Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1886-11-20
HARVEST THANKSGIVING
CELEBRATING THE CLOSE OF TIE
HARVEST IN GERMANY.

Lord and Peasant-Drawing tho
Festooned Wagon-The Pastors
Blessing-Merry-making
In Germany, writes Mary Gorden in
the New York Obserofr, the close of the
harvest is celebrated by the "Ernte-
dankfest," or harvest thanksgiving. 1t
is not general festival like its Ameri-
can relative. In New England each
farmer is owner and master Of the bit Of
land from which, by the sweat of hi
brow, he keeps the thorns and thIstles,
and thus all the little proprietors may be
United and centered like composite
flower, and blossom out into one general
thanks giving. But in Germany theland
remains chiefly in large estates, and the
extent of these domains places the own
ers so far asunder that it would be diff
cult to unite them in one common idea
Almost every castle has, nestled down
Just beyond th. confines of its park,
little village or fsdorf, . where the people
live who d. the work, and help carry on
the estate of the gentleman. Zach vii
lage has its church, parsonage and
school l-house, but the church affairs,
as we'll as the educational, are largely
in the hands of the lord. Tic eudal
, idea was long since exploded in
Germany, but when the explosion took
place many PARTICLES of the cd system
remained in the air, will someth ng of
the fabulous vitality ascribed to atoms
of musk, for the atmosphere bout these
largo isolated estates is st charged
with them, and they are very pcrceptible
to one stepping into that air from the
untainted, almost irrevercnt atmosphere
OF America. Everything centres IN the
'Herr" or lord. The dwell ers in. tho
little village regard the dwelle 6 in the
castle as race of superior beings. Even
the c!erg man makes humble classifica-
ton of himself when in the pr sence of
this representative of long line of
landed prop ietors, and holds it great
honor. annually or smi-anpually, to be
b dden to leave his simple parsonage
hoard and sit at the castle feast. When
the nobl man and his ia nily drive out,
the peasant pauses with bal ed head while
the carriage passe; and follows it with
look of pride at the thought that he
has served its proprietor SO long that his
grandfather served his masters grand
father, and so back through the respec-
tive grandfathers of generations.
Each proprietor having many peop'e
under him--often hundreds-arrange
the Harvest Festival as be suits his
convenience It. is in reality q merry
making for his retinue OF servants.
When the graingeld is ready to yield up
its last load of t .easure large. cart is
drawn into the yard of one of the peas
ants, and the young people gather abou
it end trim it with wreaths, flowers and
leaf-festoons. To this are attached SIX
or eight horses likewise decked with
garlands. The cart is taken to the field,
where the loading of it goes on more as
sport than as work. When the last
sheaf has been tossed up, a poe, SUI.
mounted by gay wreath, is stuck in
the load, and the faucifui but heavy
laden vehicle rumbles and sways on its
way 10 the village, followed by au ever
growing crowd Of women and children.
When the parsonage is reached the
cart stops the pastor ZONES forth with
his little black skull-sap on, ard a Lush
falls over the merri cent. viii the good
man returns thanks for the bounty
of the harvest, and Graves BILE, ing
upon its use. Then the gay process
sion resumes its jollity, and its line
of march toward its destination
Tho whole day, and often two, are
given up TO merry making and fessting,
for which many hands have been busy
for days preparing the viand'. One
evening at least is devoted to dancing.
Some large, airy barn is selected as q
ballroom. The floor is swept. the walls,
the hay-mows end the stalls of the cattle
are profusely decorated with boughs of
the linden and oak, relieved by holauets
and garlands of bright flowers. The
girls bring forth the trea. ures of their
wardrobe, and appear with bright 'ker-
chiefs fastened tastefully over their
tightly braided faxen locks, or with an
immense stiff back bow attached to The
back of the head, as taste or custom die
tate. Often bodice is worn over full,
light waist, and the C, with the bright
colored short pe;ticoats, made of heavy
wooden stuff, add greatly to the pietar-
esqueness of the whole scene. The old
village fiddler-for there seems always to
bave been one in every village siuc- the
time of the Nibelungea comes with his
violin, and furnishes the music with Q
capacity for endurance which could h We
been evol, ed only by beer and sausage.
One cannot rightly say that "the light
fantastic toe" grows upon such broad,
practical feet rs 60 jumping over the
barn floor. heir daily walk is ever
lilc's roughest paths, and t:at in OGDEN
shoes. but there is aspontaneous grace to
youth, wherever found, and the enjoy
ment of the older ones, who have grown
stiff in faithful service, scc ms not in the
least m rrsd by sense OF the lack of it.
Often the servants from neig-boring es-
tates come as guects to t'c festivities.
Tne sons ftom the castle leave their dig
nifty for once. and RE found turning the
pretty pea ant RI in the dance. The
ladies, who usually are present as specta-
to's, often have dance or two with the
overseer, who is almo alwsys person
Of some culture; but as he is not noble,
to dance with him is a ccndescensiou for
these danes, who roll their famiIy wont
ms sweet morsel undrr their tongues.
Schiller refers. to the harvest festival in
L =. naGr--.