Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-05-12
Life in Germany.

/
women come in from the country about
| Heidelberg, Germany. with great bas-
] kets upon their heads. 1t is q picture
esque sight-the women in their bright
colored cotton gowns, balancing upon
their heads with rapparent ease bask-
cts which are heaped high with car
rots, beats, crisp lettuce, tender young
radishes, and cabbage Of every known
variety, While above the common
growth of the vegetable garden are
! roses. marguerites and corn flowers.
| Sometimes curiosity is aroused by the
sight of a basket taller than the others
and kept in place with more difficulty.
The sound of plaintive squeM the
glimpse of a restless whiteness thru
the wickerwork, assures one of the pos
sibility of the seemingly impossible.
Two small pigs are being borne to their
doom. The whole procession of basket
carriers streams to the market places.
There in little booths, or stalls backing
against the old church, or under thu
open sky, are displayed all the delica-
cies that can tempt tagging appe-
lite, to say nothing of the necessities
demanded by the German idea of good
living.
Standing guard over their wares are
the market-women, great brawny,
creatures, each one busily knitting -
an occupation which she Interrupts
only when the bargain is once conclud-
ed and the article purchased is to be
delivered over.
At the market and in the shops, may
be seen during the morning, almos.
every housewife in Heidelberg. If She
is poor she carries her own basket; If
she is well-to-do she is accompanied
by her maid servant. The mistress
herself, however, does all the buying,
as we'll as the dickering which is so
necessary a part of the transaction.
The good housewife goes first, per-
haps to the Kaese- Hundlung, or
"cheese-shop.' In this odoriferous es-
Establishment she has her choice of an
almost countless variety of cheeses.
Here she buys her butter. which must
be gotten fresh every day, since it is
unsalted and will not keep. On her
way to the market she passes the meat
shop. From the heat and dust of the
street she enters a cool and dark
ened room, whose walls are lined with
dainty blue and white tile. A rosy
checked maiden of business like mein
presides over this sanctuary. Here the
basket is enriched by the addition of
sausage: it may be of any kind from
the delicate Leberwurst to the awe
inspiring Blutwurst.
The bakery comes next. From
wicker trays heaped high with rolls
whose crisp crusts put our American
bakers to shame, she chooses the
Observation-Disclosures horns" or the Wa
ter-rolls, or milk rolls or others of those
whose name is legion. She does not
leave the shop without her delicious
loaf of black bread. and she may buy
here some dainty for dessert. Schiif-
chen or little boat" filled with chopped
haze! nuts, or a piece of kaesekucheu.
which is a custard pie made OF sour
milk and cheese, and Is estimated
dainty by even enlightened American
students.
+ BY this time she is at the market.
She is confronted by a wealth of vege-
table temptations. But she knows what
She wants and is soon getting 1T. at the
lowest possible price. Before she
leaves there is in the rapidly filing
basket, lettuce, potatoes, beans, peas,
carrots and a liter or two of the cher
ries which, large as plums. are the
glory of the early summer. The lettuce
will be dressed with sour cream and
vinegar. When next we see them, peas
and carrots will confront us in appe-
tizing conjunction. The well seasoned
dish of Gelnischte Gemuse-'m mixed
vegetables" always contain carrots and
peas. To these may be added any of
ali vegetable products of the vegetable
kingdom.
Her mornings marketing done, the
busies herself about the
house and the preparation of the meals.
From the stone tagged Kitchen with
it's tiny square stove, in which are
burned bricketts-small bricks of press
ed coal dust-the meal energies at last,
and the hungry Americans, as well as
the flock of Germans, big and little who
gather about 1t, pronounce 1T good.