Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1856-11-28
The Germans OF Pennsylvania.



The Germans OF Pennsylvania.
~ fnp REV. .. Y. Hu1fsa.
So deeply is the State Of Psuusylvanis
indebted for her prosperity to the German
portion Of her citizens, that We feel that
an article devoted to them, will not be out
Of place 10 this meridian, whore they COM
prise so large . part Of the population.
The German character once employed the
pen Of the learned and enlightened Taci.
tus, one Of the 6rst historians Of antiquity.
They evidently inherit al the virtues as
cribsd BY this author to their ancestors,
with few Of their vices, which Christianity
has 10 great manner bsnisbed from among
them. These ancestors migrated chiefly
from the Palatinate, from Alsacs, Swabis,
Saxouy, and Switzerland, with an admix-
turs Of natives Of every priucipality and
dukedom in Germany. When We reflect,
at this day, that the stock Of most Of these
bold pioneers in the settlement Of Penn
sylvauia, consisted only Of few pieces Of
gold or silver coin, chest Of clothing, .
Bible and Psalter, and that now their de-
scendeuts are scattered over the whole
West, and own the most immense posses
sions, We sre forcibly struck With the mi
raculous changes wrought in the progress
of time by anO Over-ruling and DivineHand.
If it we're possible to determine the rela-
tive proportions Of these sums, the con-
t,ast would form such monument of hu-
man INDUSTRY and ECONOMY as has sell
dom been witnessed in any aee or country
on the face Of the earth.
The principal part Of the Germans OF
Pennsylvania are farmers-hardy and 10.
dustrious tillsrs of the soil-the most no.
ble of all the secular occupations which
can engage the attention Of man. More
skilful cultivators Of the earth, too, va
hazard nothing in saying, can be found
nowhere in this country, or any other, be,
tween the rising and the setting of the sun.
The Germans set . great value upon
patrimouial property. This useful princi.
pie in human nature, prevents much folly
and vice in young people. 1t, moreover,
tends to lasting and extensive advantages
in the improvement Of farm for What
inducement can be stronger to a parent tc
plant an orchard, to preserve forest srcss
or to build . commodious and durable
house, than the idea that they will be posses
sed by generations who shall inherit hi.
blood and name?
What strikes . traveller through oul
German counties most forcibly, is theil
mammoth barns, called in their own Ian
guage ISchreitzer iScheuer. Indeed it ii
their invariable custom, in settling new
tract Of land, first to provide large aut
suitable accommodations for their horse
and cattle, before they expeud much money
iu building . house for themselves. N
feature in their character speaks SO loudl!
in behalf of their humauity,a as this willing
ness to suffer discomfort then,selves rsthe
than impose it on the dumb and uncom
planning beasts. They believe with Kin
Solomon, that "a righteous man regarded
the life of his beast" But from this le
it not be inferred, that their dwellings ar
deficient iu the comforts of life. The r.
verse is true. No class 90 emphaticall.
live "on the fat of the land"-and non
boasts Of so many and such substantial d.
mestic enjoymeuts.
Another fact, which never fails to rive
the attention Of : stranger, is the extrao1
binary size and strength Of their horse'
A German horse is known In every pal
Of the State. He seems to "feel With b
lord" the pleasure and pride Of good an
! bouu,ifal living. 1t is we'll es,ablishs
fact, that tho German horses Of Pennsy
vapia perform double the amount of labt
| Of the New EOgland or Southern bree'
from the fact that they arc more plentiful
fed. For the same reason, their GOV
. yield double the quantity Of milk, and
. . quality vastly superior.
+. In . word, . German farm can DO di
|, tinguished from the farms Of other citisel
: BY the superior size of their barns-tl
/. plain bat compact construction Of dwsl
!. iugs--shs height Of their enclosures-t Il
|. extent Of their orchards-ths fertility
their 6elds-the luxurisnce Of their me
dows-shs sisot strength Of their csttls-
i. and By . general appearance Of plenty NJ
Z prosperity iu oil that belongs to them.
The favorable influence Of Agrioultui
4 = sosduetsd BY the Germaps, in exssn
4 ing hsmsn happiness, 10 manifested By d
!. Joy they express upou the birth Of chill
I No drsad af poverty nor distrust Of Pro,
4 dssss fte. ~ insvsasins family, dsrre