Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1886-12-30
MUNcH'S YOLKS FEST.
A EpEEOom AND HILARITY THAT
is FOREIGN TO AMERICA.

The Peasantry at the Side Shows, on the
Roller Coasters and the Merry-GO-
Rounds-A Festival for the People at
Large-At Church.
On Sunday morning we attended service at
the Palace church in Munich Every seat was
occupied, and crowds of peasants and other
visitors stood in the aisles The officiating
priest were a magnificent robe, a mass OF gold
embroid.ry in keeping with the richness Of
the church interior. But what was most i'm
pressive was the fact that now and then
peasant woman, in her picturesque attire,
would leave the crowd, and, advancing rever-
emily to the steps of the altar, would kneel
there in devout worship, visible to the entire
congregation, and yet utterly unconscious Of
aught save the solemnity of this annual privi-
lege-a privilege to excite the wonder and
envy of homestaying neighbors in remote
Bavarian villages and Tyrolian forest homes.
On other Sundays in such churches one
sees no peasants at the altar of a royal
church-at least, this was the only oc-
casion on which we saw this close inter
mingling Of petrician-and peasant life, and
this phase of its exhibition was more in
teresting than that revealed by the yolks
fest IN all its mad jollity. There is a reason
for this. Such festival indicates in itself a
wide license in personal intercourse free
dom and hilarity of manner that is foreign
to America and which snocks the American
visitor by its reckless lack of restraint. But
within the church walls or in the picture gal
leries one sees peasantry in a dignified aspect,
and associates it with the reverence accorded
to the place. 1t would be impossible TO bring
within a narrow space two wider conceptions
Of art than that revealed by this church in
terror with its marbles and frescoes and gor-
geOus vestments on the one hand, and the
picturesque peasant attire on the other-at-
tire sanctioned by tradition, and reverently
adhered to even in this world of art forms
which Munich certainly is.
PICTURESQUE PEASANT ATTIRE.
Over bright skirt of one color there is a
bodice of another; this bodice is laced across
the front with silver chain, or held to-
gether by clasps of silver set with jewels. A
gay silk kerchief is folded about the neck
and shoulders At the back the corner is
caught up into fold and held by similar
clasp, while silver beads, also jeweled, adorn
the neck
In the hair ieweled combs are worn, with
coats of the men flash with a profusion Of
silver buttons, exquisitelv. carved and fire.
quently set with Jewels The stockinrS are
not entire, as with US. They are simply en-
broidere6 buckskin or silk shapes made to
lace over the calf, leaving the ankle and
knee perfectly bare, and the name, literally
translated, is @calf stockings" The low
shoes, short knee breeches, and jaunty hat,
with little feather on one side, make pic
turesque toilet In some districts the woolen
hats have such broad brims that they pro
trude beyond the shoulders, and produce an
exceedingly grotesque effect. The little
children whom we saw with their parents
were simply miniature men and women, re
peatng the costumes of their elders.
The festival was Just what its name i'm
plies-a festival for the people at large, ara
in its innumerable side shows, roller coasters,
merry-gorounds, ETC., suggested an Ameri-
can agricultural fair. Each booth offered for
sale its peculiar kind Of wares; everybody
laughed and jested and sang. There was
line of booths in which broiled sausages were
sold. A bed Of clay several inches thick was
laid on long board, which answered as a
counter On this q charcoal fire was lighted
under gridiron, and the sausages broiled
freshly for each visitor at 10 pfennigs each
(215 cents.
BOOTHS AND RESTAURANTS
At another line of booths broiled fish were
sold There the fire of charcoal embers was
made directly on the ground. Sticks were
then inserted in the soil and made to incline
at a suitable angle over the fire. The fish was
carefully cleaned and salted, gashes cut in the
sides, and then each stick inserted in the
mouth of the fish, which thus slowly broiled
over the Goals
There were many open-air restaurants in
inclosed spaces, each having its band of music
and supplying its guests with beer and other
refreshments. English walnuts, which grow
here, were sold in great profusion All over
Europe Munich beer is celebrated, and Mu-
mich is par excellence the great beer drinking
place. A grand pavilion, decorated with
evergreens and flowers, held the seats from
which the royal family looked on at the
games and sights of the volks fest, and about
this Che crowd surged for glimpse at the
prince regent, who has assumed his royal
duties since the suicide of Ludwig II in June.
The people idolized the mad king and for
gave his debts-40, ,OOO, 900 marks $50, 900, 600
which is the greatest possible proof of their
alteration. Yet the madness and jollity went
on as if he had never been, this. king who
lived aloof from his people as though he were
god.-Munich Cor. Courier-J ournal.