THE

RURAL AND DOMESTIC LIFE

OF

GERMANY.

THE

RURAL AND DOMESTIC LIFE

OF

GERMANY:

WITH

CHARACTERISTIC SKETCHES OF ITS CITIES
AND SCENERY,

COLLECTED IN A GENERAL TOUR, AND DURING A RESIDENCE IN THE

COUNTRY IN THE YEARS 1840 41 AND 42.

BY WILLIAM HOWITT,

AUTHOR OF THE RURAL LIFE OF ENGLAND. "VISITS TO REMARKABLE PLACES,"
"THE BOY'S COUNTRY BOOK" ETC.

WITH ABOVE FIFTY ILLUSTRATIONS BY G. F SARGENT.

LONDON:

LONGMAN, BROWN, GREEN, AND LONGMANS,

PATERNOSTER-ROW.

1842.

1217.

LONDON: PRINTED BY MANNING AND MASON, IVY LANE, PATERNOSTER ROW.

CONTENTS.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS.

CHAP. I.-Fleeting nature of these - The Rhine-First impression of German

Towns-Their permanent characteristics-The Inns-Peculiar character of

the Country-Its contrast to that of England-The Villages-The Country

People; their appearance, habits, wagons, and farming-No cattle to be

seen in the fields-Grass-cutting for them in fields and road sides-German

carriages, and style of posting-Costume of Postillions-A summer even-

ing's view of town and country-Fire-flies-Singular mode of Fishing

GERMAN VILLAGES AND THEIR PEOPLE.

CHAP. II.-General aspect of a Village-The Brunnen-The Vines-The

Churchyard; its peculiarities-The Old Castle The Wine-press-View

of Heidelberg-Peep into the Fields, with their various crops-Great

growth of Tobacco-Hard labour of the cows in the wagons and at plough

-Luxurious contrast of the life of English cows-Field Apparatus; its

simplicity and advantages-Groups of Children-Agricultural Jews-

Scenes in the harvest-field

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PEOPLE IN THE WOODS AND VILLAGES.

CHAP. III.-Sunday stroll into the country-The Woods-Village of Guiberg
-Dining in an orchard-Silence of the landscape from the absence of
animals Rookeries quite unknown in Germany-Affectionate reminis-
cences of the English rook-Petersthal, a specimen of a German valley:
its industry, its seclusion, its brook-side washing, bleaching, mills, and
woods-The little Catholic chapel.

OUT-OF-DOOR LIFE.

CHAP. IV. The Peasants chief possessors of the soil-Incessant labour of men,
women, and children-Mode of Life-Heavy crops of fruit-Mainspring
of German industry-Every thing converted to use-Effects of the Family
division of lands-No Aristocracy resident in the country-Field-labours of
the women-State of the interior of their houses-These compared with
English cottages-Labours of the vineyard-Appearance of the vineyards
in the Rhine lands-Progress of field labours in the summer-Hay and
corn all housed-Costume and appearance of the Peasant Girls Costume
and appearance of the Old Women-Reapers marching home with music
--Scenes in the autumnal fields-Fruit-gathering-Vintage-Goethe's
graphic description of a vineyard-Renewed labours of the Peasantry after
harvest-Signs of the approach of winter.

OUT-OF-DOOR LIFE CONTINUED.-KIRCHWEIGH AND DANCE-RESORT.

CHAP. V.-The Wolfsbrunnen, near Heidelberg-Charming rural resort-

Groups and scenes there-Its swarming trout-ponds-A Kirchweigh or

Wake-Dancing of the common people-Contrast between an English and

German Wake-Tilting, love-gingerbread and merriment-Burying the

Wake

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