[From The Manxman, #10 1913]

Sea-breezes

Manx Yarns

"I would have men of such constancy put to sea that their business might be everything and their intent everywhere,
for that's it that always makes a good voyage of nothing."-Twelfth Night.

Real Manx Fare.

I believe that visitors often ask for Manx Beer-and very often don't get it, English being generally palmed off for the occasion. Now, there has been a rigid pure beer law in force on the Island for a couple of centuries, and I think you would find that Manx beer beats the English variety hollow. Again, some few visitors would, now and then, like real, old homely Manx farm-cottage fare, but this of course is a Chinese puzzle to them, because they don't know where to go to get it. I asked one of my oldest friends in the Island, who is one of the most sterling of its citizens, to give me the names of some real Manx dishes and a real Manx Menu or two. Here are two Manx Menus, with the native terms added in the proper language:

Griddle Cakes: Berreeyn Gryleagh.
Barley Bread: Arran Oarn.
Oaten Bread: Arran Corkey.
Potato Cakes: Berreeyn Praase.
Soda Cake: Berreeyn Jastee-hollan.
Currant Bonnag: Bonnag dy Churranyn.
Sunday Dinner of (1) Broth; (2) Pudding; (3) Potatoes and Meat Jinnair Broit, Puiddihn, Praaseyn as Feill.
Haggis, or Belly Tripe: Prinjeig.
Potatoes and Herring: Praaseyn as Skeddan.
Herring roasted on Scraas: Skeddan rest er Scrahghyn.
Beestings Pudding: Puiddihn Grissuiuys.

Here are descriptive instructions for Amateur Cooks:

Flummery or Sowins : Cowree. (Oatmeal steeped in water several days, then the water drained off and boiled until it thickens like fine porridge).
Croudy: Sollaghan.-(Pottage made of oatmeal and the water or broth wherein flesh meat has been boiled-scratched on pan, and poured on).

Finally you have Manx equivalents for some ordinary items of daily foods:

Curds and Whey: Binjean.
Fish: Eeast.
Eggs: Oohyn.
Cheese: Caashey.
Sea Pie: Pye Marrey.
Sweets: Bee Millish.
Tea and Bread: Tey as Arran.
Sandwich: Braghtan.

How would the "Three-Legged Club" like a real Manx Dinner' T.E.E.

Lowe, high and low.

We thank "Another reader from the First" for turning into a writer as well. He says:Dear Sir-In the June number of the " Manxman," you ask for more information about a tavern in the Isle of Man, kept by one A. Lowe. A short time, ago I had a conversation with an old Douglas gentleman, about tradesmen's signs. He told me that the landlord of the tavern at the top of Richmond Hill, near Douglas, about 10 years ago was named Abraham Lowe.

The old gentleman then quoted the lines which appear in your journal. This Abraham Lowe was a relative of two well-known Douglas residents, who went by the sobriquets of " High Tommy Lowe and Low Tommy Lowe."[fpc - A Lowe kept Village of Waterloo in Fairy Ground in 1861, Thomas Lowe had the Sportman in Gt Nelson st in 1841, and possibly the other T Lowe kept the Manx Coffee house]

Low Tommy Lowe kept a tavern in Great Nelson Street, Douglas.
The Lowes were a very diminutive family. Thank you very much, Sir.

THE "MANXMAN'S" BISCUITS.

For saying that as Alfred Percival EVANs said in has inimitable 'Father O'Flynn."' JOHN BULL TAKES THE BISCUIT. *** This is hard lines on Mr. Alfred Percival Graves, a distinguished member of our Threelegged Club.

Mr. Thomson, the famous Douglas Auctioneer, whose geniality was mentioned last month

"Islemandom."

The proprietress of the Mitre Hotel, Kirk Michael, seems to have coined the new word, " Islemandom." As it is nice to say and easy to remember a note ought to be made of it. Try a day at the Glen Wyllin Pleasure Grounds, which the hotel looks after. It is a lovely place, and embraces a trio of pleasures-those of land, shore and sea. You will then know all about it for yourself. The Railway issues cheap tickets which include admission to the grounds. If you Stay at the Hotel, which you probably will, ask them to allot you the "Rosebud Suite" bedroom, a very seductive chamber.

Mem. for Manxmen.

Who was William Taggart? I most particularly want to know, and will feel obliged if some good Manxman will tell me. A Taggart must have been a Manxman or he would'nt have been a Taggart. The following appeared in the " Liverpool Mercury " in the early part of 1851:

STEAM TO MADEIRA, RIO AND VALPARAISO.

" The P. S. N. Co.'s new royal mail iron ship Santiago, John Hind commander, of 1,000 tons and 400 horse power, will leave Liverpool for the above-mentioned places on the 31st inst. The Santiago has very superior accommodation for passengers. No cargo will be taken.

The Lima, another of the Co.'s steam vessels, 1,100 tons and 400 horse power, will leave Liverpool for the same destination in about six weeks after the Santiago. For further particulars apply at the Co.'s Office, 1, Rumford Street, Liverpool.

WILLIAM TAGGART, Secretary." On April 2nd, 1852, the " Mercury " had the following in its news columns:-"The Lima, P. S. N. Co.'s vessel, made the voyage from Liverpool to Valparaiso in forty-six and a half days, her average rate of speed being twelve and a half knots per hour." Later, on April 13th, the liner Bogota was mentioned.

