Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-07-04
QUAINT OLD DUTCH PEOPLE.
Curious Manner and Customs Among the
Early Settlers Of Pennsyivania.


Early Settlers OF Pennsylvania
MANY INTERESTING THINGS RESPECT
AVA ing the Pennsylvania Dutch have been
raked up and put together by the bureau Of
ethnology. In reality they are not Dutch at
all. but Germans, who came over from Rhenish
Bavaria mostly, being invited by Queen
Anne for purposes of colonization. They
arrived by way OF England and it
CHANGED thata large part OF them settled in the
neighborhoods of Philadelphia, Chester. Allen
town and other places which are At present
centers OF population supplied by their de-
scendants. During their early DAYS in Amer
lea many Of them lived under very primitive
conditions. often lodging in the forests, in
caves, anu even In hollow trees. Later on small
houses were erected upon clearings. usually
with two rooms. the windows being merely
square openings with Gliding boards on the
inside for shutters Furniture Of all kinds
was home made. aud every description Of gar
ment was manufactured by the women. SOUR
rel-skin moccasins were considered a luxury
and the young girls when they went to church
on Sunday in order TO make them last as long
as possible walked barefoot until within sight
Of the building before putting them on. Nearly
every farmer raised flax and hemp for the con-
sumption Of his own family. Dyes were pro-
duced from the bark OF trees and from plants
From the loose skins Of old onions light vel
low was obtained. As . substitute for alum
urine was employed. and this was carefully
poured into large vessels until enough had ac-
cumulsted for the intended purpose.
SOME ORIGINAL CUSTOMS.
Among these primitive people many very
original and surprising customs existed, none
of which were more curious than those which
related to the process Of counting. No young
man was considered a desirable beau unless be
owned horse and buggy, so as to be
able to take his sweetheart to church
and to local gatherings on holi-
days. Saturday evening was Thought the pro-
per time for making love, though the delight
fui pastime was apt to extend over the whole
OF Sunday. Inasmuch as the distance travelled
by the lover was often too great for him 10
return home the same night, the matter
ing over until the next day, so as
to be at the service Of his inamorata for the
Sabbath Owing to the fact that room WAS
scanty, it was customary for him on such occa-
sions to innocently share her couch. No thought
of improperly was connected with this. and
the same fashion is said to prevail even 20 the
present day in remote localities, being known
as ''bundling."
THE MARRIAGE CEREMONY.
The marriage ceremony was usually per-
formed at the clergyman's residence, and il
WINS he who furnished the refreshments. All
household linen and bedding were supplied by
the bride, the husband providing the house.
Care was taken never to carry an old broom
into new house. lest bad luck follow.
the broom must be new, and il
was necessary that IL should first be Convened
across a meadow. At wedding feasts and ON
other occasions Of festivity it was CUSTOMARY
10 dance for fax" the notion being that the
higher the kicking the higher would be the
hosts crop OF that staple at the next har-
vest. In parts of Germanys bride puts nax
in her shoes that she may never come to want.
n nj Ma
for happiness in the married state. Il was
usual for the wife TO devote much attention
from spring until autumn ~ the gathering of
herbs, banks and roots supposed to possess
medicinal properties. Garden seeds we're also
selected for the next years planting. and the
packages and bags of these commodi,ies
suspended from the rafters. Formed
quite an interesting collection. Whatever
was purchased at the country stores was paid
f or wi'n a; SSssr ana eggs the housewife
spell wa: believed to be the work Of a Witch.
every locality Boosting the possession of some
suea neoropancer in petticoats. The remedy
Wa 70 plunge red-hot poker into |
me-. Contents o. the churn: II was among |
parties" we're arst in vogue, the custom being
mat the finder Of q red ear could kiss any eirl
present II girl found such near ana wished
70 avoid being kissed she would hide il ouiclIv.
Inorgh, discovered, the first young man to |
ilege.
4 LoNo THE nABrKs
Among those oid-tims Dutch children
we're permitted 70 nurse 1t the mothers breast
Tor surprisingly long period One instance
lamtliar 70 Dr.. W. J. HOFFMAN, who compiled
This information, was that of boy OF seven
Years OF age, who daily earned this privilege
by splitting the amount Of kindline
xood necessary for the family use
They believed that nightmares might be
taught II the person afflicted were sufficiently
.ctive and ingenious. A hostler employed by
Dr.: Honnan's father secured one IN a bottle
md destroyed Il BY burning. He believed it
10 have been the spirit Of black cat, which
vas under the control Of hostile witch
Nill-o' -the-visps were ghostly demons which
haunted narshy ground Of damp woods,
md numerous narrow escapes from them have
been recorded. There ID record Of . widow I
Whc, obtaining no response IRON peddlsr upon
whom shs had determined 70 bestow her af- !
ections, scrapsd her knee until she had secured ,
! slighs quantity Of the euticls, baked il in q
AXE and ssnt IL 10 him. with conhdsnce that it J
would stimulate hB affection.