New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-06-07
THE GERMANS HOLIDAYS.
KEEPING PFINGsr NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. IN AND
ABOUT THE CITY.

ABOUT THE CITY.
To such HOLIDAYS as Oster- MOntdg which follows
Easter and Pfngst- Montdg winch loio"s W W. n ~
Sunday, the average German is willing to assign as
much Significance, perhaps even little more, "a 10
the Church days from which they borr1w name anu
existence The holidays differ III popularity IN inc
ratio that they afford the pleasures when the
Germans enjoy most. Pfngst Hontd1' "hlch was
celebrated yesterday, is therefore the most popular
for il takes the German out into nature whel she ~
in her freshest grcencs garb II gives him his irst
holiday outing. The observance OF the teSiival
yesterday very general IN ana around NeM-
York. Scores of excursion parties went III All az,
rectjons; the gardens and picnic grounds we're all
occupied and the Germans of all ranks and stations
culled out a holiday aud gave IL up L" the
hearty enjoyment for which they are noted.
Benevolent societies, trades unions gymnastic asso-
Citations singing clubs, all were out.
IL would be difficult To cnuncratc all the plcnlcs
and excursions. The Turner's, united with nan a
dozen other societies had their celebration III
Joncss Wood the Order of Hernann's sons went
to Karl's Park the Grand Lodge OF the order
of Sons of Freedom 10 Suffers Harlem RIVER
Park; the BoOmingdsle Turn Nercin to Lion
Park; the Bloonngdale Entracht To aurora
Park the Melrose Turn NeTrln and some
singing societies to Grove Hill Park :; the
Gesangverein Gcrnania had q picnic at IuItlr
Park and the ScbuetZcnbund held "A shooting mat'I
at Held's Hamilton Park. These were only lew ol
the picnics aud excursions which marked the day
vet they afforded enjoyment to many thousands
Putting aside the characteristic features OF GAIN
ering of turner's the gymnastic cNhlbltonsl a de-
scIptiOn of one of these picnics would answer LOT
ALL One must imagine first of all, great mass OF
"a.
either natural or ARTIFICIAL hut taking al lhe
iostng and discomfort Incident TO me gather
ing, in the greatest good hunoT Al cohN CONVEX.
tiOnalitics are left behind, and All the nlcttss
of conduct ignOHd. One can tread on ms neigh
boris tcnderest without giving offence he may
vince but will join in the fun when tnc lhci-
dent affords to the bystanders. Then there - music
from the brass bands and string when the dancing
bepiusl and mnch drinking of beer aud ealing OF
frugal sandwiches rye bread ana sausage OF na" -
Instead of the fakir glib of tongue and
brazen of feature, with his wheel 0i fortune
to himself such. to others always wheel
places one find amuscments OF various kinHS
managed by committees, with which the pleasure 10
lie afforded is rs much "a consideration ~ te money
10 be made The boys play at SchHdpphdhn-they
run up a plank resting Oh support near inc hllu
die, and attempt TO snatch DlI oi ni%r i'1 'he1
fall 10 the ground The women keep alive relic Of
the chivario age by fitting with lance al sheet
iron deer that slides past them on sanilug wire.
This is called HiTschstochtR. In these, as IN
other games, success IS rewarded WIN
prize. The singing societies from their he3d-
Quarters lone can tell where they are by
a sign hung their banners. or the inevitable
Gag of beer improySed rack sing fOur-part
for Nature, for his fathtrland and his VINE. Some
times too as Yesterday at Jones's Wood, perlpa-
tetic minstrel with guitar slung from shoulder
sings the dialect ballads of switzerland, the lyrOl
or Swalia which are 50 hOmcly vet arch IN scntl-
ment and lovely melody. Occasionally, too the
drinking horn, relic of the barbarian lentons, -
brought out and passed from mouth tO mouth In Gel
chratiOn of friendship and brotherhood. II Is a
highly polished, handsomely ornamented drinking
vessel which requires peculiar knack to
handle 10 to prevent ones nosc and eyes being
deluCed when lac attempts 10 drink. After all is
over very weary crowd Is seen gong honeward
in the horsc-cars and by the elevated railroads,
vhry weary ali. very beery many; but the mu-
steal nc have not been set down III their souls aud
the spirit of harmony il active though the utter
ance be sluggish. And all are e"9u-hatuIeh and
conSidcrate and there are no broken heads nor
SOured telnpC1S.