West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1886-05-14
AN INTERESTING PEOPLE.

The Peculiarities of tho Pennsylvania
Germans Described by One OF Them.
Rev. Lee Holman recently delivered
an interesting discourse on 'Pcnnsyl-
vania Germans" in Grace Lutheran
Church, Chicago. In the course of his
remarks the speaker observed:
The Pennsylvania Germans are
really Americans. They have descend
ed from foreign parcntagc, but reared
on Pennsylvania soil, they have 80
long stood aloof from the Germans.
that the tongue of that nation is but
poorly understood by them. They
have, however, retained the language
of their fathcrand, but with such alb
brcyiations and notifications a. would
make it accord with the busy progress
of American life.
Originally, many of them were
Quakers. but they have touched the
life lines of our country in all drcc-
ton, ahd are enrolled i'm every branch
of civilization fostered by American
freedom, and their tongue, with its
mutilations, haA been heard i'm the halls
of National and State Legislatures with
unvarying might, dignity and credit
They have been ridiculcd for the simple
fact that they have been misunderstood
Their customs and habits are peculiar
ly their own. They had the happy fac
ulty of making work a pleasure, and
learned the grace OF tightening bur
dens by sharing them. Their quilting.
spinning, cider-making, plowing, hay
making, huskingland harvesting. while
being prosecuted in cheerful com
panics. were robbed. af ui<someness
and reduced TO the level Of what they
were able to coDsider daily pleasure.
Much of their domestic drudgerv was
done in rounds, and the weaving Of
bed and table ljncn, the sour-kraut
making, the picKling. the preserving
of fruits and smoking of meats, were all
the result Of mutual interest and mutu-
al help. The bots and girls were sent
to a school supported by general sub
sc7ptiOn, and lessons on morals were
~ literally dispensed a. their hospital
ity or their assistance at the seeding
and harvesting seasons. Their churches
were simple. and so was the service
and the pew. They buried their dead
tenderly, lovingly and sorrowfully. and
with the omission Of much Of the false
ceremony and hollow mockery that D.
now noticeable. Their courtships were
oIlNs anu ulIAhllOIl~ UIl kllOW u. AOI IfNfiit
in affections was considered too dcspic-
able for ANY honorable man or woman
20 indulge i'm. iTt has been said that
Americans have no homes. that their
flowers are without fragrance, and their
birds without song, but the home lif,
Of the old Pennsylvania German IS
living contradiction Of that libel There
was little school life for their sturdy
little children, but the deficiency was
well atoncd for I'm the universally of
home education. They studied the
way Of birds, fish, fowls and beasts, and
their knowledge of the clouds. rainbow.
seasons, moon and stars would shame
many q specialist Of nature The most
jealous edfc and devotion was bestowed
ON the youth, and i'm infancy the child
was -trokcd. and rubbed. and turned.
20 that all parts and every organ I'm the
little anatomy should become vigorous
and as-crtiyc The result was "a race
Of sturdy men and women, Gt not only
10 live, but 20 live we'll They trained
themselves from the cradle 90 frugalitv
and temperance, habits which werc
confined 10 no condition or station.
and even to-day you will find them iu
aiiiucncc early risers, abstenious and
economic. This robust living left no
material for the breeding of tramps
and rascals although they are notwith
ont the average blots Of humanity.
Chic00O Inter OccqH