New-York tribune., 1895-10-13
4 LITTLE BATARIAN COLONY.
THE PEASANT PLAYERS IMPART COLOR AND
PICTUREsQUENEsS TO BROADWAY
PLANTS ABOUT BEER

PLANTS ABOUT BEER
Although New-York has become cosmopolitan IN
character and Newly Workers are acct stoned 10 see-
ing strange garbs and nationaites on the streets
yet the Bavaran peasant as he stands forth IN the
costume Of his native mountains. attracts many
curious glance and ill-conceaei stare. despite MS
weeks OF residence. His bare knees shine out con-
spcuously among the conventionally trousered legs
in Broadway and the ample cloak that hangs down
TO his heels in the back only accentuates the de-
fciency.
The interest his appearance excltes disturbs him
not one whit however. With pipe in mouth and nat
crowded comfortably back on his read. he trudges
along as stoiGly and complacently as II the shop.
lined streets the roadways Of his native VII
lage and familiar objects greeted him on either
hand
These Schliersee peasant-players make Broadway
picturesque when they out OF the opera mouse
from their morning rehearsal each day. The women
all wear full short-skiried gowns OF some gay hue
usually checked or striped. but II OF sober cooF'
trimmed with bands Of braid or velvet to enllven
the effect Their black bodces are frightened with
seouln-llke coins or bands of shining tinse and be-
sides the white neckerchef crossed within the
bodice bands OF stuff similar to the skirt cross the
shoulders In back and front Their hats are not
cacula ted off the beauty OF even the come
Hest face being awkwardy shaped black feltS.
with several rows OF white cord wound about the
low crown. Their sleeves are plain and sensible
looking but far from pretty.
The leather br,oches OF the men are embroidered
about the waistband and at the knee in gay colors
Their heavy yarn socks are gariered below the knee
and turned down 20 show the stripes running around
the top In most these socks are footless and
the bare instep shows above the low shoe. The veil
vet waistcoat is of dark green, sometimes of red.
and Is further ightened with tiny round, brass
buttons sewei closely together Tho shirt Is OF
loose cut and the tie knot,ed about the collar in
variaby bright-coored. a display OF edewess or
an eagles feather fastened side Of the soft
hat. This is the holiday dress, their working garb
is coarser but OF the same cut
Hearty. who!esome-.ooking solidly built specimens
OF human kind these peasant folk. The com
plexons Of the women. well as the men, speak Of
a life passed much In the open air.
The woman the spinning wheel on the stage
looks II she really had spun and performed daily
domestic tasks about her lowly home. The harvest
ers ore nord. II from the suns under which they
have toiled. Perhaps II is this honey touch that
makes the German audiences who witness these
Schersee plays enraptured with the perform
ance.
"All of these peasants are Of one rank" said the
manager OF the Bavaran company. 'TThey all have
six or eight acres Of ground about their little homes
and by careful cultivation. really live vel off the
among themselves in Schliersee which is a it,
tie village two hours distant from Munich. They
benefit Of their neghbors and their own satisfac-
tion. until Conrad Dreher. belonging to the Court
tablished theatre for them For the first year they
acted entirely in Schliersee but since 1893 they have
visited Vienna Berlin. Lepslc and various other
cities. They have not yet visited London and. OF
course Il would ha useless for them to go TO Paris
on being asked II the peasants found living in
New York much different from what they were ac-
customed to in their native land. the manager an
swered that beer was the only item Of which they
made complaint.
They can get four times the amount Of beer for
the anne money In Bavaria. They have found Ger
man landadies with whom they have been able to
arrange for their black bread and other dishes. but
the women well the men. are fond Of beer.
and fond OF plenty OF IT, and they find doing without
il very irksomc These peasants are all OF an eco
nOmcal turn Of mind. They board downtown. but
they walk all the distance up to the Opcra-house
rather than pay the carfare. For the same reason
they choose boarding houses rather than hotels.
There many OF them that they don't feel
lonely or hJmesick and this also preserves their
native dialect and bearing: for they little about
mingng with the strangers around them.