The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1916-10-20

1t is most interesting to watch the
quick working of the threshing MAJ
chine, which is driven by steam. The
women never seem to cease-sheaf aft
ter sheaf is dropped in from aboves
and on one side you see the chaff and
straw coming out, and on the other the
wheat dropping right into the sacks
awaiting it below. These again are
tied up by the men. l watched the
grain being separated from the chaff;,
for 40 minutes, and during that time
IL big sacks were tied up, labeled and
ready to put away in the granary.,
While this Is going on, hundreds of
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 patch of
black and looks most strange.
The only Russian crow l have seen
in captivity was a 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 noisesl
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.
(25 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, howl
ever, the peasants receive collectively
one-tenth Of the wheat of every field
they cut.
Won't Work on Feast Days.
Sundays and feast days (and the,eI
are over hundred of the latter) theyl
will not work, but lie about in the(
fields and drink tea, etc. But they love-
music, and to the tune of the balalaika
"a kind of mandolin) and the CON-
certina they will sing and dance at anyI
moment of the day. Many of the peas-I
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 highI
est pitch in the vicinity of the thresh-I
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 thrObbingi
of the engines, the buzz of many voices,
the lowing of the cattle, the glorious
sunset, and, above all, that lovely goldj
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 cereI
mony and always takes place in the
moonlight. First it is thoroughly overs
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 un.
til 1t arrives at it's 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 rollicking
time, playing and dancing far into the
night.