Isle of Man
2 of the 6 encyclopedias on this shelf carry an entry for Isle of Man. Both are reproduced below, so you can see where they agree and where they differ.
Aiton's Encyclopedia (1910)
an island of the United Kingdom . It is situated near the center of the Irish Sea. The area is 220 square miles; the population 54,758. The island is mountainous, the chief peaks rising to a height of 2,000 feet. Portions of the shore are precipitous. Other portions afford harbors for a large fishing fleet. Douglas, the largest town, has a population of 15,719. The island is granitic, with upper strata of limestone which by weathering create soil of fertility. The valleys and lowlands are in a state of high cultivation. The inhabitants are called Manx. They are a Celtic people allied to the Welsh and Irish. Owing to intercourse with England and the establishment of English schools, the native language is almost extinct. Acts of Parliament do not bind Man, unless specifically mentioned. The administration is in the hands of a governor and council. Local legislation is entrusted to the House of Keys of twenty-four members. It is thought to be the oldest legislative body in existence. Its acts are proclaimed from the Tynewald, an elevated spot where the Manx have been wont to meet for centuries for the purpose. There are two judges, known as deemsters. There are frogs, but not snakes on the island. Hares, rabbits, red-legged crows, grouse, snipe, waterfowl, and rock-pigeons abound. The Manx cat, with a short, rabbit-like tail, is common. The chief productions of Man are lead, tin, black marble, horses, cattle, sheep, cloth, nets, twine, rope, and boots. Fisheries of herring, cod, and mackerel employ many boats and men. The island is a favorite summer resort, the season lasting from May to September. Popular interest has been aroused through Hall Caine's novels, The Deemster, The Manxman, etc. Isotherms. SEE CLIMATE.
Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)
in the Irish Channel, equi-distant from England, Scotland, and Ireland. Area, 220 square miles; population about 50,000. The principal towns are Douglas, Castletown, Ramsey, and Castletown is ancient capital, but Douglas (pop. about 20,000) is the chief town and the seat of government. Physical aspect mountainous, well watered, and exhibiting lovely scenery. There are peculiar breeds of ponies, cattle, cats, etc. Government is "home rule" under a lieutenant-governor, who with council and House of Keys of 24 members, makes up the Tynwald Court Acts, after assent of the crown, must be proclaimed on Tynwald Hill. Industries are farming, fishing, mining of lead, copper, iron, zinc, and reception of tourists. The Manx people are a distinct Celtic nationality. Their language and old customs are rapidly disappearing. ISLE OF PINES (Isla de Pinos). See PINES, ISLE OF.
What Has Changed in the Last Century
Both accounts report the Manx language "almost extinct" or "rapidly disappearing", and they were right about the near term: the last native speaker, Ned Maddrell, died in 1974. But the language did not die — it has been revived by teaching, and since 2001 the Bunscoill Ghaelgagh at St John's has taught children through Manx, with UNESCO reclassifying it from extinct to critically endangered in 2009. The economy Collier's listed in 1921 — herring fishing, lead and zinc mines, summer boarding houses — has almost entirely gone, replaced by offshore banking, insurance and online gambling; the population, put at "about 50,000", passed 84,000 by the 2021 census. Tynwald still proclaims its acts from Tynwald Hill every 5 July, but real power moved from the Lieutenant Governor to an elected Chief Minister, an office created in 1986.
Written for this edition, 2026.