The New York herald., 1878-09-26
Ii II L r A II u r Z.
''oADD1Sos WITH A PRIMITIVE People.

oAbolSSS WITH A PRIMITIVE PEOPLE.
"Gaddings with a Primitive People, is the rather
singular title OF very delightful book published by
Heury Holt & Co., In their attractive Leisure Hour
Series, by A. Baie Grohman. With the exception OF
some srautous remarks the subject OF the religion
OF the Tyroiese Mr.. Grohman's book Is most admir-
able in character. The American editor has made
judicous weaving OF this authors former book the
Pyrol with the present volume. Mr.. Grohmap, who
seems TO be a German by birth and ryroIese by
choice, lives among these primitive people, shooting
IN their woods and cooking In their xitchsns He
dresses In their costumes and attends their etes
we follow hum TO their churches and passion pays
He purchased the old castle OF the Freudsbergers,
among the snow-capped mountains and glaciers, and
there he writes this book In room, tho de-
scrpton Of which Is enough to mako the con
nolsscur gnash his taeth with envy. Mr. Grohman
says that twenty years ago there house 10 tho
whole lyroiesc country that did not possess some
article OF virtu. Perhaps it was but old hal
berd curlousy engraved. or boimet or broad
twohanded sword. or rusty shirt OF ma
or, to speak OF furniture, house without
a couple OF those curious old wedding chests,
generally painted with allegorical designs, often
laid aud now and then beautifully carved IN oak in
the rich style Of the Renaissance IL is only by dnt
OF tho most minute search, OF the most indcfatigabe
labor, that QUO succeeds nowadays in securing a
treasure But, thcn, does not the piece-perhaps
rare old Gothic cabinel, with huge lock and queer
out othe way drawers aud secret springs, bought for
less than S5-repay ono for endless trouble Once IN
his wanderin2s Mr. Grohmau camo upon u little church
IN lonely hamlet The church had boon "re
stored'-that is, cleaned up and gildod painted
IN gaudy colors. He climbed TO the dark bell tower
and found It empty. The verser told him II had been
cleared year be fore and the co:tens
a wandering Jew. ''We were very glad /
can tell you. to got rid Of the rubbish, and.
though be gave hut q trae for the whole lot,
II must have cost MIN good deal to get
tho things away there was such quantity" This
must have been poor consolation to Mr. Grohman lie
was fortunate enough TO stumble upon Renaissance
altar cloth of embossed leather and OF precious work.
mont; but the collector enough to mako HIM
man remembered that 1t hai been used as a target
when he was young but added that he had found
similar piece not long ago. "Psrhaps ,heTe Is a. bit
lett which could show you, as you to take an
interest In these things" The two men crossed over
to the vergcrs cottage and entered the room where
sat, busy at her spinning wheel the buxom daughter
'rhero Is nothing left of tho leather father she 70
pied to the old mans query Wor used the last to
make Johnny new pair OF house shoes; bat here, ,"
she, and opening the door calls In or thrce
her male progeny. "Como here, Franzeil" and
poor Franze trembling all over, is hand by
his mother laid across her knees and 10! large
patch of leather. OF gorgeous co'oring and design, Is
seen where little boys first tear their trousers.