The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-02-14
4 GERMAN VOLKSFFST.
TAE ELIMINATION GLORY OF THE
HARVEST DISPLAY.
The Earious Scenes of the Fair--A Strik-
ingiv Artistic E6ect-Everybody Hi
lariOus and Good Natured -
Amusements at Every Turn.


At the annual Nolkfest, in October, there
were $1,000 persons assembled to see the
har 3~t decorations and festivities Ali the
world Soes-l mean the inhabitants OF Stutt-
CART and the surrounding country. The
srcat fair was held at Constadt q neighbor-
ng city, across the river Neckar ami was
ie' to all, from king to peasant In
ngMora5e side hows attracted crowds OF
curious visitors; chliren's games abounded
"H Mi sides; restaurants fei the hungry:
har's OF mu ;ic intel ,itel tho din; thraugs
a. peasants spent their p,enuing5 ut gay
ooopAs. The ,yhols tsing was an mt.xicut-
mr. panaemnnium.
OF course the culmEa5.ag glory was tie
harvest display in vast amphitheatra Au
immense :rumpdal arch spanned the cen
tfl3 stand, or tribunal, a they call it here
This 'gls covered with cedar, it lau+ nave
required a foges. wlie Tia grsunI floor WIS
n served .or ,a' horticultural display This
arch was decorated by a border Of
fruit of brilliant coiors; from the cen
ter WIS suspended tue escut,aeon Of
u urtem urr. made Of grains OF corn AMI a
shining blackberry There were millions in
it, and tie effect was strikingly ar
tistic \ tiiuupha! column twenty
live feet in height arl proportion
ately thick rested on n large PEDESTAL
composed Of pale green apples, ali Of the
| same shade Around the base thero was q
GTe,iln border Of yellow ana rad ears Of
corn. The main column was composed Of
| silver skin and pink onions, SURROUNDED by
q capital of yellow pears This bore profuss
| heaps Of growing plants and vegetables,
sqaa-hes, pumpkins Gourds, red peppers,
etc, the whole presenting mass of colors
81 tremendously blended that I stood daz-
zel, enchanted, and you remember ! never
Went into much enthusiasm over floral deg
oratious at homa
The base Of tie grand stand was decorated
with sheaves Of wheat AMI barley, while
tAaro were superb displays Of each separate
kind of fruit and vegetable ertistically
| grouped. The grapes were Of every size and
| color, and there vera Gpricots in profusil-a.
The festivities Iascai Tor a week, but my
| Rrior knew no abatement Di-u.G,i Ger
many forgets her dignity at this happy car
gIvaL Il is considered highly discourtaous
20 notice an inpatient word or gesture, or an
mpertu,lt speech CtaNl5 of students ar
/ There ful of merry prank .-hi&ri u AMI
Eo'i-It'urei throuSl every vici-siu!a OF
| the day wi.A its mad j1iIity Many Of them
! Wear notices on their hats-"N -glaJt." e.
! gagei, or "LaIig,' single. y sudden sound
| a. If (. swarm oa lu.u-t5 sc.,rtles you-it j..
| only band Of students, each Of whom is
| rairing wooden toy, wljch initiates per
| ient,Y tie WAlrrH5 OF tlJ,5 vivacioas in
! Sect
! 4 PlHch-and- July snow n setl yon a
! avery turn, while the usual m1ns.ruIties ara
! lIocgrd,d IN immense letters Blt tAs
! layJ9.ta Amusement Is the merrg-Co -round
| There are rows of these ''caiiGreas leljGlt<7
riya.ng each other III gorgeous decorations.
| Many substitute, for the customary wooded
horses, elephants, lions cainels, tigers AMI
ost:. shes, which begin their gay Journey the
moment che rehestra give; The signal, tn
living freight being Of all age.
and sex,s. Such mldGe53l such merri-
mantl as accompany these fgiu5
! Dutghmon. Caubby little peasants ami
| psasautas5es have saved their pfonnings for
a year TO ride behind four white elephants in
:; meITy-Gor gund; no novelty seduce5 them
try other fields Of delight. There are
wh,ie avenues OF cayly-dres ed booths
VITA wares from every climate under tht
sun, and rows upon rows Of restaurant tents
| whore Ieutonic dishes ara served IN all their
integrity FRITZ rs ana salad are Siamess
tYyins-nyt to be separated; that's, you may
| separate tho salad, but not the fritters
| Some Of the dishes are incomprohensibe
| To- excitement of the Noiksfest is So intox
| rcariHy that instead o. producing WEAKNESS
Il create desire for mora | long to SET
another,