Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-12-25
Among tue Wends.


New York Graphic.i
The Wends are the remnant, number
irg altogether 10000, Of an ancient
Sclavonic nation surviving in few dis
tricts Of North Germany, partly in La,
satia, a province of the Kingdom OF
Saxony, and partly in the Prussian pro-
vince of Brandenburg, especially Ia
the Sprcewald, forty or fifty miles
southeast Of Berlin. The Spreewald
is a level region Of woodlands and
marsh-meadOws, intersected by many
winding branches Of the river Spree,
which are traversed in punts. They
are industrious, frugal, and compare
lively wealthy peasants, retaining their
national costume, manners, habits, and
language, but were friendly aud hospi-
table to their visitors, and could speak
German, which is taught in the schools.
Around Burg one of the largest VIII
lagos, the raupen or farm-houses, are
substantial buildings, whitewashed and
matched, the roofs having often high
gables. ornamented with crossed and
carved beams, and there is sometimes
wooden gallery outside the house. For
merly q carved figure Of horses
head, which had some NEUROLOGICAL
significance in half.psgan times, was
frequent decoration of the roof-beams.
On the grass-plot in front, where the
homespun linen is spread for bleaching,
large fir-troe is usually growing; the
river close by is crossed by raised
foot-bridge, with step-ladder at each
end, and with a single hand-rail, while
tie punts are tied up at the landing
place. The little garden IS bright with
red peonies and white guelder roses.
Some hamlets are built on small
islands, the shores of which are pro-
tected by stakes and beams a! the
waters edge. The Wendish-men an
gomeR are seen working in their o@n
fields, each peasant owning, perhaps,
twenty acres, cultivated by the labor
of himself and his family. Being 50
thrifty and buying scarcely anything
except groceries, making their own
clothing and wooden furniture, they
save a great deal Of money. Every
year the family will salt down or cure
two sheep and twp pigs for winter con-
sumption four or five Stalled COWS
provide their milk and butter there is
poultry in the yard and fruit and yege-
tables in the garden. Wood is obtain
ed from the forest that belongs TO the
local community, and peat is found in
abundance. Their crops and cattle are
chiefly for their own consumption.
They grow their own fax, which Is
spun by the girls in merry winter eve
ming parties. finishing with song AMI
dance; and some OF their homespun
wool is exchanged at the neighboring
town for wool dyed Of bright colors'
from which they weave the stuil OF
their splendid holiday and Sunday
dresses.
A wendish young lady wears
scarlet petticoat edged With black, with
yellow seams up the plaits, wide,
clean apron, a black velvet corslet,
across which is folded bright hand
kerchief Of yellow and red pattern, and
a starched white bead.dress Of impo-
sing shape. The wedding Of bride
who had a dowry OF 10000 thalers
was grand affair tLe women appeared
in bright silk heal.dresses with tro-
meDdous stiff ruiis OF the Elizlbe.h1n
style around their faces, lace necker-
chief, velvet bodices, and gorgeous silk
aprons over the heavy skirts of en-
broidered cloth. The bride wore a
myrtle wreath around her head, and
carried her lace veil in her hands on
leaving the church. The Wendish
household is comfortable; there is
large tiled stove N the sitting room,
with a settee around it, and bench
goes all around the room; in the wiz
| dow, behind white curtains, arc pos
| q flowers; the bedroom is snug AMI
the huge feather-bed is only too sott,
but the bed linen is clean and fresh
large chests are filled with clothes f'r
ell occasions, neatly folded and scented
with lavender. Different dresses, skirts,
scarfs, and caps are worn by a Wend-
h lady at church, at toe communion
service. at a wedding, or festival, an5
in private life; she will have, perhaps.
fifteen to eighteen dresses, each worth
fifty to sixty thalers, but they last her
| lifetime. In gcing to funeral, the
women. ever their black garments, pa.
On long white shrouds, looking like
Ghosts. A boat filled with such
i1ourners was rowed silently down the
river, aud with bereaved another in
tently gazing on Der little child's coffin,
decLed with q black cross and wreaths
Of white flowers. These simple Wend-
ish folk, who live so peacefully no. far
from the great capital Of Prussia. will
probably be Germanized before many
more years have passed, and their pic
turesque peculiarities will no longer
be seen on the banks of the Spree.