The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1917-05-25

men, and a Kaleidoscope effect of color
Is then visible. Blue, green, yellow,
gold, and silver are mingled In various
combinations. They pin up the over
skirt, which leaves bright petticoat
exposed to view.
At Cracow have seen these women
carry mortar for the masOns and plas-
terers, where new buildings were be-
ing erected. They were spading up
the fower-beds in the parks, and were
doing the work as well as the
masculine overseer could have done
1t himself. They can hang pa
per or paint q house. Along the
roads women would be seen carrying
heavy bundles, or pushing loaded
wheelbarrows. Everywhere they are
doing work that involves considerable
physical strength. Hence it is that
many Of these Polish women lock nag
gard and old even before they have
passed the third decade Of life. This
Is more true than ever at the present
time, for the men are In the armies,
frequently fighting each other, because
they cannot help themselves. 1t Is NO
wonder that girl naturally attractive
soon grows old and haggard. Hard
work with little pleasure, and the care
Of family, which is generally large
must inevitably leave their mark be-
fore many years.
Picturesque Marriage Ceremonies.
The marriage day is the one bright
spot In the girls life, since 1t Is made
the occasion for festivities, and the
ceremony itself is very picturesque
There Is music by the peasant musi-
clans, who play their livellest tunes.
The whole village turns out on such
occasions. Joy and jollity reign su-
preme for the day.
The old Polish costumes have dis
appeared in Russia, but distinctive
costumes are still worn. Red or vel.
low, with alternating green stripes, is
most common. The men wear baggy
trousers made of the same material as
the skirts of the women. In one dis
trlct, west of Warsaw, every peasant
seemed to wear this costume. Some
were working In the fields, others
walking or driving along the highway
The children looked like little grand
fathers or grandmothers, being dressed
in exactly the same styles as their
elders. The peasants dwell In the
quaint villages which are scattered
everywhere throughout Poland. The
villages of Galicia are especially In
teresting on Sundays and holidays
when the national costumes are
donned. The cottages are generally
made of stone or boards plastered over
and are then covered with a coat Of
whltewash. The straw roof Is fre
quently crowned with green-growinl
moss which adds to Its picturesque ap
pearance, If not to Its healthfulness
Water is drawn from the wells by 9
long pole balanced near the center
These wells have decided 0ldwOrlt
appearance. The interior Of the cot
tages Is usually divided into two rooms
In one room the entire family live, ea
and sleep; In the other, in more or lesi
harmonious contentment, dwell thu
cows, pigs, chickens and geese. M
household would be complete withou
a number of geese. Around the cot
tages n number of children are sur,
to be seen playing. A dozen or q
or 80 of such cottages, each separated
only by a. small yard, make up vii
lnge. II there Is a marrlageable daugh
ter In the house, the Intel Of the doc
and the window surroundings are orna
mented with little Irregular hands
which Is notice to marriageabl
young men.