The Democratic advocate., 1879-03-29

suvius push their cultivation aud plant
their homes in the very track of possible
lava stream, and, all the world over, facil
ity for obtaining livelihood blinds the
eultivator to all risks. Grohman SAYS -
"ln the -Schonau, North Tyrol, not
few OF the houses are built on such steep
slopes that heavy chain has to be laid
round the houses and fastened to some
firm object-a large tree or bowlder ofrock
higher up. In one village of the Puster
Thai, and in two others of the Oberinn
Thai, many Of the villagers come to church
with crampoons on their feet, the terrible
steep slopes on which their huts are built,
somewhat like swallows nest on a wall,
requiring this precautionary measure. In
Moos-a village not very far from the
Brenner, having population Of eight hun
drsd inhabitants-more than three hundred
men and women have been killed since
1903 by falls from the incredibly steep
slopes upon which the pasturages Of this
village arc situated. So steep are they,
IN fact, that only goats, and even they not
every where, can be trusted to Craze on
them, and the hay for the large cattle has
to be cut and gathered by the hand Of man.
have myself seen, in walking among
the hills, little stores Of grass piled against
the upper side of protecting trees, whero
it had been brought in armfuls when cut
by the spike-shod mower. The haymak-
ers gather their little crops here and there
on the steep grass patches, almost at the
limit Of vegetation, pack it in nets or in
sheets, aud bring it on their shoulders
down the steep and dangerous paths. My
earlier idea Of an "alp' was that Of level
plateau at the top of the lower mountains.
Alps which are even nearly level are very
rare, especially among the higher oleva-
tions. Generally they are SO steep, so
broken, and so inaccessible that one won
ders how cattle are got to them, and how
they can be trusted to Craze over them.
These alps are bounded by no fences, and
it must be az anxiOns task for those who
have the herds in charge to get them safely
together at milking-time Each animal
wears its bell-not the hollow sounding
dull cow-bell with which We are familiar
but musical in tone, and heard for much
greater distance. The alpine hut and the
Senuerin, or dairy-maid, who spends the
whole summer in nearly solitary attention
to her arduous duties, are not altogether
what ones Imagination might depict. She
is not the dairy. maid Of poetry, nor is hel
temporary home filed with the more ethe
real pastoral associations. Yet these peo
pie, too, have a romantic and imaginative
side to their lives, and are happy anC
wholesome and content.
The agriculture of North Tyrol, outside
Of the valley Of the Inn, is mostly confined
to very small operations A few cattle,
few sheep, little poultry, few small
fields, and a mountain pasture constitut,
the stock in trade on which the industri
Gus aud frugal pair bring up their family
in comfort and decency, accumulate por
tions for their daughters, and lay aside
provision for their own old age. Labor
saving hardly exists. Every thing is ac
complished by unmitigated and unremitte,
toll. In youth and in early life the peo
pie are stalwart, active, and hearty; bu
old age comes very early, and at forty th
yisor Of manhood aud womanhood !
passed-the activity and vigor, but no
the endurance up to really old age evel
slight little women carry enormous load
in the baskets at their backs up and dow
steep-rough hill-sides aud mountain paths
where an unaccustomed tourist must pul
and toll to move his own unencumbere,
person.