Show MORAVIAN HOLIDAY picturesque dance of village lads and lasses lassos the harvest festival in tho village villaire of now york sun I sep IT 17 this little slavic tillage village in moravia has during th the pat put pk eek been the scene of busy activity all the low white bossos with their high gabled red til tiled d roofs and rind blue gnp at base which extend in an unbroken row along the one eddles street of the villa village ge I underwent a thorough cleaning and arside find out every cretice crevice wn wag patched the white pine fl ws are neatly scrubbed windows feather beds and pillows freshly covered windows and doo doom rh pain painted tedi curtains done up aind daintily hung and all this in anticipation of the harvest festival firtag or church day thi this is exclusively a country festival the greatest in the year and celebrates the anniversary of the patron tron saint of the village church U it lasts three days beginning on sunday and always falls in the season of plenty when the grain is gathered in irom from the fields the threshing is progressing and and the money tumbling in it is the occasion of general hospitality when relatives and friends from the neighboring villages make their annual call forgetting all old feuds in the hour of universal peacemaking the villagers are ar very jealous of the fair fame of their native spot and it is the height of each womans comans ambition to establish her reputation as a thrifty and skillful housewife the mon men taking no yas less pride in tb the dexterity of their wives wives THE BAT iday THE tha the day before the festival there is tho the greatest bustle the finishing touches must be put on everywhere bright tresh fresh bravel gravel spread before the houses an and blue stripes perfected and a touch of coor color added here and there from early morning noon the women hurry to and fro through the village with iia int mouse tins of buns tho the national cake which they make themselves fill with a coarse black jam from plums and have baked at the bakers for all even the very poor poors eat est must live wel during this festival before the public house the dancing place is level levelle led dand and a great hole dug for the maja or may p pole ole here all the boys collect collects and jump and push each ether other helter in and out of th tho bole hole sometimes six in at a time the little boys boynt who must play nursemaids nurse maids mails san ni I have a baby fastened to their backs by means of a broad strap of calico twisted about them in which the little one snugly tits are loften tempted to jump in with the th rest but there is always a little weight of demir anity at hand to check the dangerous cle desire then tho the boys boya shout let us put the girls ini and there is a general stampede among the little women in the afternoon the dwarfed oos eherd with bis his barefooted daughter augh tor goes from door to door each housewife dropping a bun or two into the daughters wooden back basket for this is his due on the eve of firtag many an eye anxiously searches for what the weather will be to mor row for the heavens are threatening the air moist and the rain r ain prayed and wailed waited for all spring and summer has of late come down town in such showers as to cause the small brook behind the village bouses houses to over flow its banks and has driven the little with bis his m myriad riad flock from the bordering willow willow shaded pasture OS ON SUNDAY MORNING but sunday at last arrives and brings full recompense for all the la Is boand boand anxiety the day is brilliant the sky bluer than the base boards the white clouds more daz aling than the house fronts and the atmosphere kissed by the tall maypole decked in scarlet ribbon sand white pendant purer than all a I the village cleanliness the clean shaven men in their short jackets felt hats and trousers trow sers all of the blackest black go to the next village to hear th the mo morning rn ing mass for fIru boasts but a I tiny chapel panted planted in the middle of the street looking like a remaining tower ef a e church which is just sinking underground under ground theao the women who usually comprise the bulk of the congregation are this morn ing closely imprisoned in their kitchens preparing the great repast of year the tb heart and soul of the whole festival is the dance which is kept up three consecutive afternoons and evenings the evening invariable lengthening into a night the arrangements for the dance are ar prepared with great formalities for the peasants often primi primitive tite enough in their method of enforcing an argument and not seldom driving it in with the ai aid d ot their strong hand band or stout stick are nevertheless very rigorous ri gorou in the observance yance of etiquette 71 t I 01 r I I JHB STAR crt I th the organizer and leadar leader of the dance ia in chosen by the vote of the lads in au assembly held in the pub lie house and it called in bohemia the darck literally lite rilly old lad and was in former times timet the oldest lad in the village a sort of Bur burgert germeister eister burgomaster for the young in all matters of festivity just as the alderman or I controlled the more serious municipal affairs at present he ia is chosen chiefly r for his social qualities the most n doralp oral strongest and handsomest richest etc is as preferred on the tho S same ame pi in ciple a kings icings were and still stil I are elected ale to with wi th the exception that purity p uri ty morals forms the ono one essential to his choice though beauty and riches often throw the balance in III the scale one whose life baa has not been chaste or who has lifts been publicly T punished cannot officiate officio ato in some soule parts he be i is elected for three years and if he marries in the interim be has the privilege of appointing hii his successor for the remainder renta inder of bis his term formerly he be wa was called on to prove his worth by testa tests of skill and strength the village ateer was decked out in gay ribbons and let loose on the green and the th searon obliged to catch him nd lead him home through the village or an oa oak was felled which he was obliged to carry on bis his shoulder if ho he succeeded in these feats his term of office was prolonged for another three years without casting the ballot he chooses two assistant masters of ceremonies who must meet the sama same moral requirements and each of the three chooses askarl a or elder older lassie li tiie with whom be he opens the dance on these three couples devolves all the responsibility of the dance with the engagement payment and h hospitable entertainment of ortho the musicians TUB THE DANCH DANCE the dance is to begin at three but long before this hour the smallest girla girls four five and six year olds in their holiday attire a lone long full calico skirt to tho the ankles starched and supported by many petticoats petty coata coats a fitting black basque and a bright bordered kerchief tied sedately under the chin straggle gla past our window in tha direction of the may pole where booths of trinkets peals plums and gingerbread gratify their curiosity as well as thir insatiable ap appetites men an excellent braes brass