[From Mannin, #3, 1914]

Notes.

SCARRIT LESH MOOIR AGH KIANLT LESH MOOINJERYS

(Divided by sea but joined by kinship).

IT seems scarcely possible that MANNIN is now entering on the second year of its existence, but so it is. We would heartily thank our contributors and readers for their support in 1913 and beg their help in increasing the circulation of our magazine in 1914. It is gratifying to find that our little paper has so quickly made its way among our countrymen abroad, who have written appreciatively from all parts of the world.

The Manx Society hopes to present shortly three of the plays which were sent in for competition last autumn, namely, Mr. Shimmin’s "Luss ny Graih," which was published ln our last number, Mr. Kneen’s "Lil Smook," and Mr. Clucas Kinley’s "Ellie’s Stranger." Another of the plays which was entered for the competition, "Catchin’ Kirree" by Miss F. Corris, was successfully presented in March by the Manchester Manx Society.

Excellent work is being done by the London Manx Society. Classes for the study of Manx have been started and have an excellent teacher in Mr. W. Radcliffe, formerly schoolmaster at Andreas.

Accrington and District Manx Society also propose to start a Manx Class.

In answer to several requests for the formation of a Manx Class in Ramsey, "Cushag" is very glad to say that she has been able to arrange about a room, and it is hoped that a start will be made immediately after the summer season.

Mr. R. E. Morrison, the well-known Manx artist, has two portraits in the Royal Academy Exhibition.

The Annual Meeting of the Isle of Mann Natural History and Antiquarian Society took place in Douglas, on April 16th. The President, Dr. Herdman, delivered an interesting address on "Periodic Changes in Nature," in which he first sketched an outline of the great changes that time had brought about in the British Isles and Mann, both in earth structure and in climate, and then explained the wonderful connection between periodical chemical changes and the periodical changes in the living contents of sea-water ; and, how the whole life and development of sea fishes depend upon the supply of the shrimp-like copepoda which in like manner were dependent on the minute plant-forms known as diatoms, and they on the inorganic carbon present in enormous quantities in the spring The Vicar-General (Mr. C. T. W. HughesGames) was elected President in succession to Dr. Herdman, and Mr. P. M. C. Kermode, the Hon. Secretary, resigned his office after thirty years’ valuable work, and took his place on the Committee.

The Manx Section of the Music Festival went off most satisfactorily. Sir Edward Elgar who visited the annexe to hear the Manx songs, expressed himself as delighted with them. He found them, he said, "simple, touching melodies," and extremely interesting. At the same time he warned us against "running the old music to death" by trying to transmute it into modern concert music. We trust that there is no danger of this, for the few of us who are interested in our national music are well aware that it is not adapted for grand orchestral effects. We think it is right and good that our Manx children should learn, if only a few, words and phrases of the Mother tongue. Bi-lingual members of a community have always been found to be quicker and brighter of intelligence than their compeers; our children speak better English for their familiarity with the longer and fuller sounds of the old tongue ; they will hand on the tunes and the vigorous idioms to still another generation. Associating the language with folk music is also good, for words and music fix each other firmly in the mind. Hence the Manx Section of the Music Festival has done gallant service, and Manx learned by singing will always come back on recalling the tunes to which it has been sung.

With regard to Claytonia perfoliata, Mr. P. G. Ralfe writes : "Referring to Mr. C. Paton’s note (MANNIN II, i. 60), specimens of this plant were in 1913 sent to me by Mr. W. Callister of Ballaugh, from that locality."

In reply to Miss Boyd Dawkin’s query, "It would be extremely interesting to know if these two charms are met with elsewhere" (MANNIN No II, p. 125), a correspondent writes : "I have heard it stated on good authority that the hammer-shaped bone from the sheep’s head, known as ‘Thor’s Hammer,’ is carried by Whitby fishermen as a preservative from drowning and by London gas-stokers as a charm against rheumatism. A bone from the head of the cod is worn by Newfoundland cod-fishers for luck."

In reference to the Tynwald Day Holiday, an appeal has been sent to us by the Shop Assistants of Douglas. It seems a great pity that there should be any interference, such as we hear is threatened, with the national holiday on Tynwald Day. The traditional holiday has been kept for generations and we would urge any of our readers who may have influence in that di:ection to do all that they can from motives of both public spirit and patriotism to preserve it intact. Our Manx Tynwald is a unique instance of the survival of the ancient open air Parliament and rouses interest throughout the world.