Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-04-02

slant appI1oattons by the housewives OF
preparation Of the pumiced stone, of pale
ecru color, of the consistency of whitewash,
to the stone floors, walls and ceilings. The
granary, pens for animals and housing for
fowls are all a part of the abode, usually, at
convenience, In the first story, the family
sleeping in the apartments above; but such
extraordinary care is universal among the
peasant farmers, that every such apart
ment ever chanced to enter was at least
as sweet and cleanly as gentlewoman's s
boudoir.
Many of the walls leading from the rear
of the court are covered with moses and
vines. Often the old Moorish nora or
water-wheel stands silently or creaks dis
mally near the abode. Here and there near
the home will be found the ancient tread
mill of the Bible times on which all the
wheat and barley Of the island is trod out
by oxen or cows. Against the walls will
hang tremendous gourds, quaint old farming
Implements, or huge sieves with rawhlde
instead of wire screens, as all the grain is
removed from the chaff in this primitive
way.
Little Wooden Furniture to Be Seen.
Owing to the scarcity of wooG ipon the
island hardly wooden implement or arti-
Gle Of furniture can be seen. Settles Of
stone are common. In many farm homes I
found stone slabs utilized as tables, and in
others the same set securely into the walls
are few, as the light from the sky through
the open courts, and the tiny and infrequenr
windows a foot spare are all sufficient.
Perhaps the most curious objects to be
found in these Maltese peasant homes is
what may be termed their stoves. The
Maltese literally have no firesides. They re-
quire no artificial heat and all their cook
ing-which is restricted to bread made Of
wheat and barley meal something of the con-
sistency of Scotch "bannock," fish which
is plentiful and cheap, and certain vege-
table stews in which are stirred scant shreds
Of cured fish or scanter bits of bacon for
seasoning-is done upon portable stone
stove shaped like jar, and resembling in
everything but color a timers ordinary
hand furnace in which his soldering irons
are heated. Most of these are of home con-
struction, cut out of any handy block of
stone, with rude handles carved near the
top; but some are of delft ware and more
capacious and shapely. They can be car
ried about, and the housewife can mind her
cooking, if she likes, while at any drudgery
of the house or fields.
The home and neighborhood life of these
folks is not as colorful as that of the Italian
and Spanish peasantry. They are docile,
calm, contented, ambitious only to thrive,
and with burning desire amounting often
to passion to be better tenants than their
predecessors. They rise and go to bed with
the sun. If belated at night no friendly
evening candle light will guide the wan
derer to 6reside.
Weird Music of the Home.
The music of the guitar and mandolin
alone would disclose the presence of this
half Arab home For little time after the
night has fallen and the stars shine out the
husbandman may sit and 'croon his weird
strange chants. The wife sits by him with
folded hands and closed eyes, occasionally
venturing minor note. The lads and lassles
thrum the stringed instruments But they
are only those there who belong in that one
home.
There is no rustic courtship in Malta
save of the sheepeyes sort along the Sab
pair together for mass at the casals or vii
lages. Then the women wear the fal-
delta or black cloaklike scarf The hered-
itary custom is to cover the face with this.
But they do not until after they are wed
and are mothers, which is often at 13 and IA
years Of age.
There are no curious conditions here pro-
ceeding marriage except that the lover must
be able to rent bit of ground and purchase
a donkey and two goats or sheep, as the
milk of the island is furnished by the latter
and he must solemnly pledge that
he will never deprive his betrothed the life
right of attendance at the festivals of st.
Peter-Pauls, St John and st. Gregory.
which are respectively celebrated at Citta
Veechia, Valetta and Casal Zeitun. And
this is not much to ask by pretty woman
who never wears shoes, is never from home
on any other occasion, who holds her pic
turesque household bravely together, and
who, before she is 40 years of age and often
the way from dozen to two-score happy,
hopeful progeny.
EDGAR L. WAKEMAN.
If vou are looking for a good room. read