Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-27
ISLE OF MAN HOME
OF TA|LLESS CATS
Stronghold of SmuggIers in
Old Days Now Peaceful
Rendezvous.

The Isle of Man, tiny goal of many
an ancient conqueror's feet, is still
open to Invasion but from much
more welcome source.
Whether f1axen- haired Manx girls are
the attraction, as was said to have been
the case with Shipwrecked sailors of the
Spanish armada, or the islands friendly
climate and fertile fields, which Vikings
fought foB is hard to say.
Anyway, half million English
Scotch and Irish holiday makers flock
annually to this ancient iii islan
says bulletin from the National Geo.
graphic Society.
Five Old Time Kingdoms.
ION bright. clear days from Snaefell
the isles highest mountain. five old
time Kingdoms are visible. The Isle OF
Man, a kingdom itself for many CEN
turtles, is centered in the busy Irish Sea
within easy reach of Ireland, Scotland
Wales and England.
For almost a millennium Mona, as
Caesar called it, was a Shu tlecock in
the hands of warning nations and
fendal lords instead of vacationists.
First the Irish conquered the miniature
kingdom, then the Morse descended in
their Viking boats, next the Scotch
feuda1 chiefs, and finally the English
King Orry, the Viking, is perhaps best
remembered. 1t was he, first of the
long Morse dynasty, who instituted the
Tynwald Court and House of Keys. still
in existence as part of the government
Of the Isle of Man.
Imitation Manx Cats.
Peculiar animals and strange fowl
roam the heath-covered moors of Mona.
Tailless cats and rumpless chickens are
celebrated products. These original fe-
lines are said to have been other cast
offs from the Spanish armada. While
many of the cats are born with this
humorous deformity, sometimes Manx
natives satisfy unSuSpecting customers
by simple docking.
Until recently herring fishing was
the favorite occupation. Now it is
catering to tourists. In the old days a
small fleet of little boats, or nickeys,
would sail out to the fishing grounds.
An admiral and vice admiral of the
fleet are still appointed annually by the
governor. It is the admirals duty to
lead the fleet to sea.
THE islanders believe one should
never turn herring over when once it
mickey which caught it will be sure to
capsize. Honest men are often re-
ferred to by the remark Straight as a
behring's backbone
Smuggling Once Rife.
Smuggling was the chief trade and
means of livelihood in the eighteenth
century. So profitable did it become
that even fishing and farming were
neglected.
THE Isle of Man is like a bit of
Scotland transplanted. There are roll
ing hills and fiat moors, purpled by
heather; deep glens, green and gold
with ferns and gorse; scraggly noun
tain peake and rugged coast rising
abruptly in places 400 feet from the
water. During August the moors and
glens are golden with gorse blossoms
and the air is scented by perfume
sweeter than that of la6y's boudoir.
A gentle humming noise or undertone
is simply the buzzing of bees and the
cracking Of the gorse as the pods open
in the hot sun.
Visitors historically minded find
many treasures and places of interest
in Mona. Grim feudal castles associ-
ated with the Stanleys, who, as the
Earls of Derby, ruled the island for $50
years, abound, and also ruined abbeys.
attesttng to the power of the church in
bygone days. Quaint matched houses,
some Of which were once without Chin
neys because of a luxury tax on this
now essential part of the home, still
remain in hidden, unfrequented spots"