Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1902-08-23
HWGLER


that is without Il counterpart in this
country. 1t is Holland without its
dykes and windmills; it is Venice with
out its picturesque architecture.
Tangier Island is situated 125 miles
south of Baltimore The island is about
five miles long and three-quarters of
a mile in width, and contains a popula-
ton of about 400. aud derives its reve.
nues from the fish. crabs and oysters
which abound in the waters of the bay
and sound.
There are no wagons. for the reason
that there are no horses to draw them
aud no roads over which the wagons
could be driven. The streets seem to re-
semble country lanes, with the excep-
ton of the one street of the island.
known as King street. which is only
nine feet wide, and which follows the
highest land of the island from the land
ing wharf, at the south end, to the
bridge which connects the main part of
the island to that portion of the island
farther north, known as Canaan.
But the absence of streets Is not a
detriment to this island community, for
each building lot has its own private
canal. by which the occupants float
their flat-bottomed boats out into the
sound and bring from the larger boats
out in the harbor their supplies of wood
or other necessaries needed for the de,
mands of housekeeping-for the island
is without wood. and gardening is car
ried ON to very limited extent. for the
islanders are fishermen, oystermen and
crabbers, and agricultural is not depended
on to any great extent, although the soil
seems well adapted for gardening and
corn raising: but the difficulties of tilliug
the ground seem to keep many from
gardening, and there seems to be plenty
of ground which might be used for the
raising of corn and potatoes if there
were disposition to foresake the water
for the land
And so, with the little canal running
to the back yard of each house. aud with
each householder provided with one or
more boats, the use of horses as beasts
of burden or for purposes of pleasure
seems to be fully supplied by the boats.
But to a stranger the spectacle of boat
passing though what. at distance,
seems to be fiat meadow, is one which
is full of novelty and constant source
of amusement.
The landing stage at which the steam
ers land passengers and freight for Tan
gier is fully mile from the nearest
point of the island, and here you will
find. upon the arrival of the steamer. a
motley collection of boats waiting. some
of.them for passengers, others for freight
for there are five stores on the island
and others come from motives of curios-
ity, for there is no railroad station to
interest the idle, and an old fashioned
stage coach would probably cause as
much excitement as circus parade,
with its gaily decorated wagons, causes
in rural communities.
But this is without doubt the haven
of perpetual rest. Jealousy has never
been awakened by the advent of a caved
in, pulled down Panama hat, the quiet
has never been distured by rag.time
music, the hand organ with its accom-
panying monkey is but tradition on
tins peaceful island; soda water except
is served on Saturday nights. the real
gala night of the island. and the child
rem lull their dolls to sleep with the
music of gospel hymns.
And yet | would not have anyone
think that the people are not musical.
and that the children have no joys. To
the contrary, nearly every home possess
es an organ, and the children are the
gladdest. happiest children | have ever
seen, and while it is true they do not
have the same kind of toys used by the
children of the mainland, every boy has
has his grabbing net and his flat bot
toned boat to pole about the shallow
waters of the sound, and the triuinphal
return of small boy along the main
street with an edible crab i'll his net,
closely followed by crowd of admiring
urchins of smaller growth, is common
sight at Tangier
And what finer sport is INDUCED i'll
by boys in any section of the country
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 ut play and noticed their mud be-
spattered trousers, their torn straw
hats, their bronZed and freckled faces,
or has seen the skill and the facility
with which boys of . handle their boats
around the island need feel any pity for
these boys, and the chance is that in.
stead of pity there will come "a sensa.
ton of envy. and the wish for the re-
turn of days of boyhood.
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