Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1916-10-13

| While this is going on, hundreds
black and gray crows (the real Rus
sian crow, come flying around to pick
up what wheat they can, and in some
parts the ground is just a patch of
black and looks most strange. Even
storks put in a dignified appearance
just to see what is going on, and great
eagles and hawks hover above waiting
to feast on the mice.
The only Russian crow / have seen
in captivity was miserable specimen
in Dresden. They are much more sim
lister looking than their British broth
ers, and even their "caw" is different.
Their behavior in the wheatfield is ex-
tremely entertaining. The old birds
hop about uttering weird little noises
and gingerly picking up grains of
wheat with which they feed their prac-
tically full-grown offspring. If the
young bird has had enough it drops the
grain in front of another crow, which
generally snaps at it promptly.
The peasants receive pay according
to the proprietor's wealth or generos-
ity-sometimes so kopeks day
COS cents), at other times one rouble
$50 cents) but this varies greatly, as
some estates are so much richer than
others. In all and every case, how
ever, the peasants receive collectively
one-tenth of the wheat of every field
they cut, and sometimes this adds up
very considerably. In fact, what they
earn in harvest time practically keeps
them for the rest of the year.
Won't Work on Feast Days.
Sundays and feast days (and there
are over hundred of the latter they
will not work, but lie about in the
fields and drink tea, etc. But they love
music and to the tune Of the balalaika
Ca kind of mandolin) and the con-
certina they will sing and dance at any
moment of the day. Many of the peas
ants are much richer than they look,
and they still put their money in their
stockings and bury it as of old.
But to return to the harvest. To
wards sunset, when work is at its high
est pitch in the vicinity of the thresh-
ing machine (Which, by the way, the
peasants greatly reverence, as it means
food to them in the coming year,, life
is indeed worth living. The throbbing
of the engines, the buzz Of many voices
the lowing of the cattle, the glorious
sunset, and, above all, that lovely gold
en- haze Caused by the dust of the
chaff) which rises ever so lightly, and
which seems to put veil over every
thing, just makes you long for your
brush and palette.
But, the wheat cut, threshed and
housed, the machine must be put away
till next year. This is quite a cere-
mony and always takes place in the
moonlight. First it is thoroughly over
hauled and cleaned, then decorated
with flowers, small sheaves and
branches of trees. Between twelve
and twenty pairs of oxen draw the
machine, moving as slowly as possible.
All those who have taken part In the
harvest work walk beside and behind
it--generally between one hundred and ;
two hundred. Behind these come the
villagers, everyone dressed in his best,
and the girls with garlands of flowers
on their heads, singing folk songs. This
huge cavalcade moves at foot pace I'M
til il arrives at its destination, when
the squire and all his family and
guests come out to see the ceremonial
housing. The peasants then receive
something "extra" and return to their
houses, generally having a rollicking
time, playing and dancing far into the
night.