ban band of six I pieces haa has been provided from the neighboring town the receive its mem member ber at the station and with genuine hospitality care for their physical comfort shortly before they start from the house of the first striking up u an inspiring national march w which ich makei makes every heart in the village tingle and causes the lassies classies las sies fingers to fly in adjusting ruffles and bands they take up their position before the public house under a primitive arbor ot of fresh green bouga boughs the aro are dressed in black peasant costume with a wig of rosemary na fastened to their little black felt fe in t bats ats by means of a crimson ribs bon the first holds in his hand a glass flaex aase of wine the neck of which is ornamented with a gay ribbon of the same color he has provided several keg of wine to replenish replenish reg lenish his flaak he drinis first t then en passes it to his comrada and the musicians THE people have begun to gather about the dance plot and precisely at three the lads beckon with their fingers in different upon the three with demure and dignified gait modestly loosing loom i ng down a twig of sweet rosemary tieu with a crimson ribbon in hand ad vance toward them from behind the crowd A lirely lively wale is up and the dance opened the first beginning and being followed by the other two couples they ey keep their long thin cigars in their mouths while dancing ingi a peasant lad who is not able to skillfully EKil fully handle his cigar while dancing is scorned these couples alone participate in the first dance and when it Is ended the starch passes his festive bottle to ach each of the girls who each in in turn tace tarle a swallow now many ads lads in the blaas flock to the spot and andare are welcomed with the bottle the girls begin to arrive in little squads and form a wide gay circle about the pole when the tho music b begins e the lads standing in the center bochon from a distance to the girls they wish lor for partners and these never mistaking what is meant advance to meet them after the dance the girls fall to one eide side or liok linic arms the lads to the other and the little girls who in groups grou of ol 01 four have hare been joining handstand hands hand sand an axe dancing in ringa rings loos up to bee see why the mu sio sic ceases picturesque each village has certain deviations of f costume each with its own peculiar charm that of t the h is klobouk girls is ono ot of the most picturesque it consists Insists Cl of bright calico skirts a gewant waist usually of scarlet e t woolen stuff fastened in front and an d d borated with many horizon horizontal ro wd of aright braid yellow blue green and silver gold and glass beads the white bl use projecting above it is full and forms at the neck an immense im mary stuart ruche edged with lace the full puff sleeves stand high above the shoulder and end in a deep ruffle a little above the elbow the costume coati ame is completed comple lel by a large bright b I alg bt flowered kerchief skillfully tied BO 90 as to conceal the hair and make two great from the top of the bead head a full round crown and a long peak extending to the waist a plain bright silk apron tied at be he back with long lone streamers and reaching nearly to the bostom of tho skirt y polished dainty high to topped ap pp e d mens boots and last ast not least I t a handkerchief hanl kerchief this comprises a full quare yard of white shirting with a three inch crochet edging the whole starched stiff and folded folded in four and held exactly at the middle point in the right band hand the he same hand always bearing a little bouquet often of marigold gillyflower em and mignionet le when a abort person is decked out in this costume the she looks from the roar tho the squat squats biest of the squat the company from the other villages lag is beginning to stream in and while I thia this gay scene is is progressing out of doors the older persons are in a moro more staid fashion entertaining their guest guests within over wine wino find buns bunat and arid whatever else the larder affords the ladle ladies and gentlemen of tho f X ar I I f I I I I I noi neighborhood also visit the scene as footers looters lookers on and lorm form a gay say gro group on 11 ot of rising ground not lar far from the dancers in tho course of the afternoon the conduct their partners ar eners to three of tho the gentlemen F for r a dance and in turn lead off their ladies ladles it never occurs to either ia lady d y or gentleman to refuse this dance as this would give the gravest offense luense to the peasants it is customary that the gentlemen give the staffs ft fl bank note toward dear defraying a yang i the expenses of iho the dance wh when en he lie delivers back thos the larka GYPSY glitis of a sudden when the dance i is al af its height t two wo black eyed gypsy girls girl a appear ear on the scene although OE or or ordinary apt rpt I nary occasions often brutally driven off they today soon find a lively youth who appreciates their genius for dancing and calls them into the circle aa alt they W bosn gin to dance the other couples fall back one b by y one among the lookers on the musicians musio ians change the tune to a fiery hungarian national dance and ana now the two couples have the field to themselves the gypsies dance e with their rholo soul and inspire their partners with them and a they go through their graceful at step F pt their whole being in harmonious harmon ir U motion the lad merely standing and with upraised ami arm holding but the gipaya finger tips lips as she slie lightly makes her graceful evolutions tho the surrounding multi tude breaks into applause and screams creams with delight at the con elusion the gypsies vanish into their vagabond existence as unexpectedly as they appeared at eight all go to their homes for supper and after the repast the real lite life begins groups of girls girl and lads with will beautiful rich mellow voice voices sing alent along the street under the starlit sky t their air national songs otten often full of melancholy but again very spirited occasionally the peculiar harp shout about of the lad I is a heard and noon oon after nine the dancers dance rl b 91 gin n to flock to the my pole an and 11 it i i not long before ibe the graceful str strains a n s of f f A mazurka set them in motion now no dance varies with sony and ai as the night deepens the whoop of t th i youths is beard heard forth for the e young leader sees to it tuat the hospit hospitable abl bottle is kept circulating and the rising brits sek seek relief in occasional 61 I impulsive pa ive yelps un under the softening influences of the night the join th tho mai dens in their promenades about tho the pole and all in gentle chorus sing I pretty retty love songs of one ore jf if which we caught this refrain you will cry for love in us blessed and we our lips together pressed pres like the angels like tho the turtle dove doves dawn breaks on the second festal day before the merrymakers merry makers separate and this again leads in the third when this is passed the lads and the lasses return once more to ploughshare plough share and flail for another year of work C G M |