Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-05-31


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side, it has 10 galleries, but it has some
carved work from the 18th century, the
apostles, carved by noted Italian, of
which they are very proud. Alsoa stone
statue of Morit2, said TO have been n
wicked Moorish king, who was Obliged
to build this church in punishment for
his cruelty TO the poor people, ages ago.
Back OF the altar we're some new and
not very beautiful stained glass win
dows, and tins little attempt to keep up
with the times, and beautify their old
church home, had something pitiful
about it, like bit of bright ribbon
tackled on to an old and threadbare
dress, by Il poor but beautiful woman.
They could have done without those
windows very well, for the proportions
and lines of their grand old church, its
massive simplicity, that has stood the
test of passing ages, need no fiimsy
modern coloring to give it dignity and
worth.
Mortzburg is the ruin Of an old castle
and fortress in the town, said to have
been originally built by the sister of 81.
Moritz in penance for her wrong.doing,
because Of her cruelty, like her brothers,
to the poor. 1t had stood the strain of
centuries, and was yet partly IN use as n
university when, in 1908, Napuleon's
cannons did in a few hours what ages
had not done, leveled its walls and laid
ii in ruins. 1t is on bluff overlooking
the Saale river, and as we walked in the
snow to gaze at the grand old wreck
there was just enough of its 1O-feet
thick walls and different towers remain
ing, with the deep gulf of the old-time
moat below, to let US see what a large
and imposing structure it once had
been. We stood IN an Enclosure on the
highest point overlooking the river, in
what had once been one of its grandest
salons, and the winter sky was above
us; about US lowered irregular broken
walls, and trees and shrubs all hung
with snowy crystals stood where once
beauty and chivalry had lived and loved.
THE nALLoRENs.
In the year 1928, salt spring was dis
covered in Halle, and the chief industry
of the town for many years was only
that-and the people who lived and
worked here were called salz-wirker
(salt-workcrs.) Haliebursche halle.
boys, Hallorens. Just where they
originally came from is not known, but
IL is generally thought that they are of
Celtic origin. We thought 50 too, when
we visited the salt-works and saw some
of them at work among the watts, with
their great rakes, raking up the salt,
which looked US white as the snow out
of doors. Their faces were non-German,
and decidedly like some of the Irish that
VIC have ut home with us i'll America.
We almost expected to hear them say
"rop o the marnin' to We, me lady," or
some little pleasant thing like that, as
we watched them at work. But they
didn't-they had u language all their
own, which sounded to us like cross
between Choctaw Indian and nut
breaking Russian. In the salt-works
they dress in flannel shirt and overalls
like the rest Of tho men, but at other
times, they wear their original costume
of knee-breeches, long stockings, low
slippers, many buttoned waist-coat, and
three cornered hat, like their forefathers
Of old. They are a careful people, in
dustrions and hard working, their motto
reading:
"Wheh we care for water and wood,
then have we more silver and gold"
This remnant of once interesting
people hold to-day, with proud tenacity,
the language and customs of their all
cestors. They form now only very
small proportion of the population Of
Halle, having, by death and other causes,
almost died out. Their gradual ex-
tinction is very pathetic, but they still
have some rights and privileges, granted
them in times past, that are theirs ex-
clusively to-day, and they hold them
fast. Whether it is for this reason, or
because of their few numbers, they are
not spoken of save with jealousy by the
modern Halle people, who seem to
resent their very existence. They have
two special feast-days in tho year, one
at Whitsuntide and the other at New
Years, that they observe exactly in the
same manner us did their ancestors cen
turtles ago. They still cling also to the
old-time rite of being pall-bearers at the
burial Of the dead in the city, and also
retain their ancient grant of fishing on
parts of the Saale river.
GIVEN TO FEW.
But their most important privilege Is
their visit to the emperor and empress
on New Years day, when they bring
them their gifts Of Halloren sausages
and salt-cooked eggs, and are received
personally in the private dining room
by their kaiser and their kaiserin. The
old Emperor Wilhelm always received
them kindly, and sent them home happy
with money and presents, and his grand
son, the present Emperor William IL,
does the same. So on this New Years
morning they will betake themselves,
as their forefathers did in centuries long
gone, to their ruler and their king. One
will read II poem of greeting to the royal
family, another will pass around Hal
loren sausages, and another Halloren
salt-cooked eggs. What a kindly old
fashioned custom, what an odd ending
to u royal New Years dinnerl Sausages
and salt-cooked eggs Yet, perhaps, the
flavor of these, and the sincere devotion
Of this loyal people, may have sweet
ness to the emperor that the tributes of
more stately greetings can not give.
With the Hallorens and their gifts, will
come back the memory of childhood's
days, when, as lad, with his father and
his grandfather ut the same table, he
listened to their New Years verses.
IsoBEL II. FLOYD.