The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1913-07-02
Which Is Situated Only AZ
Miles From London.
ITS POPULATION THIRTY-FIVE
With Six Dwellings = Only
Nine Pupils Attending
Public School.
INHABITANTS SHEEP CARERS

Only forty-eight miles from Lon
don there lies a Robinson Crusoe"
island almost untouched by clviliza-
ton. Though surrounded by a
group of populous towns. it is, a
parish where roads. shops. lamps,
telephones, motor cars, public
houses and post-offices are un-
known. True, the island possesses
school with nine scholars, and a
church capable of seating 200 per-
sons, but then there are only two
houses and four cottages,
The name of this remote place,
says London Mirror, which is chief
ly famous for the benefits of civili-
cation 1t does not possess. is Elm
ley. Elmley is an island of nearly
1000 acres. and stands six miles
southeast of Sheerness and four
miles from Sittingbourne. At pres
ent it is the home of thirty-five
men. women and children. The in
habitants are mostly lockers" or
shepherds of large flOcks of sheep.
The oldest man of the village is in
his SEVENTEEN year. He has yet to
I see motor car. az have seen
these 'aryplanes' from Eastchurch, -
lie told me. but I've neven seen a
motor car"
Perhaps the school and church
are the two chief landmarks on the
island. The reason they were built
in such sparsely populated spot is
that in winter 1t is almost impossi-
bic to leave the island. The mud
is literally knee deep. and the ferry
which runs to and from the island
is dangerous. To-day | visited the
little classroom. Mrs. Harris. who
has been schOOlmistress for eleven
years, gave me the pupils names of
the entire school" The total num-
Der on the roll is nine, but the num-
Der will soon dwindle down to six,
for three of the children are leav-
ing. 1.-The small number of child
rem enables me to give them indi-
vidual instruction" said Mrs. Har-
ris. who is a fully certificated mis-
/ tress. The school is under the con-
troll of the Kent County Council.
which pays a nominal rent of |
shilling a year to Oxford Univedsi-
ty TO whom the island belongs.
Minor misfortunes occur even in
this peaceful, placid community
Sometimes the schoOlroom clocl;
stops. and then Mrs. Harris has to
/ tell the time by the sun. When
the suns rays reach a certain por-
ton of the schOOlroOm floor, then it
is IL o'clock, and the children go
home. Though Elmley is without
its sweetstun shop. sweets are al
ways obtainablH, for Mrs. Harris
keeps a large store in Ter school
room. Instead of drill in the sum-
mer the children always take part
in haymaking, so that the Robinson
crusoe island children have at least
one advantage over town children.
The only man attending church
last Sunday in congregation OF
sixteen was the bellringer. who is
paid shilling a week for his SER
Ices. No funeral has taken place
since 1908. and the last wedding
was celebrated two years ago. A
novel method of obtaining the SER
vices of the ferrymen. who live OPP
pOslte the island, is the opening of
the white door of hut facing the
shore. The ferrymen on the look
ont know that the open door Is a
signal for the ferry. At night a
lighted candle held aloft serves the
purpose of the open door. while
should something terrible happen a
gun fired three times at minute In
tervals is the urgent sign to the