The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-08-12
BOHEMIAN sgPBRsTITIoNs.


HOly Vcnceslas, the saint most IN reputc, hAv-
ing no less than l5l churches dedicated 10 his
honor, besides giving his name TO many places
and persons, since Il iB believed 70 bo Cndued
with specific power against Saian. The DAY Of
his nativity is tue only one that Is observed as
such besides those Of the Virgin and the 3 iyiour
among the festivals of the Roman Church. On
this day at noon IL Is believed that all the trea-
sures hidden In the earth are laid open; but as
they are again cOst as soon as the hour strikos
one, those who may have entered must remain
shut In till next ST. Johns Day.
II is supposed by the Tabortcs that their an
cient heroes are still living, but buried within the
mountuin Banick, where, in a trance, they are
waiting the moment for sallying forth TO destroy
their enemies. A stream that Issues from the
mountain, having the smell and color of STABLE
refuse, is said 10 proceed from their horses, stand
| ing in q row along q wall of rock. The knights,
| clad in iull armOr with their weapons at hand,
are all sleeping In various pOstures, either on the
| ground, or ON benches round the cavern; some
are stretched at full length; some are sitting with
their heads supported by their swords and
others are mounted, with their heads resting on
their horses necks. A shepherd who once
entered the cavern, found them in this con-
ditiOn, and saw them awaken, when they asked
whether the hour for their exit had come :
Upon which their leader, who slept In an elevated
seat, IN the centre OF the hall replied, al. Is not
| yet time to destroy the enemies of Bohemia"
| On hearing this, lhey all resumed their sleep.
| The ehcpheTd, when he as last got out, learned
| that he had been shut up for year.
| similar adventure happened TO a blacksmith,
| who possessed meadow close TO the BianclS
mountain, and went there one mOrning, with a
| laboFer, TO make bay. His serving maid brought
| breakfast, and the smith, with his portion, sat
| down atIhe foot Of the mountain. lie had hardly
finished, when man, wrapped In mantle, came
| ~ b IN and said -
| "FollOw me, friCndP u
The smith Obeycd, and both entered the noun
tain, where the stranger, turning round, sid -
| "I have brought you here TO shoe our horses. "
| IL mn he mi |
| have no tools"
"Be not uneasy about that" returned the
| knight, who then brought what was required and
| told him to begin, but warned him nor 10 iostle
against any Of the sleeping CnvHli.Ts. The smith,
however, In shOeiDg the last horse, did, by chance
Shove against the knight who sat upon ii, and
who, awakening instantly, cried:-
"ls IL time 7"
"Nut yet; sleep on /" replied the smiths en-
plOyeT, who reprOved him for his negligence, but
| for all that, paid him for his trouble by giving
| him the old horseshoes
When the smith came out again into his
| meadow, he found all these hOrseshOes converted
| into gold; and he found, also, two laborers
\ making hay, where he had left but one; and, on
| inquiry, be learned that ear had passed since
| he had gone away and been given up for lost
| a Iailsmith once bartCrcd with q knight of
| Baniok sack of nails for heap of stable
| SWEET pings, which afterwards changed TO gold.
| The same change took place with some dung,
| which hind bad swept OUT of their stable; both
| events taking place on st. Johns Day. The
peasants affirm hat snauge noises are Of en-
| heard within the mountain, mt such times as the
/ knights are furnishing their arms for battle
| but their Outburst Is not expected till the dry
pond near Banck is filed with blood, and the
| wi hered trees on the banks of the ryuIot put
! forth fresh blossoms and then the knights will
| come forth, with Duke VGnceslas at their head
! mOuLted on white horse, and bearing in his
| hand the standard OF Bohemia.
| The Bohemians entertain many amiabe fan
cies associated with the native frnit-the straw
| berry. The first handful gathered, and those
| which may slip through the fingers in gathering.
| arc reserved iOr the poor, Tor whom they are
| placed on tree-stump or other conspicuous spot.
| \ mother who has lost her infant in the pre-
vious part Of The year, must gather no straw
| j " es before 81. john Day tor il she does her
| child will not be permitted TO Join the bies ed
| CHI dren when they go with the Virgin NJ ry 10
| gaiher strawberries in the groves of heaven. Ac.
| coTdng to another version, the child will indeed
| get some strawberries, but not so many as the
| others; for the Virgin will say
"See, darling, your share is small, because
| your mother has eaten the rest"
Cherries arc, in like manner forbidden to the
| bereaved mother.
In the valley of Tetschen II is believed that O
| certain cTag, resembling human bust, and
| called "The Stone Strawberry Lass" which pro.
jects from a NJ unIain, may become animated on
st. Johns Day, provided a poor and pious youth
who, lom his seventh year Of age has nevel
missed or neglected the Sunday church service
nor, during it, looked at a maiden, should strike
1t three times OH the breast while high mass Il
being performed. The tradition states that the
crag was once giddy maid, called PeTonella
| who lived with her p!ous grandmother in Il cot
| tage lying far away in the valley.
| On 81. Johns Day, in 1911, which fell upon
Sunday PetTonela disObey ing her grandmother
| instead Of going TO high mass went to dance anC
| sport among the strawberry grounds; and, a.
she saw her grandmother returning from church
she made game OF bcr The grandmother wal
Angry, ana said she would rather see PcrOnelli
\ a stone than as wicked as she was aud the Wisl
was no sooner spoken Than PeTonella, with he
| strawberry pot, was transformed into stone, ~
| she appears now. OHco-a- eek,