History of the counties of Lehigh and Carbon, in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Pt. 1, Part 10

Author: Mathews, Alfred, 1852-1904; Hungerford, Austin N., joint author
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : Everts & Richards
Number of Pages: 948

USA > Pennsylvania > Lehigh County > History of the counties of Lehigh and Carbon, in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Pt. 1 > Part 10
USA > Pennsylvania > Carbon County > History of the counties of Lehigh and Carbon, in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Pt. 1 > Part 10

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The quilting-party and the apple-butter party were institutions of former days. The former has almost passed away, and is a matter of history. The ladies of the neighborhood, young and old, were invited. The afternoon was spent in making the quilt, which was composed of a large number of patches sewed artistically, and other designs, representing birds and animals, being quilted thereon. After the supper was partaken of, the married ladies went home, while the single ones remained, and soon the young men of the neighborhood congregated, when the evening was spent in a lively manner, musie and daneing cousti- tuting the amusement.

THE PENNSYLVANIA GERMANS.

The apple-butter party is still in vogne where apples are plentiful. The Pennsylvania Germans are noted for their apple-butter, which is different from any other, and pronounced by competent judges the most palatable article made. It is not a New Eng- land sauce, to be eaten with spoons, nor a Shaker apple-butter, with its pumpkins used in connection with the apples and cider. It is a marmalade, made of sweet cider and schnitz. Schnitz are a Peimsyl- vania German produet, for which there is no English name. At the apple-butter party the schnitz are made. The young folks are seated around a large tub, peeling the apples and cutting them into slices (schnitz), which are thrown into the tub until bushels of them are made. These are poured by the bucket- ful into the eider, boiling in a kettle which frequently holds a barrel. As the cider concentrates by boiling, and a fresh supply of apples is continually added, the apple-butter thickens. It becomes a brown, smooth mass, which is seasoned with allspice, cinna- mon, eloves, and other spiees, and then put in erocks. The kettle is scraped with pieces of bread, which, with the fresh apple-butter on, are eaten, and consti- tute one of the pleasures of the party. This apple- butter is used as a substitute for molasses, and when spread on bread with schmierkues, another Pennsyl- vania German produet, is unequaled, even by the best of jellies. After the apple-butter is boiled, the young people spend the evening in a manner similar to that of the quilting-party. These. gatherings, when not held in connection with quiltings or apple- butter boilings, are sometimes called en grascht.

It is specially worthy of mention, in this connection, that Pennsylvania Germans, the Schimmel family, are the inventors of the butters manufactured now on a large scale from different fruits in their extensive establishments in Philadelphia and Chieago. They commeneed the business, which has assumed so large proportions, on a small scale, with a single kettle, less than twenty years ago.

H. L. Fischer, Esq., in his Pennsylvania German poems, describes the apple-butter party most truth- fully. One of his stanzas runs this:

" Uu wan latwerg zu kocha war, Dau war'n parti g'macht ; Erscht hen m'r all die aepel g'schaelt, Un dau, e ding un's anner g'schpielt Bis lang nooch mitter-nacht ; Un turnabout d'r latwerg g'riert, Bis kich un kessel war ferschmlert. Un wan d'r latwerg fertig war, Uu all die g'werze d'rin, Un heffa foll, un-abgehowa, Ich muss den latwerg heit buch lowa, Don sin m'r mit de maed bame gonga."

The Battalions were, in ante-bellum days, a notorious institution. The militia had their drills (craziera) in early spring. Corn-stalks, hoe-handles, and broom- stieks served as guns, with which the drills were per- formed. The battalion, in May, was the consumma- tion of these preparatory exercises. Cavalry and

infantry were in the field, generals, majors, colonels, and eaptains, with cocked hats and plumes, with epaulettes on their shoulders, fully equipped and uniformed, were in command. "AAtten-shone, com- pany !" was the command, given in thunder-tones, while brave lientenants repeated the words in Penn- sylvania German, "Gebt del't, bura, non horcht, boxst. uff." More imposing sight was never beheld, nor impressive command given, than on the old-fash- ioned boddělya day. At the age of eighteen the young man was compelled to become a soldier, the very age at which also girls were at liberty to marry. To the battalion they went; then, if not already acquainted, they were introduced, not in the formal way of polite society, but in blunt Penn- sylvania German, somewhat like the following : Des is der John. Des is die Betz. Kun her. Huck dich onna zu mir. Ich gleich dich. Ich dich mwh. All was hilarity and fun. They danced all night, and went home with the girls in the morning.

