Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1881-08-23
THE vOLKSFEST.
BIG DAYS AT WHAT GLEN.
Celebration OF tho Swabisu Legends

Celebration OF tho Swabi:su Legends
Probably the largest picnic that has
ever been held in this vicinity was the one
ut What Glen park yesterday by the
Schwabs. The crowd began to grow early
i'll the day, and at one time there were be-
tween !. 900 and !, 500 people on the ground j.
Omnibuses from every livery sta
bic in the city We're kept rur-
ming to aud from the grounds all
day and there was not one that went
out empty. The turnpike was crowded
until late hour last right with vehicles
of every description, bringing the large
body Of persons to town.
The picnic was success in every
way, and the management deserve credit
for their efforts to please and afford amuse-
ments for their guests.
The festivities began about 2 o'clock in
the afternoon. when a procession was FORM
ed and, headed by the Buckalcw band of
York, who came with the York Manner
chor, it marched to the large column Of
fruit, where an address of welcome WAS
made by j. H. Schneider, proprietor Of
Die Laterne, and chairman Of the commit
tee of arrangements. Speeches were also
made by other gentlemen from this
ing of the festival the mock-wetlding took
place. The bride was Miss Pauline
Boehringcr and the groom Mr.. Fred. Vas.
Ser, Of this city. There was also u brides
maid and grOOmSmau In the party and all
were attired in the costumes Of the German
peasantry. The ladies' wore gaily cOlOred
short dresses with short sleeves and tho
men wore knee breeches. The ceremony
took place at the fruit column. and it was
witnessed by an immense crowd Of people,
who stood around the stand packed as
closely together as it was possible for them
to get. After this ceremony tho picnic
opened and the dancing OH the largo plat
form began. 1t was crowded all day and
there was dancing until late hour,
Tayl0r's orchestra furnishing very accept
able music for the vOtaries of TerpsichOrc.
The Buckalew band, of York, an excellent
musical organization, was present all day
and their music was heartily enjoyed and
was spoken Of in the highest terms of
praise.
Besides the dancing there was plenty Of
amusement for old and young. There was
q Punch and judy show, Il striking ma
chine, shooting gallery, sc. There was
lots Of fun at the striking machine. and
the efforts Of some of those, who tried their
skill, to strike u bard blow were very
amusing. At the target there was excel.
lent shooting by Prof. lIcises, Of York,
George Heiss and others Of this city.
The machine Oh the ground which prob
ably afforded more amusement than any
other, was tho wooden reel. which was
open to all. A crowd of boys soon gathered
around it, probably because they imagined
it was the best thing to break their necks
with, and there was rare sport. The reel
is made Of wood and is about five feet in
length. 1t is elevated above the ground
several feet, piece Of money is placed at
one end of it and tho game is to get it.
When the bHDs get about half way across
the reel it almost always turns and
the kid is thrown to the ground. Sew
eral of the little fellows became very expert
st the business and one quit tho game with
over dollar in his pocket, while others
had their clothing torn and their noses
creek were full all day and the largo swing
was not idle for moment.
The column Of fruit was very pretty.
Tho body Of it is wood and is about forty
feet in height from top to bottom it was
covered over with fruit Of every kind,
which were very artistically arranged, III
figures, SC. At the base of the column
tho larger fruits, such as melons, &C., were
piled. The whole thing was very beauti-
full. 1t required a great deal Of hard work
to make it, but is we'll done and it is
worth going to see.
The picnic was ono Of the best ever held
here. and notwithstanding the fact that
the crowd was so large the best of order
prevailed during the whole day and even
ing. Everybody who attended had 4 good
time and tho management was highly
praised. The picnic is being continued
to day, although the crowd is not rs large
rs yesterday. There is plenty Of fun,
however, and tho attendance this evening
will again be large.
The York MmnnercIsOr.
The members of the York M:rnncrcllOr
with their fine band were taken to the
hall of the Lancaster M;nnncrchOr last
evening, and were right royalty enter
tanned by our society, the members Of
which know exactly how tn treat visitors.
All enjoyed themselves to u late hour.
There was singing, speecll-makiDg, and
music by the band.
Some of the York folks have gone homo,
but many are ut the picnic to-day.
Some Anecdotes About the Swabs.
One of our most intelligent German citi-
zens kindly furnishes us with tho follow
ing interesting sketches Of Schwabian
folklore
The "ycllow- footed Swopes derive
their namc from the following transac-
ton The King Of Wurtemberg issued
call for ), 900 dozens of eggs to he delivered
at his castle on a certain day. The party
who were to haul them found that to pack
them in barrels with bran or sawdust
would exhaust both wagons and barrels.
them in the barrels and, Us a matter of
course, the king did not want to swallow
the eggs whole anyhow, SD they put men
to work and trampcd them in tho barrels
hence the yellow footed.
Digging N Cistorn.
In village called Ganslosen the cOun-
Gil decided to di, IN immense cistern,
which was given out by contract ut SO
much per foot. After it was done the
burgess called the council together to de-
tcrmine on the best plan to ascertain the
depth of the cistern. 1t was resolved to
place u strong iron bar across the mason
work, and then one man would hold on to
it with his hands, letting his body hang
down; then another would crawl down his
back and hold on to the ankles Of the first
man, and SO OH down to the bottom. Then
all they would have to do would be to
measure the men, add them together and
they would have it. Tho burgess is nat
urally at tho head Of all such occasions,
so it was resolved that he being stout
built man should let himself down, hold
ing fast to the iron bar. Next came the
Drosi1lont Of cOuncil craWlinU down the