Cavalier County farmers press. (Langdon, N.D.) 1920-1921, 1920-12-02

y FOuTu FllfilSStl DCuIlO ouI TO a 1GE- |
man Farmer-His Days Work Start
ed Before Sunrise and Ended Only
When There Was Nothing Further
to Do.
Just what serfdom means is under
stood by Simon Hack of West Ches-
ter as well as it was ever understood
by any man. Hack, says the Philadel-
phia Inquirer, only recently ended -four
years as a slave on a farm in Ger
many.
For Hack transition from the state
of a free man industriously engaged
in a remunerative occupation, was
about as quick as was ever expert
enced by any negro during the days of
slavery in this country. 1t tool less
than one minute to transfer him from
a roofer, at work on one of the prin-
cipal buildings in Danzig, to a state of
abject slavery from which he found
it impossible to escape during the
four years which followed.
The transition was effected one day
IL IOlt ny al ucidll VI 0cIllul1 DOllCt.
Hack was taken off the roof of the
building and the next day found him
self bound out to a German farmer
operating a 45-acre tract of land near
the city. He was told that war had
been declared between Germany and
Russia and that as a Russian citizen
he was liable to detention as an alien
enemy. He was then separated from
some 40 marks, his entire fortune, and
advised that during the time of the
war he would be compelled to work
for the farmer.
Once on the farm he found himself
completely buried so far as world ac-
tivities We're concerned. The only news
he was permitted to receive was that
recOUnting the early victories of the
German armies in Belgium and France
He was RECALLED on such reports at all
hours of the day. They might have
been intruded upon him during the
few hours he was allowed to sleeI
each night, only the farmer would
have had to spend the time in The
filthy little stable where Hack hat
been assigned quarters with seyera
head of horses. two COWS and a col
lection Of pigs. Then of course it wa
necessary to let the slave sleep, il
order to work the required eighteel
hours the following day.
, Ten Marks a Month and Board.
, How the $erf Jared is an interestin
revelation Of the German method 0
treating compounded alien enemies. Il
the first place he was assured that h
would he paid for his labor. Being in
Quisitive he asked what the rate O
wage would be. He then learned tina
he was worth ten marks Il month t
9 the fcrmer. In addition he was tol
ro+ tne farmer WOuu have to boar
a him. lie did. For four years he wa
Il fed on horse meat. Once q week h
was given half q pound Of tough 20
a tcrhoUSe right of the rumn. This Ia
= to last for seven days. The diet ws
e varied a little at first. However, Hac
. decided he would rather fOrego IL
novelty of the variation when he ina,
%vertently learned that the sausaE
e served on such occasions was cor
posed of cat meat and that of warrior
>, other animals unQuOted in market r
:, ports. In addition to the meat he w;
"a allowed a limited portion of hal
:, baked bread and a collection of veg
tables discarded by the farmers fal
lily as Overripe. Occasionally he w
- served with d little soup.
v, Naturally he was not inclined to
fringe on the German farmers hos
tality any longer than necessary. B
this was anticipated by the farm,
!, who could not afford to dispense wi
VI the services of his slave while dol
his bit helping TO feed the Germ
armies. He took the necessary D
~ cautions to ohviate any such harassi
experience rs the unexpected dis;
!, Dearance of his slave when his Sc
ices were the most needed. In
younger days he had served in
German army and had learned a tri
on When Hack arrived he wore
E working clothes. Tho trousers wer,
,iA fairly good fit. The farmer lool
them over. He also observed Il
~, they were supported by a belt. I
~ the outfit worn by Hack he sub
tuted an old pair Of his own troust
which were several siz"s too lar
-, and in place of the BEL Il piece
stout Irvine.
Had to Return string.
Each night Hack was -eguired to
turn the piece of string. Until mC
ing he moved around holding up
:" misft garment. or during summer
carded it entirely. Althou"h
searched diligently he was never ;
~ ! to find an extra nail or wooden
an" which might have been utilized
ne supper the misfits he was forced
i" wear. OF course this made 1t i'm,
sible for him to run away or 70 apl
leo' in public. for his predicanent WI
anu have told at once the character of
ule mission and he would promptly
been arrested and either returned
the farm or shot, whichever happe
tell to conform with the convenience