The Tomahawk., 1916-07-20

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 dignified
manner in the afternoon Sechselaeuten
parade.
The first stroke of six is the signal
for Boogg's execution. He is set ON
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 and
their families and on which occasion
! the cattle even seem to realize the inns
| portant change which is about to glad.
den their lives.
The king Of the Alpine procession, q
! 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
well kept and scrupulously clean and
every one embellished with flowers
and q 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 a 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,
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 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 a 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 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 flow
er pot containing single rose and a
note on the window sill Of the girls
room when she is absent from home.
He 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 word
having been exchanged between the
couple.
There is not single part OF Switzer-
land that has not some peculiar usage
Of it's 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 q period when the world
I'D not radiate the enlightenment Of
| or modern days.