Wichita eagle., 1888-08-12
NORMANDY PEASANTS HOMES.
Visit to n Hospitable People-A Rural


Visit to Hospitable People-A Rural
Banquet-An Interior.
Why is it, wonder. that one class of hui
manity is always asking itself what the other
class is doing, how it lives, and what its
customs arei It was no doubt a curiosity OF
this kind that prompted US, the other morn.
ing, to drive into the country to visit some Of
the peasants homes that lie hidden among
the hills, back of Houlgate. True, we had no
invitation to these places; we did not even
know the farm owners by name.
After all. ''aristocrats' have very bad
manners compared TO the poor laboring class.
This struck me most forcibly the other day.
and | felt really ashamed of myself and
friends as we boldly entered the gateway to
the first farm. 1t would have served US
right had we been rudely treated and asked
TO vaeate the premises IS we approached
the low, matched roof building, with the
Grapevines covering a wide veranda. the
horse chestnutS spreading their refreshing
shade far over the house, a moro perfect pict-
ure of comfort could not easily be IMAGINED.
Hearing the sound of carriages, three women
made their appearance at the door, and see
Ing we Were 'du grand monde" as they say
hereabouts, three low courtesies were drop
ped and most cordial welcome extended US,
much to my relief and surprise. They were
evidently flattered by our visit. and far from
offended rs had expected They were tho
regulation peasants costume-short skirt,
white blouse, wrists with sleeves rolled I'd
above the elbow, long aprons, neat caps and
wooden sabots. One Of the young women
rang huge bell at tho side Of the house,
whereupon a stable boy came and led our
horses off, and the father and brother. OF the
family assisted Us to alight and led us on 10
the porch, where they requested US to rest
awhile until q slight refreshment should be
prepared.
In short space OF time long table was
brought out and set before US, spread with a
snowy hofneSpun cloth and laid With quaint
old blue china~are and glass. Pots of golden
honey, jugs of cream, loaves Of black bread.
pats CT yellow butter, cakes, cream cheese,
SO celebrated throughout Normandy, cold
meats and pitcher Of cider made UP tho
feast Livery member Of the family waited
upon US and treated us as If we were old and
valued friends, but Zone of them sat ct table
with Us. We did full justice to this ho.nely
fare, after which the interior Of the house
was shown Us, and peeps into huge linen
presses vouchsafed US, where piles Of bleached
and unbleached cloth lay ready as paTt Of tic
dot to go with the first chnd leaving the
home nest. The floors III the house were all
scrubbed to marvellous uhiteness and then
strewn with a fine white sand in some II
the rooms the sand was laid on the foor to
initiate mosaic designs, but tho tread Of
many feet soon ebliterated the pretty work
The old homestead was most comfortable (
in every respect, and tine old fashioned furni- /
ture in it would have made collector weep /
with envy. Large carved oak ar1notres, spin /
ming wheels high backed chairs, four pest bed /
steads, and quaint tables that would have
brought their weight ia precious metal at
some fashionable auction il the capital, we're
thought nothing Of By these people, except I
as ancestral souvenir keepsakes. Great guam
titles Of shell work adorned the walls, and /
eeen made up tho principal bric-a- brac upon /
tho tables and etagerea. The freplaces were
MI those great, generous ones that take in all
tho family, and do 70. leave any one CIT ia
the cold, as some Of cur modern CRATES are
apt to do. AS we expressed cur appreciation
Of the comfortable surroundings the faces Of
both men and women fairly beaH1ed With
yrstihed pride.
Tho dairy. stables, poultry yards and plrs
were next saeyvn Us, and froso the cool. airy
milk room to the sly in the back yard vas
one perfect delight Of cleanliness, prosperity
md plenty. These peoplo are never idle, ana
Tor tdat reason happy: they ars content With
what they have, do not envy any enc, and
i've lives Of psecs and god VIII 20 al men.
faos bears marks Ct tie scrHy na:urs
within, AID car visit 70 la Bresecne. az t...s
faTra Is called, pat better thongl4ts into or
Minds for days 70 cone.-Cor. A-goaaat