Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1884-01-23

that blending OF romance and reality
which to those not Immediately under
its influence is at once source OF study
and cause for smiles. Removed with
the tide Of civilization from the barparic
practice of buying or stealing their
brides, poverty and its necessary con-
comitants of tenacious harshness, still
chains the weaker with some OF the
rude customs Of their ancestors. The
luxury and polish of manners intTodu
ced with the return of the Crusaders
seeming only to have effected the dwell
Iers of castles and cities, thew the peas
antry into a deeper shade by their
brilliancy. which TO this day is the
great distinguisher of caste, so when
We write courtship it is to be distinctly
understood as PEASANTS courtsblp, the
love-making between men and women
associated through no romantic tourna-
ment, or fancy-weaving ballroom mu.
sic where powder hides freckles and
culture wells vice, and the hosts thou-
sand gepii of entertainment assist Gu
pid's work, but thrown together by the
ungloyed hands OF toll in the most pro-
sale situations,
The most diScouIaging feature of
these courtships lies in the fact that
while a woman has none of a mans
advantages in boldly ayow:ng her afIec-
ton and pursuing the object of it, she
is generally expected TO bear an equal
share of the expenditures attending
such occasions. The woman who can
not treat her escolt as often as he treats
her is superhuity, unless extraordina-
~ beauty is her ticket for entertain
Inent. If at u dance, the music Is fur
nished by the lads, the refreshments
are provided by the laSsies; who gener-
ally come out shortest in the bargain,
for denial is as foreign to a PEASANTS
appetite as eSthetics to his taates. Love
is fostered less by quality than by guam
tity. Traits of character and congeHi-
ality are considered when capacity for
work and endurance have tipped the
scales. Sentiment and emotion, though
a powerful lever of the German nature,
are incIe lCusly minel d with the most
practical concerns of life. The man
who would commit suicide because his
love was Tilted, as readily turns into the
worst tyrant if the object of his adora-
ton should prove more thing of beau
" and goodness than swift hand in
the kitchen and a strong one III the field.
And if our German sisters were more
more wise than devoted, they would let
such desperate lovers espouse the mer-
maids. But they assist in the court
ship as heartily as they do in the work
of providing. Their common and great
est boast of matrimonial advantages is
buyom strength. The daughter of a
mother who has reared dozen children
and helped to cultivate twice as many
acres, points with pride to her antece
dents. And girls hired for the same
work as men are saucily conscious of
theiI superior matrimonial value. When
her hard earned EreldzerS ring upon the
entertainment board it's at once an in
yitation and challenge for candidates
TO come forth and be out-talked, out
sung and out-treated by her, or the sue
cessful rival wEO can best stand the
drain of purse and Wit.
Much as the customs of different
localities vary in particulars, it is the
common purpose of all to exhibit and
encourage utility, especially IN woman.
In all the sports prizes are obtained by
the best rnnners, the best churners, the
best burden-bearers, the best climbers,
in fact the best exhibitor of strength for
everything but beating their better half,
and here the other side carries off the
premium in the shape of submissive
wives and unrestraining laws A pic
ture which we have seen in a recent
German magazine of women enjoying
the annual sport of wheeling their
lovers and prospective husbands in bar
rows on race-courSe illustrates the
rude barbarities 10 which the German
mind still clings in the very center of
culture and civilization. The publica-
tion comments upon it in a sportive
coDgratulatory, and generously , pro-
misses the foremost of the fair-racers
her living burden as :he prize of win
ming. Similar examples of husband
winning customs might be cited among
the poorer classes of Europe, showing
the il-effect of poverty with ignorance
and conservatism.
Everywhere is seen that same selfish
prerogative of the stronger over the
weaker. Thus, for instance, the court
ship Of winter evenings is carried on
while the girl industIiOusly spins and
the suitor industriously smokes. No
thought is given to the tagt that she has
worked as hard as he during the day,
and could enjoy her evenings rest in
proportion. Spinning IS a pastime no
more than trimming willows or carting
flax, their common work during the day.
And the fact that he can smoke away
composedly the produce of one kind of
labor while she spins another into last
ing fabric speaks conclusively for our
opinion that mans prerogatives forge
a nations fetters.
The pleasant and romantic part Of
their courtship are the Sunday evening
promenades on the highway leading un-
der shady fruit trees, which line both
sides of the road to neighboring towns
or villages. That being the only time
in which woman may conScientiously
do nothing, and man can do no less,
presents the first enjoyable picture in its
equality of situation and pleasure. An
idea of what would be the life of our
emotional, imaginative Germans. un-
trammeled by the necessities of poverty
cAA A1o AASoe-A1hS ABBAhS VI CNtl lui-
pulse toward development, may be OBJ
tained in these summer evening idyls.
Between five and six the road is covered
with young people exclusively, and the
air is filed with song. Arm in arm,
forming lines across the entire width of
the road, some pass and repass; others,
whose friends are in the neighboring
villages, extend their walk till they
meet each other. Wonderfully sweet
and free from all isolation or stolen in
terviews, is their intercourse in the early
part of the evening. Everybody seems
eyerybodys elSe's lover. An atmos-
phere of purity, peace and joy hovers
over face of nature and her happy chill
dIen. Everything wears its festal robe,
ane as chorus after chorns surges from
hundreds of lusty throats, its echo
seems TO come back with the pleading
rsfrain:
''GO not, happy day,
From the shining tields.''
But the sun has sent his last smile
over the ridge of hills, and evening bells
announce the solemn approach Of night.
Songs are huSlpd irtarlaaad or,.,c