Now, the P. S. N. Co. is a very famous concern, and, when you have anything famous in shipping you generally find that a Manxman has something to do with it, consequently I badly want to find out the particular Taggart who earned the fame in respect to ' what is quoted above. In 1851 it was no joke to send steamers a voyage of 10,000 miles to Valparaiso.

Letter from Canon Grensted.

We have received the following very interesting letter from Canon F. F. Grensted, M.A., whose highly instructive and entertaining lecture is called "Voyages to the Isle of Man a thousand years ago," and of which we were anxious to secure a copy for these pages

The Vicarage-,
Melling, Liverpool,
May 28th, 1913.

Dear Sir,

I see you have alluded in No. 9, page 26, to my Isle of Man Lecture. The lecture was originally put together for the Liverpool Corporation Free Lectures, and you may be interested to hear how enormously successful it has been.

In addition to this I have lectured from the same slides for the Deeside Literary Societyabout 200; our schools here also. Unfortunately I lecture so absolutely without notes that I can't send you a copy of the lecture; I would, gladly. I think my set of slides probably the best in existence on the island for real history and interest, and wish I could give the lecture on the island (but summer and lantern slides don't agree), and let you have a shorthand reporter at work, as I have had people come to this lecture a second time-following me round-to help them to remember it.

I believe that a handbook on the antiquities Popularly written, is badly wanted-and would sell.

Yours faithfully.

FRED. F. GRENSTED.

IN MEMORIAM.

Mr. Fred. Woodcock, one of the saloon stewards of the "Ben-my-Chree," died at the Liscard Hospital on the evening of June 19th. Just before noon, when the ship was in dock at Birkenhead, as he was merrily working and chatting, he was seized with a stroke and never recovered consciousness. His colleagues, by whom he was greatly beloved and respected, at once obtained medical aid, and the ambulance ways sent for but, to their intense regret, all was unavailing. It is by the means of this paragraph that they desire to express their united grief and sorrow. Mr. Woodcock, after leaving the P. & D. service, spent fourteen years on our steamers, chiefly the "Mona's Queen " and " Queen Victoria," only joining the Ben-my-Chree " this season.

The above is a reduced facsimile of the front cover of a very beautifully designed and printed booklet issued by Mr. Walter Keig, of the Hotel Sefton,' Douglas. As unfortunately, the pale grey, the sea green and the burnished gold of the original cannot be given here, they will have to be imagined as the reader best can. The very much better plan, however, would be for to ask Mr. Keig to send a copy, for the book contains some sterling and useful information, the whole being a work of art.

Mr. Walter Keig.

You will remember that a " Free Week End " at the Sefton was offered by us, last year, as a prize, and we accordingly asked the winner for his experiences. He writes as follows

126, Woodchurch Road, Birkenhead, 12/6/13. The Editor, "The Manxman,"

Dear Sir,-As winner of the week-end at the Hotel Sefton, Douglas, I have to thank you for a very delightful experience; quite the pleasantest short holiday I have ever had. I enjoyed to the full the sumptuous accommodation, excellent company, and lavish catering afforded by the " Sefton "; duly noted the minor advantages of the house-its handy situation and fine outlook both front and rear; and particularly appreciated the solicitude for everyone's comfort evinced by our excellent host Mr. Walter Keig.

My pleasure was completed by good crossings in the "Viking" and ideal holiday weathercool, but fine. A visit at this early season seems to carry but one regret-that visitors are not more numerous to share one's pleasure. Douglas the Incomparable I found nearly empty; my motor-run into the country revealed many delights, all " wasting their sweetness on the desert air." Surely this could be, and ought to be, remedied. To the visitors with an eye for something beyond Promenades and Picturedromes, the Island unquestionably makes its most powerful appeal during the so-called "off-season,," from mid-May to the end of June. The profuse beauty of leaf and flower at this time is never again equalled at any period of the year; the absence of crowds, vehicles and dust adds immensely to the comfort of movement; while accommodation charges everywhere are fully one-fifth lower than in the height of the season.

This matter of the extension of the visiting season has, I believe, been much discussed at various times, without much practical result. The crowds enjoy the August scramble, and will not be persuaded from it; but to the more intelligent visitor I would say, take a week or two in June, a room on the Front, and a good companion, and you are assured of the utmost pleasure the little Island is capable of affording. I am, dear Sir,

Yours gratefully,

S. W. ADE.

One of the Hotel Sefton Tennis Courts.

Miss Marie Studholme and Party on the lawn, Hotel Sefton
[Our own experience of the Sefton Hotel goes to prove that its great success is simply due to the excellent way in which it is managed.]

A snap of the unfortunate motor cyclist just before he was killed during the recent races

Adverts

Bay View Hotel, Port St. Mary.
Kate Clulow, Proprietress.

RAILWAY HOTEL, KIRK MICHAEL, Isle of Man.

Proprietor, W. J. FAIRLEY. Pic-nic parties catered for. Covered Tea Room on Green opposite Hotel. Finest Trout Fishing on the Island. Rustic Bathing. Mountain and sea air.

SILVERDALE

Ten Minutes' Walk from BALLASALLA STATION, LUNCHEONS, TEAS, and LIGHT REFRESHMENTS. The Ideal Place for Picnics. Ample Shelter in Wet Weather Boats on the Lake. Swings. Ancient Wishing Well. Large Field for Sports. May be reached by Driving direct,.or by a short and pleasant walk from Ballasalla station (or from Rushen Abbey, where all cars en route for Port Erin stop), along the Silverburn Trout Stream, and the Most Beautiful Natural Glen in the Island. Special Terms for Picnic and other Parties.