The Washington times., 1902-08-03

with an edible crab In his net, closely
followed by a crowd of admiring urchins
of smaller growth is a common sight at
Tangier.
Boys to Be Envied.
And what finer sport is indulged in by
boys in any section Of the country than
the wading and the swimming, and
jumping off from some OF the anchored
craft into the soft oozy mud at low tide
No one who has seen the Tangier young
sters at play and noticed their mud be-
spattered trousers, their torn straw
or has seen the skill and the facility
with which boys OF nine handle their
boats around the island need feel any
pity for these boys. and the chance is
that instead OF pity there will come a
sensation OF envy. and the wish for the
return OF days OF ooyhood.
have said that Saturday night is the
gala night OF the island. and this is due
to the fact that this is the night OF all
the week when the male population of
the island Is at home. During the re-
mainder of the week, from daybreak
Monday morning until Saturday after
noon, the fishers and the crabbers are
awav from home. but on Saturday after
noon the boats may be seen sailing
homeward. and at the landings crowds
OF children are waiting to greet the
fathers who have been absent all the
week, and this is pay day for the chill
drcn, and soon afterward they flock in
swarms to the nearby stores to ex-
change their pennies for striped sticks
of candy and animal crackers.
Their Saturday Afternoons.
On Saturday afternoons and Sundays
the anchoring places around the eastern
side of the island are well filled with
the boats that have been absent during
the week, and on shore the burden of
on Saturday afternoon re-
lates to the catch OF the week and the
prices which different fishers or crab
bers have received for their weeks
work AT the present time, owing to
the scarcity of crabs. good prices pre-
vail. and every soft shell crab means
cents to the crabber. and boats are sta
toned about the grabbing grounds which
are ready to purchase the crabs as soon
as caught. 1t is not uncommon for
crabbers to receive from s35 TO $50 for
the weeks catch.
No Old Horses or People.
One of the noticeable peculiarities of
the island Ia the absence Of any very old
looking houses, and from appearances
one would say that there are no build
lngs that have been standing over fifty
years, but upon a little inquiry we find
that the island has been inhabited for
more than 200 years. but as the build
ings are all frame structures, they have
been remodeled. repainted. and enlarged
Is occasion required. so that with all of
these changes the buildings have gone
through a state OF evolution which
makes them very nearly up TO date so
far as the prevailing style OF architec-
'ure Is concerned.
None of the houses is supplied with
a cellar. for the highest point of the isl
and Is only a little above high tide
level, and the inhabitants have learned
10 do without the luxury OF a cellar
In fact, the only structures which are
built to any extent underground is one
,istern and the hot water heating plant
'or the new Methodist Church, and the
for each of these structures
will not exceed three feet.
Another strange feature of the island
8 the absence of any very cid inhabi-
ants. Whether the inhabitants as they
become old have fashion OF moving 10
he mainland, or whether they have the
aculty OF always remaining young, am