Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-03-24
TOY-MAKERS OF TYROL.
Sketch of the Wood Careers ofthe Grodner
VdIiey.
Demorest's Magazine.I

fVCCcy.
Demorest's Magazine
There Is no lovelier valley in the world
than the far-famed Grodner valley in
Tyrol. All the way visions of beauty burst
upon the traveller, each one lovelier than
the last. Hemmed in by steep mountains,
which in some places lean over, as if to
kiss each other, the road is so narrow that
q passage through it seems almost impos-
slble. Through the gorges rush the waters,
dashing their spray upon the rocks, some
times lying in deep gloom, and then gilt
tering beneath the sunlight. Suddenly a
little village comes into view, surrounded
by rocky heights, over which the goats are
clambering. Then a neat farm, with its
vine patches and barley fields, is seen, and
then the wooded hills appear; and thus the
scenes of this lovely panorama are chang
ed from beauty to beauty more intense
In this charming valley there lives a
peculiar people, mixed race, descended
from the Romans and Mortimer, who
poured themselves over the valley to be
driven back, only to return again. Their
very language, which they call the ''Ladin,' -
is peculiar, and although some German
and italian words have crept in, the
1UAudul6Hbdl CudTdCLOE VI Gl0 Language has
not been changed.
While agriculture is by no means neg
lected in this lovely valley, the land being
very productive, the principal industry of
the people is toy-making. All along the
road wagons are met, containing cases of
toys. The farmer tills his land in the day
and in the evening carves his toys, thus
adding greatly to his income. These toys
find their way all over the world, and few
are the places where they are not found.
Nearly the whole population are engaged
in the work, and even the children, on
coming home from school, devote them
selves to carving. For generations fami-
lies have had their special line of work,
some carving COWS, others cats, while some
again carve soldiers.
Most of the toys are carried to ST..
Ulrich for sale. This is a pretty village,
having for background the majestic
peak of the Lang Kofel. It is thriving
place, has fine church, some large hous-
es, and an inn 1000 feet above the sea.
From st. Ulrich can be seen the Lang Ko-
fel mountains, the Meisules, the Rat
schotzberg, and the Pitschberg. The
principal toy-store is large building
built of stone, five stories high, and every
space is crowded with toys.
At first, the wood carving in the Grod-
ner valley extended to frames only. The
carvers trudged over the mountains carry
ing their wares in baskets, and selling it
by the way. This was found too wearisome,
and stores were established at various
points in the valley, and customers came
to purchase. By degrees, the carving of
toys was added, and a wide industrial field
was thus opened.
High up above on a mountain plateau,
white house is seen, cleaning in the sun,
where lives one of the most celebrated
carvers of the valley. Here can be found
figures from the scriptures, beauti-
full drinking cups, hunting peices, boxes
and frames, and toys He has many as
and also painters and decorators.
He does not work for the merchants, but
never lacks customers, who toll over the
sleeps to purchase his carvings.
The people of the Grodner valley are
very industrious, and extremely fond of
their mountainous home. They are
brave and intelligent people, and though
the women lead toilsome life, they are
always well treated by their husbands.
Such coward as wife beater is unknown
among the peasantry of this lovely valley.
who thus set an example to countries prid-
ing themselves on a higher degree of civil
ization than that of the peasants of the
Grodner valley.