The holiday observances of the Pennsylvania Ger- mans are also worthy of mention. Christmas is one of their chief holidays. The Christmas-tree is found in almost every house, and the churches, even those in the rural districts, are profusely and tastefully decorated with evergreens. Children are told of the Krischt-kindli, which is not a meaningless Santa Claus, or Kriss-kingle. It is the Christian Christ-child. Their Krischt-kindli is not the fantastic St. Nicholas. nor the horror and consternation creating Bel-nickel, but the kindly dispenser of good gifts. The Krisch/- kindli does not terrify (forgelschtern) the little ones, but gently knocking at the door, or modestly stepping within, seatters chestnuts, dried cherries, and other fruits (eandy was scarcely known in olden times), lays down a gift, perhaps a pair of gloves, or some other artiele of wearing apparel, at the feet of each child, and then, after speaking words of enconragement or imparting wholesome advice, withdraws, as it came, like an angel of mercy in the habiliments of a human being. The inquiry, when children meet one another or their older friends, on Christmas morning is not, " Where is my Christmas present?" but, " Do is mei Krischt-Findli." It is not merely a present, but it is a Christ-child gift. The gift of God, in the Christ- child Jesus, is to be illustrated, reduplicated, by giving in the Christ-child spirit.

On New- Year's eve the custom formerly prevailed of shooting out the old year and shooting in the new. This practice is now, however, fast becoming obsolete. Meaningless as this custom may appear, its abuse only rendered it unpopular. In that elder day, when brass bands and other instrumentalities for serenading were not as common as now, the new-year shooting saluta- tion also had its significance, and possibly its benefits. It was a means of manifesting good will and express- ing greetings, which now is supplanted by less offen- sive methods. The shooting, however, was not the exclusive exercise. Beautiful verses of hymns and

HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

Scripture were committed by the members of the company, and these were repeated singly or in con- cert, or sung under the windows of those to whom, at the midnight hour, through snow and storm, they wended their way. If shooting was not agreeable to the persons visited, it was not indulged in, as permis- sion was always asked for before the first shot was fired. Those to whom these salutations were con- veyed recognized their indebtedness to the kind pur- veyors by inviting them into the house, and handed around refreshments. On New- Year's day, when persons meet, they wish each other not "A happy new year," but, " En glickselig nei yohr,"-that is, a blessed, happy new year. Members of the family vie with each other, as well as with strangers, to be first in making this wish.

Fosnocht, Shrove-Tuesday, is another day of very general observance, not as a holiday, but for baking and eating kichlen, fat cakes. This is a custom which the Pennsylvania Germans have, with our common Christianity, inherited from the ancient church, as it enters upon its forty days of fasting in the Lenten season. It would be as uncommon for any household not to have the Fosnocht kichlen on this day as for the New Englander not to have his turkey on Thank -- giving-day.

Good-Friday and Ascension-day are high religions holidays,-holydays in the true sense. These days, commemorative of the solemn events of the cruci- . purpose, and from fifty to two hundred persons dine fixion and ascension of the Saviour, are always ob- served with appropriate religious services in the churches. On Ascension-day they abstain almost superstitiously from all kinds of work. It is believed by many of the more ignorant that lightning will strike the house or barn if any sewing is done on this day in the family.

Easter also is observed by the Pennsylvania Ger- mans, in common with the Christian world, as a . days of yore had an opportunity of being regaled religious festival. In many of the churches the | with a drink of whiskey, a chunk of cheese, and a Lord's Supper is celebrated on this day, and young . piece of bread, so that frequently waiters were members are received in connection with the church. , stationed by the road-side, where the funeral pro- cession passed on its way to church, where the eu -- tomary refreshments were again served.

