The state herald., 1910-08-26

Vi tht Nio"h VI oitu
ated in the Irish Sea, almost
equidistant from England on
the east, Scotland on the north
and Ireland on the west, The greatest
length of the island is about thirty
three miles. and Its greatest width
spot. The mean annual temperature
is higher than that Of any other dis.
trict occupying the same parallel OF
latitude, and the variation according
to the seasons is remarkably small.
Owing originally to the enterprise
of Scotch and English farmers. the
land. where arabic, has been brought
into a state of high cultivation.
Through the use of seaweed In large
quantities In the northern districts OF
the island the sandy and gravelly soil
has been greatly enriched. and 1t now
possesses remarkable fertility. its pro
ductiveness being increased by the
ine climate. According to the agri-
cultural returns Of 1882 the cultivated
area comprehended 974s4 acres, 81
per cent. of the whole. Like Ireland
the Isle of Man is exempt from veno-
nous reptiles and toads, a circum
stance traditionally attributed to the
agency of st. Patrick, the patron saint
Of both islands.
The government of the island Ia
vested in a governor appointed by the
crown, a council which acts as an
upper chamber OF the legislature. and
the house OF keys. The governor and
council and the house Of keys togeth
er constitute the court Of Tynwald
but the approval Of the queen Of Great
Britain In council is essential to every
legislative enactment. Acts OF the
British legislature do not affect the
island except It be specially named In
them. For the purposes OF civil juris
diction the island is divided into q
northern and a southern district. and
each OF these is again subdivided into
three 'sheadings." which are an
Alogous to counties.
The laws OF the island still retain
much Of their ancient peculiarity oi
character. though modified by acts oi
Tynwald. and rendered In some re
spects more in unison with those Of
England. The population Is $4,000
The principal towns Of the island are
Douglas. Castletown. Ramsey and
Peel.
The Manx language is subdialecl
OF the ancient Celtic. and dialect Of
the Irish branch. to which the Scot
tish Gaelic also belongs. The differ
ences In pronunciation Of these Ian
Kuages are not so great ms TO prevent
native OF either country conversing
with one OF the other. although the
differences In orthography perple,
even the most learned linguists. Tn,
Mnnx is now spoken only In the north
western parishes. and at a few local.
ties in the western coast. The nn
tives generally converse In the Eng
lish language. Manx is not taught II
any o. the schools. and Il is yer,
probable that II will soon become en-
tirely extinct.
To be able In foreign country e
say 10 Manxmnn. II am from III,
island" or 10 own Mann nam,
which will mark you out for "Mani
ones" 10 recognize. II TO be armed
the staunchest description.
remember. more years hgo than
care to count up now. arriving In I
feArsome mining camp In the heart o
the western states-a camp OF a fcv
primitive huta and eighteen saloons
going night and day-fccling that IN,
bottom had dropped out OF tho world
and | hadn't n friend or n hope left II
II. Suddenly a little tap came on IN,
door OF the sort OF dog.kennel whicl
was manquerading hs my home" nm,
big. brown. breezy staiwnrt s,oo,
on tho threshold. He was dressed a
a miner, but ! seemed TO SEQ him in
blue knitted Jersey. with trousers o
homespun. and big. weilgrcnsed scr
boots reaching 10 his knees Tn
smell Of tho ocean and tho breath O
the mountains clung abou, him, an,
cr-p, into the odious little room.
They're tellin' mo You're from IN
nhlan,' he shid simply, laying dow
,on an upturned packing enss n wsalt
of welcome In tho shape OF primi,iv
luguriea brouGh, haphnsard from Ii
general stores, I'm from Msrown.
he volunteered.
And I'm from Rushsn.- sais
giving him my hand TO Strip.
Tho shadow Of the green hills b
the sea" seemed over us a. We 90
emniy shook hands Would that ever
reader could visit the island. and si
Joy its breezy brightness and IN
beauty Of ia hills and daiss. and ss
with ones own syss those iovsl
scenes.
Their. 10 probably no plaos In N
British isiands vhsrs the traveller
mors ohsaply and sfnoisnuy eassrs