Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1893-01-05
THE Black FOREST.
Peasant Wedding aad a Good Story
About Four Leaved Clover.

A Peasant Wedding and a Good story
About Four Leaved Glover.
The introduction of the railroad has
not yet destroyed the primitive customs
of these people, and In the absence of
daily paper the town-crier with his
bell comes in the early morning hours
into the square IN the center of the vii
lage to announce everything from town
| meetings and ordinances to the proper
time for the opening of the grape har-
vest, in order that none may begin to
pick the grapes until they are perfectly
ripe. Then at the ringing of the cur
few bell, when in summer time it is yet
quite light, and the children still play
ing about, it is really funny to see them
instantly scamper off home, as If they
had been imperatively called; and
where only few minutes before they
had been shouting and calling to each
other in their games, all is quiet and
only a few flying figures are to be seen.
These Black Forest people are very
fond and proud of their country, and
enthusiastic in showing it and their
customs at the very best. 1t is really
refreshing to see the man who drives
MS turning his head from side to side
and looking up at the hills with
such an admiring gaze. pointing
it, especially towards evening, when he
turns around often and says, aud truly,
too, ''Jetzt list aber die schonste zeit"-
now is the most beautiful time-and
then again, while on an excursion. he
told US that large peasant wedding
and marriage feast was taking place
not far off our route, and asked If we
| would not go. To our objection that
we were strangers and not invited he
replied: 60, but you would be very well
came, and l am sure the ladies would
have much pleasure So we consented,
the horses were whipped up. and we
turned off the high road, following
lovely green lane for about two miles,
| and long before the end began to meet
| returning wedding guests, as we could
| see from the favors they wore pinned
high up on the left side, made of tiny
artificial flowers, with silver leaves,
and often only a sprig of fragrant
| lavender, most preferred by the peas
| ants themselves as a wedding favor.
| We drew up at the door of a largeIi inn,
| just in the barnyard, where crowds of
| men and women stood about, and to
our surprise as we stepped out OF the
carriage the bride and bridegroom came
forward to receive us. Both were
young duu lOOhOu very grave anu
| solemn, though he was smoking u pipe
but smiled and looked pleased when
we shook hands and congratulated
| them. The bride wore a high
crown of white artificial flowers,
with fringe of colored glass beads
hanging over her forehead, the usual
pretty costume of black velvet bodice,
with full white sleeves to the elbow. a
| high chemisette of the same. and a
black velvet collar, skirt of dark blue
very full and short showing border of
red petticoat below it, and her hair in
| a long, handsome band, hanging down
! her back. The mans costume was only
remarkable for the shortneSS of the
waist of his black velveteen coat,
especially in the back, which was just
under his shoulder-blades, all the seams
edged with red and the coat lined with
| it; that and his knee-breeches looked as
if they might have descended to him
| through many generations.
| Our driver. whom we had looked upon
! as a sort of chaperon in this stra nge
| company, disappeared at once, but
! friendly souls urged us to join other
! guests, unbidden and strangers like
ourselves, only not foreigners, but who
welcomed us with great cordiality to
I shed, open to the children and chickens
i alike. Soon the maidens came round
with the wedding favors, which they
carefully pinned on the left side of
every guest, and smiling1y accepted
| a small gratuity, and we drank beer
! and wine. as all were expected to do.
Some of the guests had already imbibed
a good share. to judge by the noise
! they made, and there was great clicking
| of glasses and general joviality among
them. A brass band of five pieces played
deafening music just outside in the
yard, and we were glad when they adj
journed to a big loft over the stables,
and we followed to see the dancing, the
bride aud groom and their relations be-
ing meantime at their wedding feast
spread in the great dining room in the
| inn. People of all ages danced, and it
was wonderful to see how readily these
! peasants in clumsy shoes caught the
! time and the step. and here for the first
! time we had a glimpse of Anton, our
driver, whose anxiety that we should
come to the wedding was then ex-
planned: Invested of hat and coat he was
whirling bout in the dance with a girl
in a pretty costume, whose full short
skirt flew out like what our children
call cheese her long braid of fair hair
stood out like a whip and her cheeks
were like roses under her little tight
fitting cap. But as evening came on
we were obliged to tell our gallant
young coachman that we must be GO
ing, when to our surprise. after care
fully hopping his forehead. he came up,
and most respectfully presenting his
wedding favor, a sprig of lavender
to the young lady of our party. asked
if the gracious young lady would try
a dance with him." So. knowing it to
be the custom and considered great
compliment By the peasants. she danced
mazurka with him, finding him an
excellent partner. AS we were leaving
the musicians came out and stood by
the carriage, and not only played, but
sang cong, which was warmly ap-
piaudcd, repeating in it often the word
''schatz." or sweetheart, and must have
conveyed some tender sentiment, which
we showed them we duly appreciated.
and then drove off with great eclat,
pleased with our novel experience.
This wedding seemed to be on rather a
grand scale, and in answer to our in
| uuirieS If thew were rich people. Anton