The joyfully solemn services of the Easter festival are heightened and made more impressive by the decorations of pulpit and ahar with the symbols of the resurrection, the flowers of early spring. Easter- eggs, symbolical of the lifelessness and inertion of the grave, until the germ of life within causes the shell to break, are eaten in every house. These eggs are frequently highly colored, and have beautiful designs engraved upon them. They are given as presents or exchanged. Not only children, but okd people also indulge in the custom.

The 1st of April is regarded as a day for innocent pleasantry. It is not the All-Fools' day of the Eng- lish, because the Pennsylvania German has a certain instinctive abhorrence for calling any one a fool, or making a fool of him. In der Opril schicke is the term he employs, as less rude or objectionable than April fool.

Whit-Monday, Pingscht-MMondoorg, is, in many of the German sections of the State, the great holiday for social enjoyment. From long distances they come, young and old, by thousands, to spend the day in town. It is the gala-day of the year.

Harvest Thanksgiving Services are a peculiarly Pennsylvania German institution. They are observed with special interest. After the oat harvest is housed, some time in August usually, a day is appointed, not on Sunday, when all the people are called on to assemble in their places of worship for the purpose of returning thanks to the Almighty for his goodness. Every farmer leaves his work, however important, and unites with the congregation in praising the Lord. Persons who are not found in the house of God on any other occasion of the year are in attendance at the aernd kerch, and ministers sometimes embrace the opportunity of reminding indifferent members of their neglected duties.

On funeral occasions, as already observed, there are large gatherings of relatives, friends, and neigh- bors of the deceased. A short service is held at the house, after which the funeral procession moves to the church, where the burial takes place, and a ser- mon is preached. A custom prevails in many neigh- borhood- to invite the friends back to the house of the deceased to partake of refreshments. Very ex- tensive preparations are sometimes made for this

there. This custom is happily being more and more discountenaneed, and, with other objectionable prac- tices, may, before many years, be classified with the things of the past, even as the still more reprehensi- ble custom, which was countenanced a hundred years ago, of dispensing liquor at funerals is now only a matter of history. Such, however, was the practice then. Every person who attended a funeral in the

Catching Elbedriches was a sport which, like the boys pelting the frogs with stones, though fun to the initiated, was, if not death, at least anything but agreeable to the unsophisticated youth. A number of boys, who understood the trick, persuaded a verdant youth to accompany them to a lonely field or wood on a cold winter's night. With the pretense that they were going (around) by the side of a hill to chase the mythical bird,-for elbedriches were supposed to be a bird,-they placed the uninitiated youth at a fence corner, holding a bag widely open for the birds to run : in. There he stood trembling and his hands freezing. Neither bird nor companions put in an appearance. At length, almost perishing from the cold, he concluded to go home, where he found his companions gathered around the hot stove, enjoying the fun at his expense.

THE PENNSYLVANIA GERMANS.

