THE RURAL AND DOMESTIC LIFE OF GERMANY: WITH CHARACTERISTIC SKETCHES OF ITS CITIES 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," WITH ABOVE FIFTY ILLUSTRATIONS BY G. F SARGENT. LONDON: LONGMAN, BROWN, GREEN, AND LONGMANS, PATERNOSTER-ROW. 1842. 1217. CONTENTS. 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 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- CHAP. III.-Sunday stroll into the country-The Woods-Village of Guiberg OUT-OF-DOOR LIFE. CHAP. IV. The Peasants chief possessors of the soil-Incessant labour of men, 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 57 |