River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1916-07-13

WATERFALL,
their fOrefathers. Several of these
guilds still meet in their respective
clubhouse, others have their reunions
in various inns or hotels, but all are
anxious to participate in a dignified
manner in the afternoon Sechselaeuten
parade.
The first stroke Of six is the signal
for Boogg's execution. He is set en-
fire and while he is expiating his
wrongdoings other bonfires flare up on
the surrounding mountain heights and
fireworks are sent off from the numer-
Gus boats now gayly circling around
on the lovely lake. Winter has passed
and the arrival Of spring is celebrated
far into the stiffness of the night.
In the mountain regions the start Of
the cattle to the summer pastures, the
so-called Alpaufzug, has been making
a particular feature of this day which
means SO much to the herdsmen ana
their families and on which occasion.
the cattle even seem to realize the i'm"
portant change which is about to glad
den their lives.
The king of the Alpine procession,
handsome, powerful bull, marches in
front. He is decorated with beautiful
garlands of flowers and with the airs
of monarch he carries the One-legged
milking stool, which is also Wreathed
with spring blossoms. In long row
the COWS now follow their leader, all
| we'll kept and scrupulOusly clean and
| every one embellished with flowers
and a merry tinkling cowbell. At their
sides walk their keepers in Sunday at
| tire, now and then fondly eying their
| bovine prOtegeS.
Following the procession Of cattle
comes parade of carriages and We
hicles of varied description, contain
| ing the wOmanfolk and children Of
| the herdsmen, also articles Of furni-
| ture and dairying utensils piled high.
| This is the departure for the Alps, a
| most characteristic and picturesque
sight in the mountain regions.
Ancient Ways of Wooing.
A very antiquated custom Of noe
turnal wooing, which is, however, grad
ually dying out, is the Kiltgang. In
many districts of the canton of Berne
| the younger set of the male inhabitants
| forms q kind Of vigilance committee to
| prevent the well-to-do girls from be-
ing carried off by outsiders. The low
ers in the village who are of this set
are permitted to pay their visits and
climb to the windows Of the fair ones
undiSturbed, while strenuous oppOSi-
ton is given to strangers who venture
to intrude.
Closely connected with the Kiltgang
is the so-called Maienstecken of the
| canton of Lucerne. a lover, anxious
/ to please his dearest, plants in front
of her window small pine tree, gayly
adorned with ribbons. This is sup
posed to be the expression of utmost
| devotion and generally finds it's reward
it a generous entertainment at the
hands of both the parents and the girl.
Another method of wooing-in the
flower language-Still exists in remote
villages of the canton of GlaruS. In
this case the young man places a flow
er pot containing a single rose and
note on the window sill Of the girls
room when she is absent from home.
lie then has to patiently wait for re-
ply.
If the maid takes the rose, the young
man boldly enters the house to ar
range matters with her parents, but if
the rose is allowed to fade away the
proposal is rejected without a word
having been exchanged between the
couple.
There is not a single part OF SwitZer-
land that has not some peculiar usage
of its own. To the casual onlooker
/ they may appear ridiculous at first, but
on closer examination of such old
time traditions we frequently discover
that their origin is actually connected
with historic events, and what may
have struck us as somewhat queer"
at first is explained by the fact that
the majority of these ancient customs
was born In period when the world
did not radiate the enlightenment OF
| our modern days