Beliefs and Superstitions .- The Pennsylvania Germans, in common with all nationalities, had their beliefs (glawwa) und superstitions in the olden days. The signs (zercha) of the almanae were closely con- sulted for certain purposes. The waning (aburmmend) moon (alt licht) was favorable for certain purposes and very unfavorable for others. No crops were put out nor garden vegetables planted at this time, while the inereasing moon (zanemmend) was favorable. In the sign of the Lion cider was drawn off for vinegar, but no meat was put away for enring in this sign, as it was liable then to be infested with vermin, to become lively like the lion. The Balance was a good sign for bees to swarm, as the hive would then become heavy with honey. When hens were set, it was done in the sign of the Virgin, as then they were sure to hatch and the young ones beeome hardy. An odd number of eggs had to be placed in the nest, as in that case all would hatch. When a house was roofed, it had to be done when the horns of the moon pointed down- ward (im unnergehenda), as then the shingles would remain tightly on the roof; if done in the inter- gehenda, when the horns were turned upward, the shingles were certain to turn the edges upward. It was contended that a board placed on the ground would turn the edges downward or upward in accord- ance with the sign. When a cup with coffee-grounds in was inverted and then placed upright again, the number of dark lines made by the grounds indicated the number of visitors to be expected that day. The charred wick of a tallow candle forced out beyond the flame indicated, by the way in which it pointed, the direction from which a beau might be expected. When the cat washed itself it denoted visitors. The first young man entering by the doorway over which a chicken-bone was placed by a young lady was to be her future husband. Finding a horseshoe was a sign of good luck, so was a four-leaved clover leaf, but a leaf of five leaflets was unlucky. When a barn-swal- low was killed the cows gave bloody milk. When flowers or the thyme growing on graves was smelled, that person's sense of smell would be lost. When a child was stopped over by any one, its growth was re- tarded if not stopped thereby. When the hair was trimmed on the first Friday of new moon, its growth beeame beautiful and luxuriant. When the finger- nails were trimmed on Friday, it was a preventive of toothache ; when trimmed on Sunday, the person who did it would feel ashamed that day. When an article of clothing was put on reversed, it denoted good luek, but if turned right afterwards, it was unlucky. Sneezing was a sign of good Inek and good health. and hence the expression " ('sundheit"' was used when any one sneezed. The crowing of a hen and the erying of a dog were regarded as very unfavorable signs, por- tending a death in the family. When a young coru- stalk or garden vegetable turned white, it was a similar omen. In boiling soap, a sassafras stick had to be used in stirring it.

Various enres were in vogue, prominent among them the word-cures, powwowing (brauche). Bues-ding (felons) were cured by incantations pronounced over the inflamed finger by a " word doctor." Convulsions, pain, bleedings, etc., were stopped in the same way. Guns might be bewitched that they could not be fired off', and dogs that they did not bark. But when a gun was loaded with a silver bullet, or two pins stuck so

that they formed a cross, or when the dog was named Wasser, the charm had no effect, or was counteracted. Children were frequently believed to be liver-grown (wirgetroelsa), and were cured by passing them through under a brier grown fast at both ends. When a horse became lame, it was cured by tying a bag-string around the lame foot ; but the string had to be stolen from a flour-bag, and the horse left in the stable while . the cure was in progress. The skin of a snake, which the animal had shed, picked up with the teeth and carried in the mouth, will prevent toothache as many years as the person takes steps backward while holding the skin between his teeth. It is always safest to take a hundred steps, as not many persons get toothache after that age of life. Looking up the chimney when a person comes to a new home will prevent home-sickness. If he is already affected with that disease, it can be enred by making him eat the serapings of the four corners of the table on a piece of buttered bread. Warts are cured by rubbing them with a piece of fat meat (schpeek:) out of doors, when the new moon is seen the first time, and looking at it over the left shoulder, while the words are repeated, "Was ich sehn nemmt zu, rös ich reib nemnt ob." Sassafras-tea is drunk in spring to purify the blood, and boneset- (dorchiror) tea as an appetizer. March snow, melted, is good for weak eyes, and the water of it is often preserved for years. When an aching tooth is stirred with a nail taken out of a coffin, it will stop the aching. Such a nail carried in the pocket will cure rheumatism. A cured cel-skin tied around the wrist or ankle is both enre and preventive of rheumatism. A lock of hair of a person who had never seen his father was a cure for whooping cough, if worn next the skin.

Different signs are employed for prognostieations. The snowfalls of a winter are indicated by the num- ber of days from the first snowfall to full-moon. Whether the months will be dry or wet can be fore- told by setting twelve fresh onions, partly hollowed ont and filled with salt, in the garret, and giving theu the names of the months. Those in which the salt is melted at the expiration of twelve days are the wet months, while the others are the dry ones. When the spleen of the slaughtered pigs is thick in front, the first half of the winter will be cold, and rice cersa.

