Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1903-11-11
MACEDONIAN PEASANTS.

Shocking Abuses to Which Even In
Peace They Are Subject.
The peasants Of Macedonia who are
in revolt against the rule of the Turk
are an interesting people. Their coun-
try is much diversified in population.
In the south the Greeks predominant,
in the north the Slavs. The middle
section has mixed and debatable con-
geries of nationalities and dialects.
There are a few Wallachians here and
there and a sprinkling Of Mahometans
everywhere. In times of peace 90 per
cent Of the population is engaged in
agriculture. They till the fields in
primitive fashion, having little use for
| modern improvements or farm ma
chinery. Their stolid industry, their
thrifty habits, the fine climate and the
natural fertility Of the country would
make them a most prosperous and hap
by people were it not for the oppres-
sion put upon them.
Each Christian village suffers eXac-
ton from it's Moslem neighbors, its
Turkish landlord, the Albanian brig
ands, to say nothing Of the official tax
collectors. The people have no security
in trade, and the privileged classes live
upon their labor. In some places the
peasants, besides sharing the products
of their field equally with their land
lords, are forced to work for them
eighty days each year, including Sun
, days, without any pay in money or
goods. They are forced to obey at
the point Of the knife, and there Is no
redress.
The cottages of the peasants are
grouped together in little hamlets.
There are few fences and the land
marks are uncertain. Many of the vii
lagos have a common lot for pastur-
ing the fiocks when it is impossible for
the shepherds to lead them into the
mountains, where for several months
each year the grazing Is good.
Both men and women are strong
limbed and full of endurance. Few are
idle or vicious. The women do their
share Of work in the fields, and have
no end Of home duties. They make the
clothing Of the family, usually from
wool grown and sheared upon the
farm, spun, woven, cut and made in
the house.
The hospitality Of the people appeals
to the visitor. Oriental laws prevail,
and no one who comes In peace is
turned away. Even the poorest peas
ant will share his crust Of bread and
his wooden blankets with q stranger,
and without asking.
The average peasant family pos
sesses a pair of. oxen, forty or fifty
sheep, a COW, several pigs ana chick
ems. A portion Of the increase of the
sheep flock must be turned over to the
landlord in many cases. One day each
week In the towns Of the district Is
market day, and the peasants come
from every direction, driving slow-go-
ing OK teams hitched to rough carts
loaded with produce. The distances are
great, and the market journey is usual
iy begun the day before and ended the
day after market day.
Like his brothers in Bulgaria, the
Macedonian peasant buries his money
in the fields. There are few banks,
and these few the peasant does not
trust The house Is not safe hiding
place. for it Is liable to be searched at
any time by passing bands Of Turks,
who dc not hesitate to loot when there
is anything to be taken. In Bulgaria,
where reform has been in force for
some years, the peasant is prosperous,
and the total amount Of coin buried
in the fields Is enormous. So fast do
the peasants hide the money which
comes to them that the output Of the
Bulgarian mint disappears almost as
soon as coined