The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-06-20
DENMARK FARMERS.
THE PEASANTRY DIVIDED INTO
FOUR DISTINCT CLASSES.
feeding and Lodging the Laborers-Home-
stead Of the Yeoman Farmcr-The Law
OF Inhcrifance-Class Distinctions Con-
corning Marriage-kceping Pouitry'

The peasantry OF Denmark are divided
Into four distinct classes. n;Snely. the
"Gaardmand" pronounced Gornanl or
woman farmer. who either owns or rents
from thirty to eighty-fvc acres CEngiish):
secondly. the "Parcelist. who owns or
rents from eight TO thirty acres, thirdly
the .IIusmand. or cottager, with from
one 10 eight acres; and lastly the In
slider. who generally rents his cottage
and garden plot. and from this last class
IL is that the Iaboring men are principally
drawn q,
Until marriage the laboring men are fed
and LODGED upon the farm Were they work.
mud i'm one OF She buildings just referred
10 are tie dormitories for the "kar!e, OF
which upon such farm there would b.
about twelve. beside the foreman. there.
Soe. Is the roomy kitchen. and the refec
Tory. where these stalwart hungry youths
aye fed and particularly well fed. too
partaking Of no less than five good meals
a day. At in the morning their break
fast is served. consisting Of hinge slices OF
bread and buttcr-cut by machine
with coffee and a small glass OF snaps.
o,. corn brandV. on the island of Zealand
,bis early meal is a kind Of thick soup
made of rye bread and beer. with which
a salt herring is eaten At noon dinner,
which is soup or porridge. followed by
,ncat. or Goldfish. or pork. with vegetables
ard beer. at 4 p m. bread and butter
choose. beer. and more snaps, and finally,
n supper of porridge with milk
The farm hands are hired by the half
wear. and the whole system has hitherto
worked 10 the mutual satisfaction of both
laborcr and employer This. however, l.
,yantlv due 10 the fact that there exists
SNNie Of hiring laws which provides an easy
settlement of all disputes between master
and maa Every servant. farm or domes
tie. is under these laws compelled to keep
"A bOol; which is officially registered and
wherein are written all his oil her certih-
cafes Of character. each one OF which Is
necessarily countcrsigned by the magis.
trate of the district wherein the master
Or mistress resides
The Gaar&manl's homestead Is substan
riai. square and tbatchcd; the barns,
stobles etc. are Joined to it, forming to-
grt he n Qnadrangular farm yard. with
ihc entrance gate facing the dwelling. AT
the back is q garden. usually of about
vegetables and hops. with few roses
and gillv flowers near the house door i
garnor working from sixty TO eighty acres
viii have upon his farm two "karles. Il
boz. and two girls for the dairy. all of
whom are helped in their work by their
auoster and his family Generally such
farmer keeps upon his land fifteen or more
r,srvS. four sheep. four horses and two
g.
more or less The poultry is his wifc's
care and pcrquisitc. md forms highly
important item in her yearly budget
These farms. when owned 10y the yeoman,
are, generally speaking mortgagcd for
.i9lf their value. fact to be attributed in
Nrrst instances TO the repeal Of the law OF
At present the parent is permitted, il
lie pleases. to leave one third Of his prop
erty to his eldest SON clause in the law
W inheritance much appreciated and i'll
general use As the valuation for probate
Is extremely low tho eldest son generally
r'aises loan with which to buy out his
brothers and sisters. with their consent
ard the race being q practical one, en-
jowcd with generous instincts. this modi-
Ged form of "partagc force does rot ap
pcar as vet 20 produce the jealous feuas
or IS work the eva II O. known - 30 ~
other countries though as indeed the
system los not been long in force. it is
perhaps rash TO predict thai it may effect
no change for the worse during the lapse
OF q century. In cases where a loan Is
impossible owing 20 previous mortgage,
subdivision steps in. and in some instances
has been repeated until the minimum area
has been reached under the new law al
readv referred 10 Necessarily. if the
family be numerous ard all elect TO re
1nin their share in the land. they sink to
the position of Husmand. and have 20
resort 10 trade TO exc out their liyeli
hood. Should, however younger mem
Der OF the family have had the good luck
to have married the child Of wealthy
Gaardmand with good dowry. then the
newly married pair proceed to buy a small
EssTn of about twenty-five acres. and be
come Parcelists.
Class distinctions are clearly marked
and rigidly adhered to among the peas
antry. Not so vc.y long agoit was argued
from certain political platforms in the
Midlands that the farm laborer who pos
.scss.,d three acres and a COW" would no
iGitNtr nave the ilttu ~ tOutu LIS i4tV ~
The squire Judging from the Danish
pcreantry. however. q race fully rs sturdy
and independent rs our own. it would ap
rrar that IN increase in the number OF
owners of land does bu; augment the
number Of those who demand Il respectful
salutation from the laborer, whether he
;aos,esscs = COW or not. Also as regards
Snnrr;agc. q Gaardmands son marries al
most Invariably % Gaardmands daughter
Wien the marriage Of GaardmGnds son
with llusmuas daughter occurs, all
the peasant society of the district is put
in tlutter, and the match is considered
= grave mesalliance, not at all to be en-
qs'oraged Tho younger sons of Gard
,l,and who have neither the prospect of a
good inheritance nor of good match.
usually learn village trade, such IS
that Of wheelwTight or blacksmith; those
with better education and more enlight-
cned may become village scEoolmasters
and village vets. and sometimes. if they
have q preference for horseilcsh, they may
take the post of coachman at the Here