, 1885-02-27
A GERMAN ~VOLKSFEST.
THE ELIMINATION GLORY OF THE
HARVEST DISPLAY.


lstattxart Cor. Courier-Journall
At the annual Volkfest, in October, there
were %, 100 parsons to ses the
harvest decorations and festivities. All the
world goes-Imean the inhabitants Of Stutt-
CART and the surrounding country The
great fair was held at Constadt. a neighbor-
ing city, across the river Heckar, and was
free to all. from king TO peasant In
Vulnerable s~ide-showi attracted crowds OF
curious visitors; childrsn's games aboundsi
ON all sides; restaurants fed the hungry;
bands Of music intensified the din; throngs
OF peasants spent their p~fennings at gay
booths. The whole thing was an i~ntoxicat-
ing pandemonium.
OF course the eliminating glory was the
harvest display In a vast amphitheatre. An
immense ~triumphai arch SPAWNED the cen
trail stand, or tribunal, as they call it here.
This was covered with cedar, it must nave
required a forest. while the ground door was
reserved for the horticultural display. This
arch was decorated by a border Of
fruits of brilliant c~olors; from the cen
ter was suspended the escutcheon of
Wurtsmburg. made of grains OF corn and a
shining blackberry. There were millions In
II, AMI the effect was strikingly ar
tlAtic. A triumphal column twenty
five feet in height and proportion
ately thick rested on a large pedestal
composed OF pale green apples. all OF the
same shade. Around the base there was a
Grecian border Of yellow and red ears OF
corn The main column was composed Of
silver skin and pink onions, surmounted by
a capital OF yellow pears. This bore profuss
heaps of growing plants and Vegetables,
squashes, pumpkins, gourds, rcd peppers,
etc. the whole presenting a mass OF colors
No harmoniously blended that l stood daz-
lied, enchanted, and you remember ! never
went into much enthusiasm over floral dec
o~rations at home
The base OF the grand stand was decorated
with shsavss OF wheat and barley. while
there vera supsrb displays OF each separate
kind OF fruit and vegetable artistically
grouped. The grapes were OF every size and
c,lor, ard there were apricots in profusion.
Tn fs>tisinss lasted for a week, but my
ar.o- knew no abatement DiRni1ed Ger
many forgets her dignity at this happy car
nival 1t Is considered highly tiscourt,ous
TO notice an impatient word or gesture, or an
imfertinent speech. Crowds OF students are
there, full Of merry praRks-hilariou and
good-natured through every vicissitude OF
the day with its mad jollity. Many OF them
wear notices on their hats-~Verliebt," err
gagged, or "Ledig." single. A sudden sound,
a. II a swarm OF locusts, ~startles you-it Is
only a band of students. each OF whom il
twirling a wooden toy, which initiates per-
fectly the whirrinz OF those vivacious in
scots.
A Pdnch-and- July show meets you at
every turn, while the usual m~onstro-ities are
placarded in immense letters. But the
favorite amusement Is the m-erry1go-round.
There ara rows OF these "childrenis delightsn
~rivaiins each other ia gorgeous decorations.
Many substitute. for the customary wooded
horses. ELEPHANT, lions, camels, tigers and
ostriches, which begin their gay journey the
moment che orchestra gives the signal, the
living freight being of all ages
and sexes. Sach madnessl such merri-
menti az accompany these dying
Dutchnienl Chubby littls peasants aud
p~easants sses lave savs1 their pfsnnings for
a year to ride behind four white elephants In
9 mefry-So-round; no novelty soduces them
to try other fields OF delight There are
whole avenues OF E~ayly-dressed booths,
with wares from every climate undor the
SUI, and rows upon rows of restaurant tents.
where Teutonic dishes ara sarved in all their
integrity. Fritters and salad are Siamess
twins-not to DO separated; that Is, you may
separate the salad. but not the ~fritters.
Some Of the dishes arc incomprehensibls.
The excitement OF the Volksfest Is SO intox-
icating that Instead of producing WEAKNESS
1t creates a desire for more" l long to see
another.