The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1904-08-20

Primitive Ways Of the People-Stiu
Follow Old Homespun Ways-Perfect
Peace and Happiness There.
BY Judson GreneIl.
Copyright 1904 by Judson Grene11.)
FRIEBURG, Baden, Aug. 12.I ex-
pressed doubt in my last letter as to
whether Germany was or was not an
industrial nation, and quoted a. couple
OF learned Frieburg professors, the
word "industrial' having reference to
manufacturing Taking it's exports Of
finished products as a guide, particu-
1arly the export Of steel, Germany
looks to be an important factor in the
trade OF the W orld, and on the whole it
Is well to consider the nation in that
light. But Gerfnanys agricultural in
terests are also very large, and to wis
1t one section that Of the province Of
Baden, in which is situated the BLACK
Forest'-shows what a strong grip the
methods of medieval Europe have on
the people, especially when from any
circumstance community Is sidetrack-
ed and does not fully share In the me-
chanical means Of gaining a livelihood.
Prince Tolstoy is continually advis-
ing the people to get back to the land.
He believes there is more real happi-
ness and contentment to be obtained
in cultivating the soil and living sim
pie lives than in seeking amid the ex-
elements and turnaolls Of cities to pur-
sue fame and fortune. However this
may be, the peasants Of the Black For
pie way toe-dlBAOF-n.. aidornwj
eset are endeavoring, in their own way
to live simple lives, and are succeeding
in getting out of life about as much
happiness as falls to the lot Of man
kind.
What the Black Forest Is.
BLACK Forest has an ominous sound
It conjures up vast tracts Of woods
with virgin soil and bits Of swamp land
Disabuse you mind of all this. The
name has reference to the color Of thu
foliage, it being generally Of a DARK
hue. In fact the Black Forest is ONT
Of the best kept agricultural district:
in the world But also its wooded sec
tions are in greater proportion than IL
any other portion Of Germany. Wha
makes the Black Forest Of interest in
dustria1ly, as well as in many othe
| ways, is the fact that besides being un
der strict government supervision IL
respect to its wealth Of timber, it's in
habitants have continued to exist afte
| the manner Of their forefathers, 70
many generations, living well within
themselves, following simple trades II
! connection with agriculture, and de
clining, as far as possible, to take ad
vantage of the new methods civiliza
tion insists on elsewhere.
| Not a tree can be cut in the Blac1
Forest without permission of the gov
eminent, and when section is de
nuded Of trees, a commission decide
what to do with the land; whether t.
replant it with trees or to give: it VI
| TO- agriculture. ): Thus the proportion
| between. forest and land IS: mafnt aine,
whole sections being set out, in tree
as regularly planted as are hills o
corn. Along the highways are public
ly owned fruit trees. The crops ar
sold by auction, at harvest time, to tn
! highest bidder.
; Nothing escapes the eyes Of officials
nothing is permitted to go to waste
The faggots that, as limbs Of trees
are tumbled into brush heaps in tn
United States and burned, are here as
sorted and tied into bundles and sol
| for fuel. The smallest twig has val
ue; the very leaves are collected an
rotted and used for fertilizing purposes
So much for the natural products o
the soil. The ownership is in bot
small and large holdings. The rich
land owners divide their possessions in
to small parcels and live off the rents
But there are, I told, a large mum
Der of small freeholds. However,
! should Judge thata the landed aristoc
racy greatly predominated in respec
to the quantity of land held.
Print tive Ways of the People.
The Inhabitants of the Black For
est are of various origins, and as
tramped over the well kept roads, o
ate at the wayside inns, I was unabl
to tell the "old" from the new or on
district from another, except by tn
styles of headdresses worn by the wo
| men. Women cling to customs close
than men, and today they take prid
in showing their loyalty to their par
| ticular district by the way. in whlcl
dress. Hence the picturesqueness.
| Though it was in haying time, tn
| hum of no reaper reached my ears
but saw men with scythes and som
with sickles, cutting the grass, Will
| In the villages at evening the beating
of hammers on steel told Of the sharp
ening" process going on. This Is don
] or Inc ho o1c @f