The sun., 1890-03-30

a Remnant OF the sInvs who Tnvased Es
rope 900 Wears Ago KespinE Thei1

come Germany and Berlin It's capital there 10
little in the old mark OF BrandonburR which 10
not as cosmopolitan as any other European
province. The Spree is sister 20 the seine the
Thames, and the Danube, and the inhabitants
differ hut little from those OF tho rest OF the
chiiled world. 1t is. therefore, all the more
surprising to find, not twenty leagues from the
imperial capital colony leading a life apart
and absolutely belonging to another era.
Ihe opening of the railway line from Berlin
to Gorlit1. passing through Lubben and Cott-
bus. has revealed TO many hitherto unconscious
TRAVELLERS tho existence OF the irregular popu-
lation dwelling IN tho almost primeval forestoi
oI tho ancient SIavOnic tr DO Of the Wends who
invaded Luropc IN III" thirteenth century The
spree even boyond tho limits OF the foreBte
iar into tho pam and are rerhaps the most
rnmarkabIe OF present German arohaisms.
Tho common obllgntion oi military service
has it is truo. fore cd the Younger generations
term or duly has expired thcy return to thoR
stronghold. I" resume their LANGUAGE, habits.
learned while wearing the uniform;
. The river spree, q ynlGar and medioore
its character In tho Mcnd territory. 1t docs
not cut its way through tho woods in STRAIGHT
streams, gliding under the trees. between the
mOSSo~, roots. anu underbrush; 300 narrow
communication OF u locality neariv iorty miles
in length. ono Is irresistibly reminded OF Hol-
Land and NenIce- u Holland rooted in with
thick foliage; OF Venice, where The ardoP
Of the suns rays is tempered by a veil OF YER
durc. Tho country has belonged. in turn. to
baNAra. i,olema, Austria SaXony. and finally
to Prussia but the change of masters has
never materially Affected tho Wends. who have
Jcalousy lroscrvci their customs.
When the traveller leaves the, train to OK:
plore thus t.rcd D""yn,n he finds no way Of
Guilty in ilnduE skin and hoatmen thoroughly
acquainted with the nt!icacics OF the streams,
and Wiling 70 convey him through the level
stretches 10 the distant settlement Of Burg.
Ihe canoes On the spree resemble Venetian
Tlgh above tho level of the water fore and aft:
the boatman pushes the boat along by means
proper tney are intersectcd by countless canals.
Ine M eyS Part %t hG Mend S tSSrri.PTy con.
hpbted 10y tho proprietors OF each lot Of land.
hoy use the water courses to convey their
children to the schools, AT Lausitz the most
G3mnon products OF cultivation are horse rad
wheto carried on under great difficultles
owing 10 tho severe winters As soon
its branches, ns woll as tho canals, overflow.
and tho plan beyOni the forest Is turned into
visible On its surface This is promptly con.
vertrd into u sheet Of Ice and he boats become
tons Of Lubben and Lubbenau is then carried
on on skates. But even this means OF COM
Spree Wali. who are reduced to the scsnty re-
sources offered by scattered community dis
DcrSeu IN settlements OF dozen cottages, and
by the more numerous but equally scattered
houses OF Burg. distant many miles from the
nearest raj way station.
,lhe quaint charm OF the strangers expe-
dition hUgins on entering the woods; In the
summer the vegetation Is uXuriant under the
sunless trees: creepers, mosses, and waving
ferns arc tangled In lovely confusion, rising
half way up tho rugged trunks Or throwing
their tendrils across the shallow waters; 1t is
almost impossible to believe that other human
beings havetrodden these soitudes and that it
/, not u virgin forest whose depths open before
the boat. Any accident, however, 06luyilR
them in the rreen and intricate mazes after
lives; they are supersttious In the extleme:
traoition 10 them tho elades are peopled win
fantastic or menaclng ioIm vengeful Spirits
or weird sneetres. from, which Iney find no
danger OF the forest, however lies not in it's
supernatural pers, but in the very real danger
Of 70 ting lost during the night in the
A primitive landing stage gives access 10 that
part OF Burg whore the rustic inn stands, called
r IHE is small oesn
PictuLe54ue emGosomed n trees surrounded
most imuortant building Of the place. 1t
affords good headquarters for exploring the
sHreG ,!S :, Wa!f and becoming better acquainted
To the Wepds, Prussia is merely a military
tribes with no fatherand OF their own. they
have always remained closely united among
considering tho mingIing of races by marriage
AS oppos"d to the laws Of origin. The women
descending lover ihan the middle Of the ieg.
an apron Of different but equally bright color.
Tse hy
1t forms II triangle on the summit Of the hssd
and two wide wings at the back: although dis
costume tho elect is picturesque. and
it is worn with spice Of coquetry In.
Sf? a" The "on WSmon IN sua and sHes Weave
IN tho long winter evenings all the ma;
c!othinG only on Sundays, to 40 70 church.
Then IS the time when they compare the bra
attracting, the admiration OF the men at the .
close Of the sermon. delivered in the Wend
to Es sn @ %t dress n Tte tbsS so
are all closely shaven neither board nor
moustaehe being tolerated by the Wend race.
The distinctions OF caste among them are
very marKcd and scrupulously respected. al
though hardly noticeable to an outsider. The
peasant whose property is smaller. the ''hRus-
ler' who E..sses,es only his cottage and.
hired. Marriage between the daughter OF the
first, OF these mngnates and day iaborer
princess and II private soldier 1t would yet
ho less degradation than mating with
Irussiun.
They marry more for interest and solid ad.
vantaEcS than Ior love, and 1t Is the girl who
chooses and proposes to the man. When she
has selected II youth, which Is generally at
very early age, she sends her mother or some
eSpeiienccu relative 10 make the necessary
prudential inuuillrs ABOUT him: II they are
satIslactory She follows with formal demand
for his hNni; tho amhaseadress eloQuently
descrihes the qualities. wealth. and social RANK
of the bride, an,l as soon us she has obtained :
the bridcGrDOm's consent. tho eccles lastical '
authorities are advised and an early dat fixed.
ON IN" appointed day the bride crowned with
myrtle ami clad entirely in back-the nuptial
colOr-Ir accompanied by her friends to the
house OF the young man, sometimes at a great
dis arcp from her own. She thanks him Tor
tnklnG her, and reminds HIM OF her domestic
duties; then hoT supporters and his drink each ,
II mou,hiul Of beer and the double cortcGe setS
out for the church, tho boats that carry them
/ eng icstlEGy decorated. The bridegroom
wears n wroath of foliage fastened to Ills hair
by large waters: the brides mother carries
rail ot iattcned fowls as an Offering to the min.
lstcr. On the way the groom must recite the
Ten Commandments and only once address
his iuture vic, using then tho words. "Cbaste
aud good, such Is lie in speech aud Deeds" to
which she answers, wllo must love and re-
AIInnl h.Ar L. l1nDl