Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-06-19
TUSCAN FAMILY LIFE.
All HeusehoRA Expenses Betrayed
frOn = COmusOn F0nd.

| Peasant life in Tuscany il SO peculiar and
pstriarehal that this description Of It, taken
from the saturday Reriesc, win be found very
| Interesting: According TO the law and custom
| of the country, on the death Of . father his
property Is equally divided among all his
| children. According to usage 1t II true,
| the youngest has a right to select any articles
he may wish to keep, but he has to pay for
them-that Is, their estimated value is deducted
from the rest OF his inheritance. Now, ii we
| suppose that peasant has four sons, all Of
whom have been used to labor with him, he
will most likely leave at least a small sum of
ready money II he has been at all prudent, but
the greater part of the real capital of the
| family is invested in the farm. They know the
character OF the land and the crops for which
| 10 cultivate IL to such advantage, nor would
they be 80 successful elsewhere. SO they come
70 an Arrangement with each other. The eld-
est brother takes the farm in his own name,
and henceforth becomes the acknowledged
head of the family. All it's business is man
aseo oy MIN. and, in theory at least, he be-
comes possessed of ali the authority mis- father
once enjoyed. AS, however, either of the
others can withdraw at will, and in that case
ms portion must be paid over to him In ready
money, it is obviously the interest of the elder
brother to act with justice and moderation.
1t did before the death of the father. The old
nome Is kept up, the brothers and sisters
continue to take their meals together, and all
Tue housenoid expenses are betrayed from the
common fund.
Sucn an arrangement Is so simple and OBJ.
Vlous that III 4, doubtless occasionally adopted
IN otner countries, at least during the Life of
the mother. But elsewhere such associations
are generally broken up by marriage. In
tuscany this Is not the case. The daughters,
III IS true receive their portions as dOwries,
and leave their home for their husbands;
Those who remain furnish out of the com.
mon iund the wedding feast, which is often q
sumptuous entertainment when compared
WITH their usual way of life. That Is all.
w men one of the sons desires to marry, the first
step ne taxes Is TO consult the head of the
family, VINO has right to object on prudential
grounds, but who would be exceeding the
recognized limits of bis authority if ne were
TO endeavor TO influence his brothers choice.
Female labor is so valuable that, unless there
are large number OF single sisters, assent
Is IN most cases readily given, and the vile i'm
medlateiy becomes q member of the aSsOcia-
ton and shares the food and labor Of the
rest. Her dowry remains the private property
oi herself aud her husband, but 1t is considered
put aside Tor the Use OF her children; and SO
whenever she requires new dress or shoes,
or any thing more than board and lodging,
she, like her husband, has to ask the elder
brother for the money, and ne generally takes
care that the sums thus supplied To the various
except IN exceptional cases. Ali the children
are brought up nj the common expense, and
no member OF the association Eas "A right to ex-
pect any compensation because mis- brother has
SIX and he has none. The cost Is, of course,
smaller than ii would be in England, as in the
vineyards and olive gardens work can soon be
found Tor the little people, which keeps them
out OF mischief, while 1t also contributes to the
value OF the harvest. For the chief crops OF
tuscany repay an inceSsant watchfulness,
Is Within the mental and bodily capacity OF a
child.