Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-06-28
DENMARK FARMERS.
THE PEAsANTRy DIVIDED INTO
FOUR DISTINCT CLASSES

Feeding aid Lodging the Laboren-Home-
ssead 81 the yeoman FarDsr-The Law
~ gnherstanap-Clzss Distinctions Con-
eer.iss saarrtaee-Keeptns Poaitry.
The peasantTy of Denmark are divided
into four distinct classes. namely. the
"Gaardmand- pronounced Gormanl or
yeoman farmer who either owns or rents
from thirty to eighty Eve acres lEng,ish)-
secondly the ..Parceiist.- who owns or
rents from eight TO thirty acres, thirdly
the Husband" or cottager. with from
one TO eight acres. and lastly. the In
slider. who generally rents his cottage
and garden plot and from this last class
il is that the isboring men are principally
drawn
Until marriage the laboring men are fed
and lndged upon the farm where they work,
aud in one Of the buildings just referred
TO are the dormitories for the harle. OF
which upon such Q farm there would BE-
about twelve beside the foreman. there.
too. il the roomy kitchen. and the refec
tory where these stalwart hungry youths
are fed and particularly well fed. too.
part aking Of no less than five good meals
day Al in the morning their break
fast il served consisting of huge slices Of
bread and butter-cuf by q machine
with coffee and small glass OF snaps.
or corn brandy on the island Of Zealand
this early meal Is . kind Of thick soup
made Of rye bread and beer with which
4 salt herring Is eaten At noon dinner,
which Is soup or porridge. followed by
meat or Goldfish. or pork. with vegetables
and beer at p N bread and butter.
cheese beer and more snaps. and finally.
u supper Of porridge with milk
The farm hands are hired by the half
year and the whole system has hitherto
worked to the mutual satisfaction OF both
laborer and employer This however. is
greatly due to the fact that there exists
code Of hiring laws which provides an easy
settlement OF all disputes bet ween master
and man Every servant farm or domes
tic Is under these laws compelled to keep
q book which is officially registered. and
wherein are written all his OF hei certi6
Gates OF character. each one of which is
necessarily countersigned by the magis
trate Of the district wherein the master
or mistress resides
The Gaardmand's homestead is substan
tial. square and matched. the barns.
stables. etc. are joined to it. forming to
gether a quadrangular farm yard with
the entrance gate facing the dwelling At
the back is garden. usually OF about
three quarters of all acre. devoted to fruit.
vegetables and hops. with few roses
and gilly flowers near the house door
farmer working from sixty to eighty acres
will have upon his farm two 'karles."
boy and two girls for the dairy. all of
whom are helped in their work by their
master and his family Generally such
farmer keeps upon his land fifteen or more
cows four sheep. four horses and two
goats. for every farmer is a horse breeder
more or less The poultry is his wifes
care and perquisite and forms highly
important item in her yearly budget
These farms. when owned by the yeoman
are. generally speaking. mortgaged for
half their value. q fact to be attributed in
most instances to the repeal of the law of
primogeuiture
AT present the parent is permitted. If
he pleases to leave one third of his prop
erty to his eldest son. u clause in the law
of inheritance much appreciated and in
general use As tie valuation for probate
is extremely low. the eldest son generally
raises loan with which to buy out his
brothers and sisters. with their consent
and the race being a practical one, en-
dowed with generous instincts. this u.odi
fed form Of 'partage force does not ap
pear az yet to produce the jealous feuds
OF to work the evil ii is known TO TO in
other countries. though as indeed the
system has not been long in force. it is
perhaps rash to predict that it may effect
no change for TIE worse during the lapse
Of century In cases where q +ean Is
impossible, owing to previous mortgage
subdivision steps in. and in soIce instances
has been repeated until the Elipimum area
has been reached under the new law Ell
ready referred to Necessarily il the
family be numerous. and oil elect to re
tain their share IN the land they sink to
the position of Husmand and have to
resort to trade to exc out their liveli
hood Should. however a younger mem
Der of the family have had the good luck
to have married the child of a1vealthy
Gaardmand with a good dowry. then the
newly married pair proceed to buy small
farm of about twenty five acres. and be
come Parcelsts
Class distinctions are clearly marked
and rlgidly adhered to among the peas
antry Not so very long ago it was argued
from certain political platforms i'll the
Mdlands that the farm laborer who pos
sessed three acres and a cow would no
longer have the need to touch his hat to
the squire Judging from the Danish
peasantry however. a race fully as sturdy
and independent as our own. it would ap-
pear that an increase In the number of
owners of land does but augment the
number of those who demand a respectful
salutation from the laborer whether he
possesses a COW or not Also as regards
marriage. Gaardmand's son marries al
most invariably Gaardmand's daughter
When the marriage of Gaardmands son
with a Husmands daughter occurs. all
the peasant society Of the district is put
in a hutter. and the match is considered
a grave mesalliance. not at all to be en-
couraged The younger sons of Gard
mand who have neither the prospect of a
good inheritance nor of a good match. ."
usually learn village trade. such as
that Of wheelwrigbt or blacksmith those
with better education and more enlieht
ened may become village schoolmas.ers
and village vets. aud sometimes if they
have preference for horseflesh they may
take the post of coachman at the HERE
mands. thoegh it Is rare for the yeoman
sClASS u eu-eT QOuitSliC stThlC0 DtSt
who do so. like those who take to trade
lose caste. and may freely choose their
wives from the Husmands daughters.
t.: not SO the veterinary, or schoolmas
ter. for whom it would be objectionable
Fowls are kept invariably They help
to pay the rent. and often more besides
Upon the highway one meets the tiny
child of or 5, fair haired and blue eyed
her mother in miniature as regards
dress, from the close fitting cap and large
apron to the little sa5ots peeping out
from under the long. full petticoats She
Is armed with Witty. and is there alone
to guard the flock Of poultry searching
for a meal by the wayside. and which.
ever living on terms Of close intimacy
with the family are well conducted birds.
easily amenable to discipline. In winter
they are slowed away in all sorts Of
places. In the loft. or more often in
hutehes .-Fortnightly Review.