The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1890-01-31
JOTTINGS FROM MEMORY
HERE AND THERE.

Z
Of rural life on the farm in Switzerland
but it was much more limited than we
desired. Our little party of four drove
by easy carriage, into the beautiful
"vale Of the Chamouni." which stretches
for long distance in front of the range
Of Mont Blanc, commanding fine
view of its snow capped peaks, passes
and glaciers; but of which drive we
may allude to again.
This opportunity was ours to look
into the home life of the farmer. And
one does moi need to look far before be
is convinced that should you transfer
Swiss farmer from his home in his ma.
tive country to the domain of some Of
our largest farmers in our own section,
and give him quarters even in the base
ment of some of our large barns, for
himself and family, las indeed it is a
common thing in the old country for
the family dwelling and barn to be
under the same roof, requiring them to
look after the stock for their rent, and
grant them the privilege of gathering
about the farm such things as go to
waste on similar farm here, they
would consider themselves The most
fortunate family in the land. While
should you take then to some of our
monster farms of the West, they would
surely become insane over such priv
ilege. I repeat, Swiss farmer and his
family can live, and live we'll, off of
what is wasted on an average American
farm. Such is the great economy aud
self.sacri6ce they are trained and accus.
toned to practice. We saw them cut
down tree, prepare all the large and
straight grained wood, to be used for
manufacturing purposes; the bark was
carefully put up for sale, the smaller
limbs cut into wood for the fire, and
everything, even the dry leaves, put up
in very small bundles and stored care
fully away for kindling wood. This
being no unusual thing.
Every possible thing that can be
produced on a farm was converted into
use or money. Anything that would
yield dividend Of one penny was hus-
banded and waste and loss were not tol
Grated in the smallest degree. Much
to their discredit the greater part of the
work was done by females, however
Men in that country, (but to less extent
than Germany, follow the military life,
and much of the work on the farm, as
well as that within doors, is left to the
women.
1t was haying season as we passed
down this valley, and in one field we
saw hay wagon to which was hitched
an OK and cow, a mule and horse, |
while upon the load was Que woman
and on the ground two others doing the
pitching. Another popularity of the
country-cows are utilized side by side
with the OK in doing the farm work
a fact much commented upon, it being
a question of right and wrong
The implements for harvesting We
examined and to understand Just how
ancient and crude they we're one must
see them. To say that moving ma
chine was unknown in all that section
does not go half way back to their
ancient customs. If they used and
possessed even a modern scythe and
snath, it would be seemingly excusable,
but the scythe is not more than 80
inches long, broad like one OF our
grain cradle scythes, while the snath
was fully six to seven feet lono, i'll
shaped, with extension irons en- the
handles like unto, or even longer than,
what our people formerly called lazy
backs. The rakes and forks were
equally awkward and crude and were
apparently the same their great.grand.
fathers had used, without progress or
improvement.
The wheat harvest was over and the
wheat (corn they call iD was standing
in hand stacks, and to better show their
rigid economy, we observed custom.
unknown in our country. Women were
going over the wheat fields with large
aprons caught up in one hand, and
with the other gathering something
from the ground. Coming nearer, we
saw these sun Drowned daughters of
toll were initiating the example OF
Ruth cleaning after the reapers in the
great fields of Boaz. near Bethlehem.
One by one they gathered the loose
stray heads of wheat that had fallen
from the shock aud scattered about the
Gz11 Al