Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1901-03-14
SAIL MAXINE
In GermaW Described IN an Interesting Way
by Mrs. Stevens.

Dear Folks; We have had an inter-
esting afternoon at the salt Works
of Halle. They are interesting from
several points of view.
The salt is pumped from well in
the ver. center of the town on the
market SQUARE is conveyed in pine
across (under) the Sale river to the
west side of the town where are locat
ed the works.
The salt water is then purified o;
other mineral ingredients by exposure
to the air. that is it is run through
series of trourhs. 1t is then conveyed
to large watts perhaps 25x75 feet, under
which is the fire. The salt water is
mixed with "beef blood to purify it
and cause impurities to rise to the sur
face. There were three large vats boil
ing the afternoon we were there. Af-
ter it has evaporated it is carried by
cars to another drying vat where 1t
is finished when dry. A man with a
heavy mall" pounds it until it is fine
enough for the market. That seemed
so strange to us, but here man labor is
so cheap they have no need of ma
chinery. OF course the salt is not so
fine or nice as we can buy at home, still
it is beautiful and white and with our
facilities for grinding and selecting
they could furnish a fine article. After
visiting the vats we went over to the
well but could see nothing there eX
cept the engine. The well is very deep
and Fields an enormous quantity of
salt. Very queer and interesting feat
ures have the people who work in the
plant.
They are distinct class who wear q
peculiar dress and have peculiar man
ners and customs. They are called
halloren and have been separate from
the other people-no one knows their
origin, htey do not know it themselves.
They have had charge of these salt
works since time immemorial and have
exclusive control. They intermarry
among the Germans-but try to see to
it that one son takes the work of his
father. They dare learn no other
trade and when 16 years old they are
confirmed in the church and then go to
work. Their dress is very peculiar
We are going to have a picture before
we leave here. They wear long coat
much like Prince Albert, knee trous
ers, high top. boots or low shoes with
blue or red stockings on holiday occa-
sions. a peculiar broad -brimmed hat
turned up in front and at the sides
giving a queer three cornered shape.
The band is of silk beaver. They wear
on festive occasions very fancy col
ored silk vest. There are about forty
two Hallorens here now--their number
is gradually growing less. The women
are usually nurses to the royal families
These people have some distinction
with the administration Whenever
there is a change of reign the incom-
ing King presents the Halloren with
fine house which they sell and buy a
cup and banner with the money. There
is quite collection of cups and ban
ners. Once year they have a festival.
when the village in which they live
provides them with all the beer they
| can use. So they are quite an honoreI
people. They perform still another of
fee. When any one dies they draw
the hearse. instead of using horses as
we do. In earlier days this custom
was universal but now horses are COM
ing more into use. should think they
would look very somber in their black
clothes and those funny black hats.
Yours Respectfully,
ADDIE CHAPMAN STEVENS.
Halle, Germany.