Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1899-12-30
From Christmas to NewYears.

AOlAl Iii AotAlAao W " W SdA -
The customs and festivities OF
Christmas, with its adjunct, the Christ
mas tree, have been so often told about
that 1t needs no description OF mine.
Instead of 1t will take the reader to
little inland town of Germany and
tell him OF some Of the events connect
ed with that period.
A stranger entering that town on
Christmas eve is greeted by burst of
music that seems to come from the
clouds, If not from the celestial regions
1t is hardly good enough to come up to
our preconceived notions of the latter
place, for it originates with the ap-
prentices of the town musician, who is
perched in tower about so feet from
the ground. This parsonage is of con-
siderable importance, for his duties
consist of announcing by music the
births, deaths and weddings in the
communicable ringing of fire bells
in short the proclaiming OF every nota-
BILE event.
In daylight, at stated hours, you
could see protruding from the loop
holes of his eyrie a number of slide
trombones, glistening in the sunlight,
whence, in connection with other in
struments, issue ohorals, dlrges,
marches, ETC., as the occasion demands.
In return for these services he has
vestorian privileges which he turns to
good account First of all he is the
one who is allowed to keep apprent-
ices; then he has the sole privilege of
furnishing music for festive occasions,
professions, funerals, etc. That this
music cannot be of a very high order
is due to the fact that his band or or
chestra consists Of only two or three
journeymen, while the apprentices
number as many as ten or twelve. On
mounting this steeple, which can be
done either by numbers of staircases,
or in large tub in which the provls-
ions and water are hauled up, the visi
tor meets with many unearthly sights
ond noises, such as the ticking of the
town clock, the winding of which, by
the by, is one of the duties of the
town musician-the swinging of the
immense pendelum which reminds one
of the punishment of the Jesuits.
The tower adjoining the church forms
its belfry, containing number of huge
bells supported by massive frames
which form many inches and corners.
Here is where the apprentices do
their practicing. One has selected the
top of a large bell and blows his
French horn for all 1T is worth; anoth-
er prefers to be sheltered by the same
bell to practice on the trombone; an
other on a cross-beam is playing a
flute. But all this time l am forget
ting Christmas and the New Year.
There is but one name that can be
applied to the period embraced by
these limits. It iS emphatlcally the
Begging Period"
From early morn to late at night the
streets are alive with beggars. Strange
to say, the first one is a man whose
duty 1t lis to keep awake and moving
all night, and who Is yet not too tired
to go from house to house and wish
you a Merry Christmas and Happy
New Year-it is the night-watchman
OF the town, who, accompanied by his
faithful dog, holds In one hand a large
tin horn and in the ether dingy cap,
which he holds out to you, expecting
you to drop your Christmas gift into
1t.
The next individual appearing upon
the stage of action is probably the
Swine herd" who during the past
year has taken care of your hogs. and
who now expects a mite in apprecia-
tion of his services.
Then comes the cow-herd, who day
after day has driven your COWS to and
from the pasture.
Then comes the shepherd, who has
performed the same task for your
sheep. Butcher and baker and candle
sick-maker allow their apprentices a
day to gather in few pennies.
We have no room to mention other
individuals who took advantage of the
season to do some genteel begging, but
will pass at once to our old friends,
the town musician, who has kindly
descended from his lofty position and
who now with his band goes from
house to house and pocketing what he
considers his legitimate fees.
A description of the crowd of men
and boys now coming would demand
chapter by itself. Suffice 1t. therefore.
to state that they are the "Cantors" or
public school teachers in spe, and they
eke out a scanty livelihood by singing
few pieces during the year at the
doors of their patrons.
The military band concludes the list
of licensed beggars. They do not come
under the ban of the town musician
and are superior TO his band In their
atbalnments. They consequently fur
nlsh better music and are rewarded in