The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-04-30

the soft and yielding straw. There ia one
room below; sometimes two: a half
story garrett beneath the thatch. There is
only a front door. A window at other side
OF this. and somstimes directly above these.
tiny panes to light the garrett. Each cot
taRe is provided at the end or back with an
open Fireplace in the center; a sort of range
at one side. covered with brass ornaments
which the housewife is endlessiy polishing
with 0rowder. while at the other side is the
"ungconer" with ''heps'' or nppor and under
doors, for storing. faggots or furze for fuel.
The furniture though scant Is honest and
useful. At the fireplace ars the ''brandes."
a triangular iron ca legs. on which, over
the Goals. the kettles boi', the circular cast.
iron baker, is set, and the fish or meat.
when they can be luckily had, are
"scrowled" or grilled. There are perhaps
mahogany frames. but tbs seats are Of
painted pine and ore waxed weekly. These
a'e for best" and all the best. For
everyday use ono or two firms" or rude
benches. are provided. The single table is
OF pine. an implanted side for daily use.
Sunday. The tableware is something
startling in cheap goods. for the gypsy
hawkers frequent Cornwall, and zach mem
ber of the family is provided with a real
'%'chnny" cup and saucer with a gorgeous
gilt band.
1oA ~ Cln6o tuo COEulbu ylllUQoT ~ q
generous liver. The young folk nave an
unusual fund of games distinctive of Com
wall: marriages provide extraordinary fes-
rivals; the dead a'e watched" from de-
cease TO burial and funerals provide sub
dued diversions with heroic feasts; leapinR,
Wrestling ,unning. cricket and quitting
the stone" are the principal amusementa
OF youths and men. in which they excsl;
and their countless endeared hobgoblins
and ''buccaboos." which Wesley and Whit
field along With the RAILWAYS md Telegraph
were never able to "lny." draw thes, sturdy
Cornish villagers closer together around
the flashing village smithy forge. the Cor
nishmsn's chief place Of evening resort, or
within the home-glow of their blazing inGle.
hooks during tho long winter nights when
the cruel foRs pound in over the moors
from the seethinR channel, or the tempests
howl across the dreary. shudlering moors.
Practically all English village folk a,e
wagoners, thatchcrs. d.ainers. or common
field laborers. just as they have boon for
hundreds of years. There may DO a pub
lican or innkeeper, a shopkeeper who ia
postmaster or postmistress, a carpenter,
who is often a painter. undertaken. verRer
and uravedigeer in one. a baker. a tailor. a
blacksmith and n poncher. for the latter ia
in every hamlet in Britain, all great otncles
in their way. But three families of quail
ity, and frequently not that many, arc
kro xn-those of the lord Of the mol or tho
squire, the rector or tho curate and the
schooIm master; for tho doctor il always cum
monod from a near city or town.
English village life 10 therefore found to
sie in II wonderfully close horizon. l have
been much with these people in their labor.
their diversions and their homes. Aftes
looking at them long and earnestly with
my W eyas, l have tried to get. as nearly
AZ possible. into their personal envi cnment
and then look ont of the windows of their
minds aud their habitations upon the
everyday world about them. In this wav a
good deal that 10 not hopeless and much
that ID gratifying cnn be disosfned. Ii ia
certainly true that nn infinitely higher
standard of life and living is enjoyed than
in tho good old days" whose departure the
wise writer's SO bitterly deplore.
Universal education has certainly caused
universal discomfort. but lido not think IL
carries youth to old age. by tho time
these folk arc 20 or 25 ye ,rs OF ago the for.
incubation period il passed. Some 90 awav
to the cities. "a with US, or TO America or
Australia; but those who remain aie better
laborsrs. villagers and citizens. The Eng
lish peasant clod haa thus almost entirely
disappeared. You will not sec very much
knee-orooi5ing. head-ducking and tuft.
pulling to superio.s g. while there IL less
genuine kind 'heartodness and respect.
SO are the fsnsts and gorgings and Ruz.
alinRs. But these villagers nrs less gross.
They arc OF better stuff. They have
moro wholesome food 10 eat, aud
a. greater variety. They know some
thing about hygiene. They ill.,
sist on good drainage. In humble fashion
they bsautify their habitutions without and