New-York tribune., 1905-05-27
TYROLESE DAYS.
Journeys and Digressions in a Pict-
UreSque Land.

crackan. With thirty-one Illustrations, 12no
PIP. Xxx, s2S l. c. Page & Co.
The first impression of Mr.. McCrackan's vol
ume is somewhat disappointing. 1t appears on
the surface to be little more than a guidebook
to the interesting and picturesque region he
describes. On further inspection, however, one
discovers that this is because the author wishes
to leave no place untouched which he has Wis
tied in his roamings through the land. and
many of these little towns have little note
worthy TO be said about them, and can be dis
missed in short order. There are plenty OF
other places which afford material for the
writer's descriptive powers. and Of these he has
not failed 10 avail himself. IF there is still
good deal that would expect to find in
Baedelzer, there is more that we would not
vivid descriptions Of scenery, quaint bits of his
tory biographical digressions, sociological dis
cussons and many ilIumlnative observations on
the people and their manners and customs. The
art the literature, the drama Of the country, all
come In for apprecative notice, and the result
is SO dtverting a picture of delightful land
that the reader longs to take up his pack in
stanter and TO follow in the authors footsteps.
He devetes a chapter to Philippine Wefser. the
wife Of the great Archduke Ferdinand. in which
he does not disaaln to recount among her other
resplendent virtues her recipe for a BLACK
in the cookbook she wrote We reprint it for
the benefit Of those who would like to know q
favorite dish Of an archduchess IN the sixteenth
century
You begin by taking eight to fourteen pears, 40
cording as they are large or small. then roast them
with a ounce. which wiz need more time, because
and d SaTss and eced R pnt e dh ha 1 o
milk 4ad nine esss G yoRs sts and I IThitHs) hff sugar
ure of grated almonds, making sure that there are
no bitter ones aTne9g them F9rce , this i,. mixture
per, ginger and nutmeg. ACCORDING to taste. The
ly frosting made of rosewater. white of egg and
sugar is poured on top
Wasn't that a dainty dish to set before an
archduke2 Mr. McCrackan gives another chap
ter to the Settle Comuni who believe that they
are of Cinbrian origin and tells how, when
! Frederick " of Denmark and Norway visited
them in 1909, they greeted him with cries Of
viva ell rel del Cimbri!" But when he talked
with them he found that their dialect had no
| relation to Danish, but was unquestionably high
| German. In order not to disturb their festivi-
| ties the kindly monarch forebore to express his
| opinion during his stay among them.
Speaking Of the distinctive costumes OF the
peasants and of the regret of visitors at finding
| that they gradually being discarded for the
| more matter OF fact garments Of modern cut
the author states that those who bewail may
console themselves with the reflection that as g.
rule the peasant costumes are not Of peasant
origin at all On the contrary. they represent
! the obsolete and discarded fashions of the town
The process by which the peasants learned to
adopt some special town costume for their own has
been described by DR.. Steub. somewhat as follows:
Al long intervals. period of special well being
| or some sudden str among the peasants would
] lnduce them 10 spend unusual amount or money
/ on themselves. They naturally desired 70 have
new clothes also: They bought largely OF the pre-
/ vang fashion OF the day, and withdrew into their
mountain valleys 10 perpetuate that fashion from
! father 10 son and mother 70 daughter Ine fash
ion in the town might change. but the peasants
Kept on with the old for generations until new
period OF prosperity induced them TO invest once
/ more in different style OF clothes. The