Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1858-10-06
COM N UNICATI0NS.
EUROPEAN CORRESPONDENCE.
DRESDEN, August 17h, 1858.

Tt my design upon the present occasion, deal
Rditor, to attompt reproduction Of oneof the grca
German "folk festivals" viz: bird shooting"
This custom of "bird shooting" dates from time
immemorial, and is one of the most cherished privi
leges of the German public. 1t is nothing moro OIL
less than the annual coming together of hordes OF
people to shoot st wooden bird perched upon the
top of long pole. The duration of such holy-aay
is generally about ten days. and all this time the
"bird" finds no rest. The shooting which has just
come to IN end in Dresden is Of the most famous
in Germany and serves as brilliant pattern of the
common run Of such affairs Among the environs Of
the city, lying upon the broad Elbe and with the
mountains of the Saxon Switzerland in full view, are
extended green fields, known as the "Brd Meadow, y
which belongs the town. and is reserved for and de-
voted to this peculiar festival.
For weeks before the performances begin, nothing
is heard Of read Of dreamt Of but the great "bird
shooting;" and high, low, rich and poor spend day
and night in preparations for the compaign. Steam
boats make extra trips With reduced fair rail road
cars and post wagons ditto And all the circus COM
panies, jugglers organ grinders, strollng singers,
pick pockets and wild beasts throughout the length
and breadth of the land turn their faces towards the
scene of action. In short little of every thing
der the sun can be met with and experienced at such
celebration. The Leipsic Fair, Of which I spoke
formerly, is quite vale Of rest, compared with a
Dresden bird shooting.
In the midst of the "meadow is planted sturdy
pole, about as high two circus poles, placed one
upon the other; and upon its extreme point is fixed
great, gaudy painted bird, which serves as the mark
The bird il so constructed that each individual part
parts. A thick wooden heart called the "corpus,"
which is made very fast to the pole, forms the breast
or middle. This is Of course the last to bo hit that
is, the last to DO brought down, and who ever sue
cceds in doing this is called the king" and is tho
hero of the day. So soon he has perpetrated this
exploit, he receives a gold pitcher something Of
the kind, is crowned with wreaths, mounted upon the
the deafsnng shouts and huzzas Of the crowd The
poor man must also treat in the most slarmingy pro-
fuse manner, and give in the course Of the win
ter following grand ball. Such distinction in a
country as poor rs Sa1ony is another "dcar insttu-
tion."
To each part of the bird belongs particular prize
For instance he who achieves the tail, receives sil
YER ladle; the tip of thewing silver forks, &c. The
instrument used for shooting the old fashioned
bow, and tho dart 3 stout wooden pcg with a steel
head. The bow is not heid out bravey length
as among Ipdians but il rested and steadied up
on sort of DESK which is raised or lowered to suit the
height of the individual. To any one who has seen
or read of English archery, it looks very awkward
and unskilful.
On either side of the tall pole, stands shorter one
with smaller bird; these for the ladies' who en-
Ter into the sport with great ze, and shoot far better
than the men, or have done this time at least. I'm
mediatcly in the rear Of tho pole, is house with
long and wide piazza and in this piazza the shooters
stand and take aim; in two wing piazzas the ladies
do likewise. Each shot is preceded and followed b!
q roll upon the drum-a very successful shot is die
tipguished by roll prolonged and fearful.
In the rooms behind the pazzas are spread forth
tho prizes and here also the gentlemen and ladies dis
port themselves in the most entertaining manner.
That is, in the most Datch entertaining mannercat
ing meat and drinking beor. do verify believe
German corpse would rise up with animation and de-
sert the cooling board upon being presented with flesh
and beer
Upon one side stands beautiful and capacious tent
which is that Of the King, who comes very often du-
ring the holy duy aud shoots with the rest the Queen
and the Prncessss also !" take hand" Upon the
other eide stands pavilion, in which superb Or
chestra performs morning, and night Scattered
over the field are little urchns dressed like jockeys
whose business it is to gather up and hand in the
darts.
Every thing is conducted with tho greatest order
and regularity; the exercises are ushcred in and
closed with rcvele and tattoo. The appearance Of
the royal ecrtege is announced by a grand artillery
discharge. This I moan the cortege not the dis
chargs) consists Of open carriages each drawn
by four horses. One with tho King and Queen, on,
with the crown Prince and Princess, ono with the
Queen Dowager, with the male fuaetionaries and
the other with the female functonaries Of the palace
Behind each coach stand two strapping footmen; the
driver sits up high gallows and upon each left
lead horse rides postillion with long whip all the
aforesaid gentlemen are trickcd out in Mhc and ell
YER. The whole put together makes quite grand
procession assure you. Extremely worth looking
queens and postllions not 90 much "thc admira-
ton of all beholders."
Upon each evening Of the festival comes to pass
some regularly got up public exhibition, that is som
exhibition pertaining to the institution at which the
mass may gaze without money or pricc. One evening
general illumination the next evening balloon as
censon, the next concert Of two 0rchestras, when
the multitude expected to listen, but do nat, and
finally breaking up scene royal display Of fire.
works. Upon tho late frework evening, the crowd
was estimated ut eighty thousand and the exhibition
was 10 every way worthy of the attendance.
So much for the bird shooting proper, but that j.
truly the least part of the show. Behind the shoot
ing tent stretches back city of tentt-yes, real
city with streets and cross streets long quar-
ter of mile, and It's in this mpronptu Sodom thai
the most interesting and racy performances TAX,
place. The tents are built in various shapes and nj
open in front, profusoy adornrd with wroaths, rib
bons flags and colored lanterns; from staff, rising
high out of the top of each one floats the Saxon ban
ner Every Restaurant and Beer shop in Dresden i.
represented upon the Bird Meadow by huge "Bude );
nud ms each strives to outdo the others in
and accommodation, the result Is that all are wonder
fully pretty and comfortable. You can imagine th,
size Of these improvised Restaurants whep tell 20,
that several of them were able to contain two thou
sund persons. Two thousand beer drinkers! Th,
Getmana, "young men and maideus, old men ant
children" live upon beer. And tho strife and rivalr,
between tho different retailers to the quality o
their beer approIimates to bood-thirsty! Tw,