Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1888-01-06
palMlrluE PEASANTS.
rho Social Condition of tho simple 1"
habltants OF tho Azores.

I'm our way through tho country W.
saw wheat being trodden OUT III th'
old.fashioned manner by yokes OF oxen
The Scriptural injunction in regard "
not muzzling the OK was more hon"re
!, the breach than in the observance
This laxity on the part OF the iihaol
tonts can be excused, however, when
tbe biph taxes under which they laboi
are considered. The Government eN-
,cts and vigorously collects an exorbl-
tant toll from every farmer IN the
islands: besides this. he is taxed Tor
personal properly, for maintenance OF
a doctor in his district, and for school,
inr. if obtained at night, which amounts
to the sam. rs tlxing him for day
school. as under the circumstances it Is
hardly possible for the young Azorean
70 spend mach of his time during the
dav in the idle diversion OF the three
RS. The Church. of course, comes
in for its share, although this last lux
ury is nominally free.
The pay of frst-class workman is
usually 50 to 60 cents per day, including
meals. Farm laborer5 are not paid so
well; they get % to 30 cents and many
are clad to work for II bare subsistence.
The dream of PEASANTS life in the
Azores is to be able to get to America.
This is his FL Dorado, and whole families
deny themselves for years so as to save
enough money to send the younger
members of the household TO the land
of promise Fifty dollars is accounted
large capital with which to start the
happy youth in life. If this can not be
raised before he reaches the age OF
fifteen he either has to leave with less
money or not leave ut all, rs no one Is
allowed to emigrate after reaching that
age.
The utmost cure is taken that no one
breaks this law, but here, Us in most
cases the world over, where there is
will there is a way" Many peasants
whose families were too poor to provide
them with the necessary dot before the
age of restriction, by steady industry
and frugality accumulate sufliclen
money to pay their passage to America
in some of The YES sells trailing between
the islands and the States. When the
vessel quits port with clean clearance
from the local authorities she immedi
ately proceeds to pat rs much distance
between her and the island Us possible
seemingly But once beyond the view
of the sharp-eyed officials speed i
slackcned, and under cover Of the dark
ness she returns toward the island ant
lowers boat when off some pre-ar
ranged spot to take on board the runa
ways. At other tines another plan i
adopted. A vessel touching at one islant
and bound for another Of the groul
takes on board some of the natives IL
passengers for the latter place. Thi
is perfectly legitimate and nothing
done to hinder her departure. When
however, it is found that these native
are not only ready. bat anxious to fore
go the pleasure of landing at the secon
port and signify their willingness
proceed with the captain wherever h
is going, even to America, and will pa
their passage, he usually ends by find
ing the weather too bad to make tn
port originally intended, and lands hi
passengers in America under certif
cate something to that eff ct.
AT sixteen the Azorean youth is liabl
for military duty and the glories of
soldiers life are thrust upon him for fiv
years whether he is ambitious or no
The pay of Il soldier in the Portuguese
service is not calulutcd to fire the heal
of even the poor Azorean peasant wit
martial longings. Two suits of uniform
consisting of II dingy brown surtout,
stiff shake and very baggy pair
brown linen trousers, complete his on
lit for one year. Three cents per da
is allowed him to purchase bread an
tobacco. Ii after five years of this lu,
urous kind of life he is still found alb
to bear arms, he is put with the reeerv,
where he remains five years longer, sui
jcct to be called upon for duty at
moments notice by the military author
ties. Cor. San Francisco Chronicle.