New-York tribune., 1894-04-29


It requires several days before both Schloss ana
village recover their equanimity and ma them-
selves able 10 resume their ordinary humdrum
and quiet mode or life
The next festival in point of Importance Is the
harvest feast When this arrives everybody dons
holiday attire and attends service at the parish
church at 10 o'clock-a service OF thanksgiving
with liturgy all OF its own. The altar columns
and walls are decorated with sheaves OF wheat
cornaowers and poppes and cornfiowers, too'
adorn the nicturesaue dresses Of the peasants.
40 we'll as the toilets and coat lapels or tne
nohIe family I'D In the comfortably upholstered
gallery 10 the right of the pulpit. After church
is over the Count and Countess and their chill
dren mount a drag drawn by four horses whoss
brides and reins are decorated with fnuii-co-
ored ribbons and then each OF the pfihcipai
farmers and peasants is visited IN turn the oras
driving on to his freshly harvested heid' where
his family and laborers await its coming. hs
soon as the vehicle has come to standstili' the
peasant girls and boys Chamber on to the steps
and wheels and recting complimentary verses
composed for the occasion by the village schooi-
master tie colored ribbons around the ieit arms
~ the Younger occupants of the carriage. The
Count and Countess meanwhile discuss crops
with the old peasant father and mother, and
a
ulation. or course those of the young Counts
and Countesses who are most popular among the
villagers receive the largest number OF ribbons
and the compertion among them is therefore
lust as great as for favors at cotillon. oniVer-
sol foastinr both in chateau and cottage, takes
nlace at about o'clock. and the evening Is gen.
erally brought to a close by the school children
proceeding under the guidance OF the "domlnie'
IN the COURTYARD OF the chateau. where tney sing
chorales and national songs, the pastor reci'ihs
a prayer and delivering the blessing from the
Schloss steps by way of bringing the day TO
fitting termination.
Al Christmas all the village children are IN
vlted TO the Christmas tree at the Schioss'
peneraIIv on Christmas Day: and after being
entertained with cakes and coffee. they are con-
Quoted into the big dining-hall. where the trees
have been set up and where each one receives
n present This consists either Of a toy or OF
useful article of clothing accompanied by the
inevitable package Of "Beriiner Pfenerkucnen'
4 sort of gingerbread cake. highly spiced 1t Is
only at Christmas and at the harvest festivai
that the village pastor dimes at the Schloss the
divine occupying a relatively inferior social posi-
ton to that enjoyed by the English country rec
tor In his intercourse with the squire al the
manor house. -,
Breakfast as a rule. takes place early, and Is
of the simplest description. consisting OF eitner
or rolls. and pretzels. On rising from table me
Count generally reads family prayers. at wnlcn
all the servants are present; and as soon as the
last Amen has been pronounced, eVeryDouy
goes about his or her separate duties the boys
up 10 their schoOroom with their tutor the
girls t. theirs with the governess Tne Frau
Griffin proceeds TO interview the OLD mousse
keeper who IS styled "Mamselle." which must
not be confounded with the title OF Mademois-
elle" accorded to the governess. Although the
"Namsele'' Is entrusted with the details OF the
cft ha IN
SO far az the kitchen and maidservants are con-
cerned-yet the Countess takes an actlVe part
In housewifery, upor fcr skill in wnlcn sns
prides herself more than upon all the educaton.
refinement and culture which she acquired prior
10 her marriage. and while acting as maid OF
honor to the Empress. She does not disdain 10
assist In the task OF preserving fruit for the
winter completes and TO supervise the making
Of those rich and succulent ''Torte" pes) and
'Kasekuchen' (cheesecakes) which require
Teuton interior economy in order TO digest them
without painful after effects. Meanwhile. the
Count has proceeded To his library, in which guns.
game bags and cartridge belts occupy FAR more
room than books. Ii is there he daily admins
ters justice in the most patriarchiai fashion.
The offenders are brought thither by his game
keepers. and standing hat in hand are submitted
. TO interrogatory by the Count who walks up
and down. stopping occasionally in front of the
delinquent whom he addresses as thou" and
chucking him under the chin in order 10 raise
the mans face as to obtain n good view or
the expression depicted on his features. Some
times the Count loses mis- temper. storms and
rails at the fellow. and ends quite often by box
Ing his ears soundly. this being. according TO the
Counts view. method OF punishng the man
infinitely preferable to that of locking him
up I'm JAIL a charge to the parish. After having
in this manner got rid OF any ill-humor with
which he may have arisen from his bed. he
shoulders his gun and, escorted by his game
keeper starts forth a tour over the property.
He visits his farms and stables receiving verbal
reports from the land steward and the latters
assistants: and he acts arbiter in disputes
that may have arisen between the peasants by
whose cottages he passes on his way 10 the for
est. He comes back To dinner al or o'clock
with a big appetite. and afterward is ready for
a ride drive with the Countess. whose MORN
ing has been spent in attending 10 her household
duties Between and tea Is served In the
rawing room. with cold meat, fruit tarts and
cakes: and after these have been removed. the
Count remains seated In his easy chair enun.
ciating his political opinions derived from the
'Kreuz Zeitung"-opinions which present
presumes to contradict-while the countess. ac-
lively plying her needle on a piece OF fancyworlS.
discourses benignantly concerning the relation
many in general BY II at the latest the whole
family Is In bed and the lights are out. nor Is
any sound to be heard the barking OF some
dog. the hooting OF an owl and the tread on the
gravel OF the old "Nachtwachter." village
watchman This trusty soul. escorted by his
and equipped medieval fashion. with pike and
lantern; and he PAGES slowly around the Schloss.
home farm and park. chanting in hoarse voice
just his predecessor In Office did in the days
OF King Frederick the Great $50 years ago.
the old refrain announcing the hour Of the night:
Hoert Ihr Lieut..
t'nd lasts Euch sagen.
Die Glocke hat schon Zw0lf geschagen.
Hear ye folks