Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-08-21
Domestic Life in Germany,

primitive except in space. They gem
orally live crowded together in small
rooms and many stored houses. The
apartment of a house allotted to a
family is often so small that temporary
beds are made at night in the small ;
rooms and again removed In the morn I
ing to make room for the restless little
feet Of the rising generation and
relative to numbers the German par
ents are almost invariably on the
progressive side. Situated at the back
part of the house is piece of ground
named by word which has many
meanings "Der Hof. - This CORES
ponds to our word yard. For the
family it is cosmopolitan piece of
ground and put to almost universal
use. It becomes at once a kitchen,
play ground, garden and work shop. |
Here in this insignificant sized piece |
of ground the house wife washes and
hangs out the clothes, bakes the lnim-
liable loaves of bread and the numerous
little ones romp and play. If the
man is tradesman his shop will likely
be situated in the Hof, considerable
fruit and vegetable are also grown in
it and the taste for flowers is gratifed
by small beds. The method of cook
ing and manner of serving it does not
make foreigner long to live In the
land of the Rhine. The usual break
fast consists of cup of coffee and
one or two small biscuits. This rather
surprises foreigner and he starts OF
to his work wondering and specializing
about stomachs. 1t is the last resort
and he bravely says he will try to hold
out until noon. Dinner time arrives
and he still lives but awfully hungry.
He invariably gets soup, meat potatoes
J and bread hard enough to withstand
the attack of an army. The bread is
generally rye or wheat flour with
shorts in it. The loaves are baked in
the form of indian clubs and could
easily be used for the same purpose.
: They are about two feet long and six
, inches in diameter with thick crust.
These are mostly baked in large baker
les and children run through the street
with a loaf under the arm. A fall in
e the sand does not alter the value OF
the loaf as it is proof against almost
anything. Of course you will receive
l plenty of cabbage and for dessert il
is not an uncommon thing to get
{. little limberger cheese and piece Of
; butter about the size of silver dollar
Butter is very dear here. Supper Is
again scant like breakfast, soup Is
:, given with eggs, salads and desserts
d etc. Beer was not mentioned as thai
J. is served at all hours, both day Of
q night Beer drinking is a peculla
characteristic of the German peopi
and they drink almost fabulous guam
Ii titles. The more man lives among
% them the more he becomes astenishet
IS at the amount drank. The bed room
# is generally small, furnished witt
, quaint heavy wooden furniture. Z
single narrow bed stands in the corne
J with broad bed boards, hard matres
7, and rather coarse sheets. The cover
e. inc is almost an unmentionable. The
"a call it a Kissen (pillow). 1t is abou
4 feet long and feet wide. 1t
% especially made so that your feet ar
well out at one end and arms an
u shoulders at the other. 1t is file
g. with feathers. 1t does not cover tn
J., feet or shoulders and in cold night
, those parts must be well warmed bt
C fore retiring so as to last until morning
ell The stove is made of stone or porc'
he laine and is generally from to fee
a high. It requires a long time
:, warm it up and you are charged 2
A'' pfennigs 6 cents) for each fire. IT
NJ room is hung with large, broad rim
as med, quaint old pictures at least shoV
of inc an attempt at the science of beaut
ot A high-backed lounge, the seat
." honor, stands on one side. There
'e' an air of quaintness but solidity col
on nected with the rooms. AS rule tt
he family is clothed fairly well, b.
od often the human form divine is see
with hardly enough clothing on to
compatible with day light and stror
:, sunshine. It is customary thing
ne see men, women, children and studen
20. ' going around the streets with biscui
ct CT in their hands, eating at all hours.
IT'S The families seem generally conter
49, ed, the women being religious al
III devoted and the men are totally ind
ary ferent. The family takes pride
an al, the education of the children and t
S'il little child answers with pride that
'es' is in the first class. The women
Icy considerable naighborly chatting call
.'ie "Geschwatz'' which means to blacke
'ion The long residence in one place b
, = made innumerable relatives. There
a whole system of servants, Wallets a
walters all through Europe. A set
cad persons in families and public pla'
can waiting for something to turn W
lly- All expect fee of some kind, e.
day 7 t - Iarra hotel the 0thpr q