The Baltimore County union., 1890-11-01
SACUsA Grpu.~v o.,

MesSrs. Editors The mountain iisct of
MOr. HMor.nern n Germany. known by the name The e
!laraI narI OF 10 give 1t an English sound arts, Is
the first break in the extensive plain tina tretch-
es southward from the German ocear If one
tics df sbnse 5ne Brooken the landscape Glaciers th
grandeur. The Harz runs east and we5O miles,
navlng width of 20. The northern ansouthern
slopes are intersected by countlesshort but
beautiful valleys, in which nestle laint and
secluslve towns. mostly small, and multitude
9L 1np pretty villages. The The Harz is Sided into
Upper ana Lower: The former is e region OF
Ine silver-ore mining industry. Thsurface has
no adaptatlon to cereal agricultur its altitude
ffenuerlng its temperature unfaorable. But
IorestS ana meadows thrive. ] the forest
| feature probably few sections of ie world offer
opportunities so suitable for the lsplay of abili-
ability and success for which tp Germans are
SO widely and so justly known. But it must not
ne overlooked that the regions which forestry
ana success therein have attaned renown are
adapted thereto in a peculiar manner, SO nature
and art combine to perfect ne woods OF the
Harz The mountains, though steep, are not
20 their tops. The foresters are trained ana
educated to their vocation. Nurseries OF young
nr and beech are abundantly provided and care
fully tended and when required are set out in
rows as we plant maize
The German loves the forests of "Vaterland."
Mnen ne has hOlyday, as in his summer Vaca-
tion or at Easter or Whitsuntide, he is almost
quite sure to betake himself to "Mutter Green"
as he terms forest landscape. AT such times
crowds OF wanderers, not only lusty students
from gymnasium and university. not only the
middle-aged father with his family, but, too, the
basket, eliven the mountains. Such excursions
or outings are facilitated and encouraged by the
existence of houses of accommodation in plenty
and by the provision of smooth roads and paths
for the pedestrian leading in every direction, to
Rustic benches are everywhere at hand and in
vite the weary and the leisure to repose. The
NO 10 this SEND end Contribute - and % have Contributed
the "Beautifying Unions" /" institutions of which
every town boasts branch and some villages
10 kl.1 -fra<n Nf has
Unions, local as well as general, to maintain the
existing accomplishment; to discover and render
accessible new points of interest and to provide
dead things; their ardor and efficiency are mani
fest.
The climate of the Upper Harz is called raw
and said to resemble that of Central Norway and
Sweden. The Lower Harz has milder temper
ature and is adapted to the agricultural produc-
tions Of other parts OF Northern Germany: Iaken
no wonder that country of such ideal fitness
for excursions and summer sojOurning is eager
ly sought and much frequented that 1t has be-
come in fact vast health resort if not santa
rum.
Places like Alexisbad, Harrisburg, Lawterberg,
Grund, etc., had European regulations long
while ago, acquired by their curative institu-
tions. by their healing springs or by various
other sources of sanitation. With the abnormal
increase of modern city population the need or
the health resort has arisen; the need OF rest,
quietude and pure country air; a want so fully
met in America by the farm house, house al
in Europe to the mountain city, town and ham
let. In the HarZ but few cities or towns and
even hamlets that have not asIired & or that 90
of entertaining the health-resorters from the
large cities.
Sachsa. the town from which write began its
career and catering for public patronage de-
cade ago. 1t belongs to the Lower HarZ, is meri-
torious and withal modest and quaint and odd
chief element of beauty. 1t escaped the misfor-
tune eff becoming railroad station and those
attendant trains of evils, viz, factories, work.
red tiles dominated by its prominent church
with stumpy belfry, it hugs the mountain range
in an extended line. Over it towers the Ravens
esque lesser peaks, while many a miniature side
valley, with its crystal brook, leads back into
cooling shade amid shaggy fir. Its clean, fresh
looking and often not homely houses and villas,
its shady streets, smooth and compact as shell
roads, its little, busy ,hurryng mountain streams,
spanned by bridges of rustic style, will prepare
you as you wander about the place for glad sur
prises and evoke at every turn your interest If
not your joy and mlrth.
Though of limited population Q,6OO Sachsa is
a stadt, or city, having its burgermeister, or
mayor and city council Municipal rights were
acquired long years ago, when it was about a
score of times as populous as now; but great
fire took place. Possessions anciently obtained
have been prudently managed. SachSa has cap
ital at interest, an endowed church, which means
exemption from tithes, and wide domain of re-
munerative forest. The original population is
half mechanic, half peasant; but since it became
fourishing health resort it has attracted to per-
manent residence people of leisure, chiefly gov
ernmental pensioners The number of actual
peasants is small and they of small holdings, the
largest not exceeding SO acres Field labor is in
great part performed by the women and by the
COWS. AS means of fertilization clover and the
manurial product of the stall are the only reli-
ance; artificial substitutes being in practice un-
known. Where the family cannot afford cow
ing aeid t in NTH" the Which % the house
wife straps around her shoulders, or is pushed
thence bY her in q barrow tOilSOmc labor all OF
it among hills and mountains. The "kiepe," or
back-basket, is a slavish affair-One might well
say aC0n0n's curse in this land-fOr male biped
avoids that institution as he would contagious
disease, The "kiepe" cramps the figure con-
tracts the chest, makes prematurely old, weazen,
puggish. 1t is seen and known in no other land.
AS the seat of burden the burden-bearers OF
other, especially southern, countries employ
the head. A burden borne thereon becomes
graceful, imparts to the bearer If not noble
certainly no slavish mien, and to the form elias
ITCHY. What more strikes one with admiration
and charm anywhere than the willowy figures
of the girls of the Italian mountain towns!
The end and aim of all agricultural life among
the small folk of these parts is to grow the po-
tato. This tuber, supplemented by the runkel-
beet, is to the HarZer what Indian corn Is to the
American farmer. 1t is his staple of food morn
ing. noon and night, and also his stocks. Rye
supplies bread. wheat being semi-luxury. But
let no one imagine the rye bread of Germany is
a soggy, tenacious mass, which is the usual re-
suit of effort to produce it in America. On the
contrary it is here light, wholesome, palatable
and decidedly more appetizing than such wheat
bread as Americans are, on the average, accus-
toned to.
Wages and earnings are but fraction of the
vogue in America, yet good health, contentment
and competency appear to be general. Among
this people one is vividly conscious that popular
restlessness and nervous disquietude are absent
factors. Nor is the air increasingly beaten with
political agitation, and at night you can COM
pOsedly rest your head on your pillow without
dread of house-breakers or thieves. I. G.