO wonderful degree.
The actual town, as distinct from its
monastic environs. is called Caryes,
and supplies the simple wants of the
monks. Here are to be found streets
of shops, crowded bazars, Furnishing
trades and all the hustle and energy
OF a modern town. But one thing soon
strikes the visitor as strange. There
Is not female to be seen anywhere,
for the gentler sex is vigorously ban
ished from the place Even the small
Turkish garrison. from the command
ant down to the privates, consists OF
bachelors
This extraordinary law Is carried out
even among the domestic animals.
Only the wild birds evade IT,. and then
only when free, for no female bird IS
ever brought to table, the fowl one
has for dinner is sure to be a cockerel.
For this unparalleled state Of affairs
there is only legend to account. Al
though 10 orr practical minds himsy 10
a degree. it is implicitly believed in by
the inhabitants. 1t appears that in ono
OF the chief monasteries on the prom
ontory there is a miraculous icon.
which is picture or image sacred TO
members OF the Russo-Greck church
This particular picture is a representa-
ton of the Virgin and the legend says
that one day as the Empress Pucheria.
who had literally endowed the church |
as well as bcdutifed and restored il; |
was engaged in her dcyotlons. the Viz |
gin spoke. asking what she. a woman |
was doing I'm the church The pio.s /
lady, no doubt amazed. did not reply. |
the voice commanded her
10 leave. saying that the feet Of
woman should never again tread the |
floor The empress. probably surprised ,
at the seeming ingrautude Of the .
speech as we'll as awc-struck. left the /
place. which no female has since en- /
tered How the prohibition thus ar f.
established came 10 comprc- /
bend the length and breadth OF the |
is not very clear AS a I.
residence for baehful bachelors we .
should imagine Athos would be hard To /
5urpass.