Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-07-19
LEAD SIMPLE LIVES.
pvr THE PEOPLE ON TANcIEn IS
LAND ARE coNTExTED.
WHICH IS SAYING A GOOD DEAL.
Keen Wen Up TO u Hish Standard Oh
Mornfs-Thcir Manner OF Dressing
How They Manngc 10 Live "s''
Many supcrstifions.
(Washington star)


at the same place" is certainly pracuceo
by the people OF this island ooay o.
land three miles long and one mile Wioe
III there S. n spot on earth where one ls
made 10 feel that he is entirely Out Oh
the world. Tangier Island surely must DC
that place There Is a population here OF
about i.eOO people old and young maze
ana female, and many Of these people
have never been off the island, and know
as little about the civilized world as a
child. Men and women now on the shaly
side Of life have spent their entire exist
once on this small piece Of land, ana ~
some OF them this island embraces the
whole world Yet they are happy ana con-
tented in their primitive manner OF Nv
ing. and nave no desire 20 kno" ""'' 10
going on in the great throbbIng' busy
world which lies beyond their water
bound surroundings
on this island the British invaders made
Headquarters for several days IN 1914
ana not far distant is Deals Island
wnere good old Pars0n Joshua Ihoi'"a
was informed By he British Genera No'9
that lt was his intention TO eat s"pp''
that night In Baltimore or IN heI. nc
man OF God prayed that General Ross
might not rcacn Baltimore, ana as 'he
General was killed at North Point before
reaching Baltimore the people were qu.ck
To- believe that ParsCn Thomas S prayers
had been answered.
How much farther back than ms oiu
the people of this region put lmPHc'
faith In prayer the writer docs not Know
but he does know that the inhaoil@nI9
OF Tancier Island are intensely religious
and AT the same time the most supeiSu-
fious people i'm the world As Illustrative
Of their religious convictions, IL heeu
only be stated that a few years ago iney
were wOrshiping IN a small ramshach
cabin, but a preacher from the virgin"
conference was assigned 10 the island
and he has succeeded ia S2rking UP one
OF the best charges Ia 'ne conference
district
A CHURCH-GOING PEOPLE.
Where the small cabin stood Is now
handsome $1,000 building and the preacn-
er receives more than 1900 a year 70 look
after the spiritual affairs of the inhapi-
tants. The islanders are always reaoy
70 contribute literally whenever the par
son finds fl necessary 10 have the cOhl1-
button box passed.
The church Is the biggest thing on the
island. and more interest is taken in IL
than anything else. Whatever the par
son says is law and gospel, even win the
toughest Oystermen and craDbers, VINO
will occasionally smuggle whisky on the
island. The very strictest prohibition laws
are enforced, not by officers but by the
churchmen. During a recent protracled
meeting-and they are OF frequent occur
rence-some roughs carried canoe oil
whiskey and beer to the island for the
purpose of selling it. but a crowd o.
rhurch-people-me and wOmen-capJureu
the boat. threw the whiskey in the bay,
and administered sound thrashinss 10 'le
rum-traders, who were glad enough 20
escape
The women nearly all go barefooted.
When they attend church they carry
their shoes and stockings in their hands
until the church is reached. when they
sit down and put them on, removing them
as soon as service is over. Their dresses
are Of the plainest calicoes or ginghams,
and are cut without hounces and friiis.
Bustles or tiebacks are something they
never heard of. There lie, however. an
abundance of gay ribbons IN the makeup
OF the Sunday costume. Equally plain and
old-fashioned is the dress Of the men.
They are satisfied with cOppeIas or jeans
high-water principle. never reaching be-
low the ankle. If the men wear shoes on
any occasion there Is nearly always AN
absence of socks. and the shoes are the
rcgu alton brogans. Their coat or jacket
IS cross between a boys blouse and The
old-fashioued ,"Tound-about' coat Sea-
sons come and seasons 60. but the regula-
lion clothes for both sexes OF Taneier Is
land never change For ages they have
dressed this way. and but few attempts
have been made 10 change. Whenever a
young Tancicr Islander strays over 10
Cr.sGcld Nd. and is persuaded by some
II the merchants 10 invest I'm some gar
mcnt other than the regulation, ne is
laughed and ieered at SO much that IT is
soon discarded. There Is one article OF
service and adornment that a male in
hahitant OF the island Is never without
q red handkerchief 1t is always with him.
around his neck. sticking in his pocket
or In his hand.
SIMPLE DWELLINGS.
The homes on the island are Of the
rudeet kind-mosuy log cabns-but the
interior Is always sc.upulously clean.
The furniture Is often not worthy Of the
name Many of the hedsteads are Of the
crudest kind. made by the head of the
family with no tools save saw and an
axe. Usually the home is too small for
bedsicads. il the family is large. and they
sleep On mattresses and quilts spread on
the floor. The cooking is done ga The ire
place. the utensils consisting of frying
pan. q kettle. an oven, and possibly few
pots. Cooking stoves, sewing-mac hines.
aud such modern conveniences are UNI
known 90 many Of the inhabitants.
large number Of the people, both old and
young, cannot read. but the new preacher
has succeeded in advancing education 10
large extent.
Girls here l6 years old Will measure
feet ana weigh 200 pounds. They are
strong and healthy. we'll hammered, and
above an. are taught from earliest child
hood 10 regard virtue as above every
thing in the world. For twenty-eight
years past there has not been an illegiu-
mate birth on the island. The men are
peaceable and quiet but there are two
things for which they Will fight quicker
than any other. IL is death 20 the man
who attempts 10 or succeeds In despoillng
a home. and crabbers and oystermen who
poach on the grounds near the island are
sure 10 get into serious trouble There
have been few occasions for trouble from
the former cause. but in years agone 1t
was almost a weekly occurrence To have
desperate and bloody battles about the
latter. In recent years these have be-
come FAR less numerous but occasionally
blood Is made TO iiow. Only few days
ago Balm Weber Deals Island oyster
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MUNYON'S INHALER