The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1916-07-15

bonfire may be built around him. The
morning festivities close with a juve-
nile ball in the Tonllalle.
In the afternoon the various guilds,
all attired in wonderful ancient cos
tunes, have their parade. These
guilds, which in former centuries used
to play such an important role, are
no longer the strict unions of the same
class of artisans-thOse unions died
out in 1898. The members of the
guilds of today may in reality belong
to a quite different profession, but
they may have chosen to select the
symbol of the trade Once practiced by
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 dignihed
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 Otller bontires flare up on
the surrounding mountain heights and
fireworks are sent off from the numer-
IL boats o 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 he herdsmen and
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, a
handsome, powerful bull. marches in
front. He is decorated with beautiful
garlands of flowers and with the airs
of a monarch he carries the one-legged
milking stool, which is also wreathed
with spring blossoms. In q long row
the COWS now follow their leader, all
well 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 a parade of carriages and We.
hicles of varied description, contain
ing the w%omanfolk 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 Il 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 sci
are permitted to pay their visits ant
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 KiltganE
is the so-called Maienstecken of the
canton of Lucerne. A lover, anxiou.
TO please his dearest, plants in from
of her window a small pine tree, gayly
adorned with ribbons. This Is sup
posed to be the expression of utmosr
devotion and generally finds its reward
1t a generous entertainment at the
hands of both the parents and the girl