Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1882-02-10
A Bohemian Fete.

Oar arrival at Castle - was az cor.
dial as bohemian welcomes, in every
sense OF that word, always are. Our
host. said to be one Of the largest and
wealthiest OF the landed gentry in Bo-
hemia. was the impersonation of the
tine old Irish gentleman; indeed, Bo-
hemia is the Ireland of Austria. Its
people have more native wit and talent
than invades the German or penetrates
the Magyar brain. They are gay and
lsughter-loving. quick to sympathize,
ready to aid. terrible in anger, noble
in forgiveness. The land of the Polka
it may be outwardly. but the noble gen.
erosity ola Wenceslands, the calm self
devotion of an imperial Karl, and the
martial fortitude of the glorious Fried.
lander, cling to the Geek ish nation
still, and terrible will be the day of
their uprising should the power that
now holds them in check with wise and
kindly hand lose it's friendly grasp
But VIC have left our "ritter standing
at his castle gate, his hands extende Il
in welcome, his voice calling off his
fsvorite dogs rs they dash up to us and
most graciously vie with the attendants
in giving us the usual hand.kusse, :"
The scenery from the upper rooms of
the schlosa which were placed at our
disposal was exquisite. Forests of ceder
and hemlock filled the air with deli
cious resinous odor, and meadows
covered with tufts of white veronica
and blue spider-wort surrounded us on
all sides. The "Harvest Home celc
bration was appointed for the evening
of our arrival. indeed the ritter had
been compelled to await our coming,
and had forbidden the last load of grain
to be brought from the field until all
the castle guests could assemble. Din
ner usually ut two o'clock WAS served
on this day at noon, in order to give the
household servants and maids, who
were to take the mcst important places
in the procession, time to dress. At
four O'Clock not a servant could be
found on the premises, our own
maids had deserted ne. and we were
obliged to make our evening toilet
unaidtd.
1t was no serious matter, for our
hostess assured rs we should probably
remain on the balcony all the evening
to see the people dancing in the illumi-
mated court below. At sunset the
ringing Of the great bell of the castle
tower, and the smaller bell of the chap
el. told us the procession had left the
harvest field. From the quaint old
chapel where the village cure had
offered prayers Of thanksgiving for the
abundant harvest, and called for all
blessings upon the family and their
guests, We went out upon the balcony
above the entrance to the schloss, and
as the procession came in sight waved
hsndkerchiefs and colored scarfs while
the gentlemen surrounding the ritter
shouted, "Salve." the Bohemian vel
come and hurrsh. The ritter, good
man. had to keep quiet; he was lord of
the festival and could not hurrah for
himself and his harvest. He yelled to
his dogs bounding in the woodland
pathways Of the gardens and groves
beyond; shouting seemed veritsble
safety valve for his feelings when they
became "too utterly unutterable for
him. At the head of the long pro-
cession rode the verwalter and his two
assistants, all dressed in white shirts,
nankeen kuee-breeches, long top-boots,
red scarfs about the waist, and straw
hats trimmed with wheat and poppies.
The bailiff carried an immense sun
flower, not because he had soul for
aesthetics, but because it was a prize
specimen of the plant, valued for
chicken feed in Bohemia. The village
band-their instruments hung with
wreaths of oats and myrtle-followed
these officials" and led the cortege
of respers and haymakers. The Chill.
dren, geese. msidens. gansmadchen and
shepherd lads, the boys and girls who
gathered the cherries and garden ber-
ries, came after the musicians, all in
the costumes of past ages, it looked as
if the little lads aud lassies sketched by
Kate Greenoway had been given the
breath of life. They carried baskets of
flowers or fruit, and sang the triumphal
hymn of Thanksgiving, which the band
played.
The farm wagons. wains filled with
wheat, rye. oats and barley, their
wheels and wooden racks covered with
gilded paper and horses garlanded
with sun-fowers and oak leaves, fol-
lowed tho children. These wagons
were driven by the housemaids, dressed
as goddesses, Ceres, Flora and Pomona.
Then the hsymakers, men and women
in the old Bohemian costume, their
rakes gilded and wreaths OF oats, corn