Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1888-06-26
DENMARK FARMERS.
THE PEASANTHY DIVIDED INTO
FOUR DISTINCT CLASSES.

Feeding and Lodging the Labercrs-Home-
stead OF the Yeoman Farmer-The Law
OF Inheritance-Claas Distinctions Con-
ccrning Marriage-Keeping Poultry.
The peasantry Of Denmark are divided
into four distinct classes. namely, the
"Gaardmand" pronounced Gormanl OF
yeoman farmer, who either owns or rents
from thirty to eighty five acres (Engiish);
secondly. the "Parcelist." who owns OF
rents from eight to thirty acres, thirdly.
the "Husmand. or cottager. with from
one to eight acres; and lastly. the I'm
sidder." who generally rents his cottage
and garden plot; and from this last class
it Is that the laboring men are principally
drawn
Until marriage the laboring men are fed
and lodged upon the farm where they work,
and in one Of the buildings Just referred
to are the dormitories for the ''Karle," =" of
which upon such farm there would be
about twelve. beside the foreman; there.
too. Is the roomy kitchen. and the refec-
tory. where these stalwart hungry youths
are 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 huge slices of
bread and butter-cut 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
a 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 m, bread and butter.
cheese. beer. and more snaps, and finally.
a supper Of porridge with milk.
The farm hands are hired by tho 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 q
code of hiring laws which provides an easy
settlement OF all disputes between 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 or her certif
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
tiai, square and thatched; the barns.
stables. ETC.. are joined to It. forming to-
gether quadrang,ilar farm yard, with
the entrance gate facing the dwelling At
the back is q garden. usually of ebout
of an acre. devoted to fruit,
vegetables and hops. with a few roses
and gilly flowers near the house door. A
farmer working from sixty to eighty acres
will have upon his farm two "karies," q
boy. and two girls for the dairy, all of
whom sre helped in their work by their
farmer keeps upon his land fifteen or more
cows. four sheep. four horses and two
goats. for every farmer is horse breeder
more or less The poultry is his wife's
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. fact to be attributed In
most instances 10 the repeal OF the law of
primogeniture-
At present the parsnt Is permitted, If
he pleases. to leave one-third of his prop
erty to his eldest son. clause In the law
Of inheritance much appreciated and In
general use. As the 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-
iowed with generous instincts, this modi-
led form Of '.partage force" does not ap
pear as yet to produce the jealous feuds
ar to work the evil 1t Is known to do 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 the worse during the lapse
Of q century In cases where loan is
impossible, owing to q previous mortgage.
steps in. and in some instances
has been repeated until the minimum area
has been reached under the new law al
ready referred to Necessarily, II the
family be numerous. and all elect to re
tain their share in the land. they sink to
the position of Husmand. and have to
resort to q trade to eke out their liveIi
hood. Should. however, younger mem
Der of the family have had the good luck
to have married the child Of wealthy
with good dowry. then the
newly married pair proceed to buy small
farm Of about twenty-five acres, and be-
,ome Parcelists
Class distinctions nre clearly marked
and rigidly adhered to among the peas
,ntry Not SO very long egoit was argued
from certain political platforms IN the
Midlands that the farm laborer who pos
'essed three acres and a cow" would no
onger have the need to touch his hat to
he squire. Judging from the Danish
however. q race fully as sturdy
md independent as our own. it would ap-
,ear that an increase In the number of
,wners of land does but augment the
number of those who demand respectful
'alutation from the laborer, whether he
a cow or not. Also as regards
marriage. Gaardmand's 3 son marries al
nest invariably Gaardmand's daughter.
When the marriage of Gaardmand's 3 son
With Husmand's daughter occurs, all
he peasant society OF the district Is put
n u 6utter. and the match Is considered
grave mesalliance. not at all to be en-.
outraged The younger sons Of Gaard-
nand who have neither the prospect of q
rood inheritance nor Of a good match.
Usually learn a village trade, such as
hat of wheelwright or blacksmith; those
With better education and more enlight-
ned may become village schoolmasters
md village "vets." and sometimes, If they
ave preference for horsefesh, they may
AXE the post of coachsan at the HERE
nand's. though it Is rare for the yeoman
lass to enter domestic service. Those
vho do so. like those who take to trade,
ose caste. and may freely choose their
vives from the Husmand's daughters.
nut not SO the veterinary. or schoolmas-
er. for whom it would be objectionable.
Fowls are kept invariably They help
o pay the rent. and often more besides
lpon the highway one meets the tiny
hid of or 5. fair haired and blue eyed.
er mother In miniature as regards
ress. from the close fitting cap and large
prom to the little sabots peeping out
rom under the long, full petticoats. She |
, armed with Witty. and is there alone |
o guard the flock Of poultry searching |
or meal by the wayside, and which. |
yer living on terms Of close intimacy |
nth the family. are well conducted birds. |
asily amenable TO discipline. In winter |