Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1910-10-13
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1SIlIHSS HIPS

lovers and admirers. 1t is al
ways beautiful Surely it's peo-
pie have found the fountain OF
perpetual youth, for nothing stales Its
infinite variety. 1t is the country OF
seasonal and perennial attractions,
possessing that rare thing that even
vandal men cannot destroy.
The peasants love their home and in
many instances preserve the delight
fully quaint customs which so greatly
charm the tourist One would be mis-
taken to judge these people as igno-
rant; the constitution Of the country
enables them to obtain an insight into
general state affairs and great care
is taken in the education of the
young to broaden their knowledge in
every direction. Their intelligence,
therefore, strikes the visitor as re-
markable.
During the summer one is not
troubled with snow until one reaches
about eight thousand feet altitude. IN
the winter snow is, however, as low
as 1000 or even 1000 feet. The white
line thus moves high or low according
to the season.
The Pageantry of the season indeed
is nowhere else so crowded with de-
lightful surprises in which the people
move in sympathy. The peasants are
true to the nature that has mothered
them. In the spring the villages are
agog and abustle, holding picturesque
old-time festivals, preceding the start
of the herds to the mountain pastures.
The matrens of the herds are provided
with melodious bells, globular in form,
hut thin and light and differing in
size from twelve to two inches in di-
ameter. They are as varied in pitch
as in size, and their tones mellow into
gentle, harmonious effect without
harshness.
The herders and the dairy maids
meet OF the village green to enjoy a
day of song and dance. Preparations
are Eaade for the summers round of
activity in the mountains. where, in
spite of hard work, an almost idyllic
experience is lived by the light-heart-
ed peasants. The verdant and aro-
matte pastures, amid these wonderful
scenic settings, provide vistas opening
on wide horizons of Jagged peaks and
profound gorges clothed with the rar-
est verdure. The mountain herdsmen
and their comely companions of the
churn are hardy and blooming, and
song and yodeling continually ease
and relieve the labors of the summer
when duties are arduous and results
imperative.
1t is unique and inspiring sight to
witness the annual spring parade or
procession starting for the mountain
pastures. The usual cooking and dairy
| utensils have to be transported, for
these migrants from the wales must
/ remain with their charges in the
mountains until the time of return in
the fall of the year. They occupy their
mountain huts, which are fitted suit
ably for themselves as well as for the
| necessary dairying. AS soon as the
| snow begins to disappear from the
| lower pastures the herder marshals
| his herd and starts out. In the fes-
tive procession the bull leads. On his
horns are placed milk stool, and on
| his head a chaplet of flowers. He
| bears, hanging from his neck, the
bills are made of alloyed silver From
1 their tones have originated the imita.
tive yodeling or warbling Of the herd.
era sudden changing from the fall
| Betto to the chest voice, and vice
/, versa Following the monarch of the
| herd comes the queen Of the kline.
gayly decorated and wearing tho best
bell Of the COWS. Every COW has her
bell. and so accustomed are they to
them that losing them is disaster.
even causing loss of the "cud" The
kline know their places. At the start
the strongest and best assert their
! precedence. They will battle among
themselves for the right OF way,
which, once settled, all is peace. The
! bell-cow leads in the search for pas
lures new and she brooks no interfer-
ence.
| The mountaineer's response to the
sound OF the herder's joyous yodel Is
| the "allpenhern,g q long horn. the Of.
| fect Of which must be heard in the
| Alps to be appreciated. The noun
tains echo It with infinite sweetness,
and the effect is tender and thrilling.
The farther the distance from which
its tones are heard the more flute-like
seems It's answerpowerful, mellow.
/ Strong and sweet, It fills the valley,
while the echoes are flung weirdly and
strangely from the mountain ram,
PARTS. Ii the former times, whom the
/ sturdy schweitxer often had to leays
/ Hi herds ana repeisan 1ntruding fofcs,
| tho aipenhorn was the means Of sum.