The Republican journal., 1902-10-23
RAGGED ISLAND.
"A. Bit of Happy Land OFF the Name
Coast.

"A. Bit of Happy Land OF t"e "a'he
Coast.
The maps of the United states Coast
survey show long narrow stIlp or
lana on the border line between fenoD-
scot Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. 1t
IS known on the charts as Ragged
Island, but sentimental summer resi-
dents have named it Crie Haven IN
honor of old John Crle, Scotchman,
who settled among the rocks more
! than half century ago. The regular
al[the-year residents now number
fortytwo, but in July and August,
When the vacation tourists invade the
pace. there are often from el9hty 10
100 persons living among the rocks and
taxing on heavy coats OF tan from the
fresh sea breezes.
Students of social problems say that
residents of this community nave more
or the real comforts of life ana less OF
llfe's worries than any other people.
The island is under no form OF govern
ment, and though it is part OF the
state OF Maine, the people pay no taxes
and have no officers of any kind. There
is not rat or a mouse in all OF us mile
and half of ledgy width. There are
no bugs in the beds, no reaches IN the
pantrles, nor cats or dogs behind the
Stoves andno mosquitoes i'll the fresh
pools of crystal water The island has
no church in which to worship, and no
clergyman. No lawyer ever resided
here and no sheriff or constable ever
came to issue summons or to serve pro-
cesSes.
kindly doctor, who lives in Rock
land, is the only physician who makes
n
IS told when to come by carrier pigeons.
AS soon as the physician receives call
he llberates a pigeon from his loft,
which bears a message. telling when to
send boat to meet him at Matinicus.
There are eight cow and three horses
on the island but rot a mile OF road
Tor them to travel in. The horses are
used for hauling up boats the cows
give milk. Everybody walks by we'll
worn footpaths which were originally
lalu out by the COWS seeking fresh feed
among the rocks.
The chief and practically the only
occupation of the residents is catching
HOLSTERS i'll pots. Every person tries to
capture enough every day to bring -.
Which is easily done when Holsters are
sold to the steamers for fifteen cents a
pound. AS il takes only about two
hours to tend the lobster pots the is
landers spend the rest of their time i'll
building boats, whiting driftWood and
eating Holsters which are too short to
sell
John Erickson, gigantic Swede, is
the only celebrated man on the island.
lie is SIX feet tall, weighs 234 pounds
and everybody believes him to be the
most powerful man on earth. This
summer when the new iron keel for
Captain Jones sloop yacht came to the
island by steamer and was put out on
the wharf men went to catch the horses
to haul the heavy length of iron up the
pier and around to the yard While they
were away Erickson spat on his hands,
took up the keel and did not put it down
until he had placed it under the bottom
of the yacht. The distance was 623
feet. and the weight of the keel is 1910
pounds.-Boston Exchange.
The statement is made by Chapman
x Hail, the English publishers Of Dick
ems works, that their annual sales
have reached the immense total for
many years past of 25O,0o0 copies In
popularity ''PickWck" leads, and close
upon that comes "Dayid pertield'
Says the Academy: "When it is re-
membered that many of the novels are
out of copyright and have been issued
in various forms by other publishers,
it will be seen how enormous the sale
of Dickens continues to be- Many
American publishers, notably the Uar-
pers in connection with their new edi-
ton, have frequently made this same
statement.
'This.' said the philosopher, lis a
+ mo of lIprpSt If