The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-01-24

implement or utensil invented within the
past thousand years; an ordinary Amerl-
can farmland would accomplish under our
methods in one day more than score OF
any OF these; and the wiZard-bTush OF the
painter of Barbazon never fastened upon
canvas more startlingly ancient ways,
wares, Pastures and ploddings among the
ciods of Brittany than remain universal
and changeleSS among the bright-eyed bnt
changelesS folk of these enhancing noun
tain wales.
There is careless half-iOyOuS abandon
upon the surface OF ali peasant toll which
adds greatly to its picturesquenPSS. Join
with this QuaintneSS iii dress, pIimitlVenesS
OF implements that grace which unVaTylngly
acc0mpanies innocent ignorance, ald the
universal lovelineSs of scenery, and your
pastoral pictures are mast idYllic and COM
plete. Ground is Tiled with oxen tandem,
In rush traces, drawing plOw of the sort
first known h mantle tree-crOOk or sharp
ened root. Now and then yen will find one
rudely pointed with IRON One short fur-
row is scratched amid tremendous shout
inGS. Then the half dozen who have chung
to the handles rode upon the beam or goaded
the oxen, rest By the tlOWer-laden hedge or
DIVISION wall 10 enjoy sieSta or the delights
Of countryside gossip with g0atherdS or
multteerS. Where the hillside is too steep
Tor this gentle process, long-hanGied noes
with cumbrOus blades do lazy duty, Tor the
spade is rejected as a eoGlryance OF the evil
one.
All American cereals grow here in Iuxu-
Rance Tor mere priCEing of the soil. Inc
small grains are gathered, handful at a
time, cut by the olden sickle, and cleaners
follow as in the BIble days. Corn Is cut,
or pulled. the leaves preserved for fodder,
the stalks munched by goats or dOnkeys. or
used Tor fires, the ears strung together ana
hung upon pyramidal lattce-WOrk for cur
ing, and finally, after hu'king- the
genuine old-faShiOned American "husklng
bee, here of weeks duration, the peasant
securing every hundredth ear for his labor,
and a kiss from his inamOrta for every red
ear found, IS everywhere progressing
kernels are removed from the cObS by the
choupanas and children, who receive the
cob for burning in payment. n score Oh
MERRY SrRAGGLERS
Are required to house the product Of one
acre OF ground, and every one of these
works, or makes pretense of work. in that
care-free, need-nOthing way that marks all
toll and effort here. Wheat, barley and rye
are thrashed precisely as they were thou
sand years ago.
At every roadside aud beside the granery
Of every yilleggatura, round, high piles Of
pumiced stone, beaten and raln-soaked until
hard as granite, may be seen. These, called
eiraS, are the Portuguese tbrashlng floors.
The grain IS piled upon them and cows ana
oxen, blIndfolded, are driven in opposite d.
rectiOus, until the treading has released the
kernels. There is no other method OF thrash
ing grain in this country, aud the tanning
mill is unknown. The straw is lifted of
the eiras with wooden forks and preserved
for the food OF dOnkeys and goats. Then
flag is hoiSted 10 find the direction o.. the
wind. This done, men and women, but
more often women and girls, Standing al
the side whence comes the wind, throw
the grain and chaf into the air. and the
ChaN is borne away.
The hcme-lfe of the Portuguese peasant,
not always radiant ONE, never lacks
cheerinesS, affection and simple content
He knows no other life bette than his own
and is satisfied with what he has and gets TO
the end of his days. The cottage or cabin
or hut is simply a square structure bult OF
rock matched with fnrZe or tiles. The
windows and doors are never closed, for
there are neither cold blasts nor rObbers to
enter. The bare earth is the floor. lie re-
Quires no stove. His fireplace for cooking IS
simply a slab, waist high In the wall, and the
smoke kindly takes care OF itself. His
staple food is meal bread fast-day, feast
day and five times day. Eggs, chickens
and goats milk are almost without value
and salt fish, usually "bacallO," or dried
Goldfish, and wine are his luXuries.
His wife is Guuful. his children beautiful
As the lOwy 20 they are all cleanly If the
chickens do perch in the loft, the pig insists
upon domestic compromising and his goats
choose the inside Of the house at night. He
lives glorIOusly in his way without severe
effort His wife and children are loyal and
never gadabOuts. He is true 10 his religion,
ms home, his friends; and he is never too
old to love the guitar or mandolin, or TO join
with his wife in the innocent dances 10 the
numbers OF his beloved countryside music.
If be is ailing unto death the church comes
to him, scarlet-robed and all-sutlicient, with
It's, to him, saving santissimo and he passes
calmly TO his simple heaven from heaven
Of everyday content
Copyright 1872 EDGAR l.. WAKENAN.