Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1874-07-23

, tenure, and to them were owing MOI
| ey and service from the censitat;re
In 1925 the law of tenure was don
away with, and even realty ceased t
be affected by the act above noticed
The original seiynioriies containe,
from one hundred to five hundre,
square miles; the frontage (upor
some stream) was narrow, but tn
depth was great, the portion bein!
as one to ten. On the death of thu
father the land was divided Longitude
share and the younger sons takin!
fefs. When roads were opened il
the interior, latitudinal divisions wer,
also made. But successive genera
tions thus dividing the paternal acers
and settling down at home, have SC
reduced the size of the farms thai
the land is "all longitude" the front
age often being thirty three and g
half feet, or as one to sixty. This
causes the row Of old houses to have
the appearance of a village street
But what can we say of the farms
The poor soil is exhausted, and the
whole French Country is overstocked
with wretched shiftless haJitance.
Thousands of them travel many miles
to help the Vermont farmers, or to
work in the brick yards Of New Eng
land. The summer over. they return
with almost the only money they
ever see, and which is too often ex-
hausted before they reach home
their cabins are of squared logs, the
ohinks filled with mortar; the gables
are of sawed boards, and the roofs
are of tin or wood, The open sum
mer kitchen is exposed to every storm.
Close by the adjoining corn-crib, and
making a ladder for the rats, stands
the ponderous cart, with wooden
axles and double springs of the same
material. Within call is the small
bodied but large-limbed "French
horse" originally from Normandy,
and as his master drives him he will
first deal blow, and then you will
hnar' TA "",,-4 A. '-~ ""N '''i
voIs avez un bon maitre Tie
shaggy brown and white dog, unlike
any other of his species, also appears.
1t is well that these animals can sub
sist on little, and that little of the
coarsest kind for their masters have
nothing more or better to give them.
Besides onions and potatoes, peas
form the chief diet; and so common
is this staple that ''pea-soup" is used
derisively as an adjective or noun.
Poultry and salt pork are more sub
stantal dishes, and the only meats on
their bill of fare. Yet they have one
luxury-the 6oudin or "blood- -pud-
ding as the English call it. A
fine pig is selected, the throat cut,
and the blood allowed to drip into
pan an old woman adds flour and
other things, as experience. suggests,
and stirs the whole until it becomes
cold. This delightful compound is
theu baked, and those who have eaten
of it say that it is excellent.
Tobacco is not luxury but ne
,essity with these people. After
raising and curing it they twist it in
o rolls like a Bologna sausage, and
smoke the strong and filthy stuff in
short clay pipes.
In person the habitants are small,
and have the regular features of the
French. If any boards are worn, they
very thinly cover the face. Upon
heir heads are hats with narrow brims
IL caps without visors. Their cloth
ng is OF coarse wooden stuff called
French gray" In cold weather sew
sral pair of stockings cover their feet,
which are then thrust into moccas-
ions, or immense boots without heels,
secured by strap over the instep.
Cor merely wet weather, or for stand
ng on the ice, wooden shoes (seabOts)
ire used. In personal habits cleanli-
less seems to be unknown. Smallpox
Prevails to an alarming extent. The
anguage they speak does not arise
o the dignity of II patOis Even when
french is spoken entirely, it has the
english construction and idioms.
They are poor, but seem to he
lappy, especially in the enjoyment of
heir numerous holidays, the number
f which they ever strive to increase.
IN saints day professions are formed,
nd all lookers-on are expected to un
over the head and kneel as they pass
With banners and images. From "On