Their Distinguished Men .- One-half of the dis- tinguished Governors of the State were Pennsyl- vania Germans. The first Governor that ever took a decided stand in favor of public schools was a Penn- sylvania German, John Andrew Shulze. In 1828 he

HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

said, in his message, " The mighty works and conse- quent great expenditures undertaken by the State cannot induce me to forbear again calling your atten- tion to the subject of public education. To devise means for the establishment of a fund and the adop- tion of a plan by which the blessings of the more necessary branches of education should be conferred on every family within our borders, would be every way worthy the Legislature of Pennsylvania. The establishment of such principles would not only have the happiest effects in cultivating the minds, but in- vigorating the physical constitution of the young. What nobler incentive can present itself to the mind of a republican legislator than a hope that his labors shall be rewarded by insuring to his country a race of human beings healthy and of vigorous constitution, and of minds more generally improved than fall to the lot of any considerable portion of the human family ?"

His biographer says of Schulze, " None of his pre- decessors had come to that high office with so much culture and grace as he." Under him stupendous plans for the improvement of the commonwealth were adopted and put in execution.

George Wolf, another Pennsylvania German Goy- ernor, was born in Allen township, Northampton Co., almost on the banks of the Lehigh River. He came to the gubernatorial chair when the outlook was most gloomy and the credit of the State was at a low ebb. He, by a bold stroke and an expensive policy, carried out the great system of improvements which have been so beneficial to the State. The most substantial of these was the establishment of a system of public instruction. James Buchanan, in a specch delivered at West Chester in 1829, said, " If ever the passion of envy could be excused in a man ambitious of true glory, he might almost be justified in envying the fame of that favored individual, whoever he may be, whom Providence intends to make the instrument in estab- lishing common schools throughout this common- wealth. His task will be arduous. He will have many difficulties to encounter and many prejudices to overcome : but his fame will exceed that even of the great Clinton, in the same proportion that mind is superior to matter. While the one has erected a frail memorial which, like everything human, must decay and perish, the other will raise a monument which shall flourish in immortal youth, and endure whilst the human soul shall continue to exist. Ages unborn and nations yet behind shall bless his memory." That honor was accorded to George Wolf, once a Pennsyl- vania German boy.

Simon Snyder, the third Governor of Pennsylvania, whose name has been a household word for over half a century in every German family, and for whom one of the counties of the State was named, was a repre- sentative Pennsylvania German. He was Governor during most thrilling times, -the war of 1812-15. Ile devoted all his energies to prosecuting the war, and

held out every inducement to facilitate volunteer- ing and to aid in the equipment and support of the troops.

Joseph Hiester, another Pennsylvania German Gov- ernor, like many of the German boys, was put to the plow so young that when it struck a stump or caught under a root he was thrown on his back. When, in 1775, the great Washington was in need of men and means, Hiester aroused his fellow-townsmen of Read- ing to come to the rescue. When a public meeting had been called, he laid forty dollars on a drumhead as bounty money and promised to furnish a company with blankets and funds for their equipment, which promise he fulfilled faithfully. He raised a company and marched them to the assistance of Washington, and with them endured indescribable privations and sufferings. He was Governor from 1820 to 1823.

Josephi Ritner, a Pennsylvania German farmer's boy, and in his youth a common farm laborer ( Inecht), with less education than any other Governor, never- theless proved himself the possessor of so much good common sense and reason, as Pennsylvania Germans usually do, that his administration was quite an event- ful one. Perhaps much of his success was due, like that of many of the Germans, to the fact that he con- sulted his good wife when difficulties arose. At least it is said that when the family had learned of his elec- tion to the gubernatorial chair the daughters asked Mrs. Ritner, "Sin mer now all Governeera ?" And she gave them the laconic and yet expressive answer, " Nee, ihr norra, juscht der dad un ich." In his ad- ministration the public school law was put into force. Ile always regarded the consummation of the adop- tion of the common-school system as the crowning glory of his administration.

Perhaps the best representative of Pennsylvania German character that ever occupied the guberna- torial chair was Francis Rawn Shunk. He was not only a German by extraction and birth, but preserved his German feelings, manner of thought, language, and habits to his dying day. Like the other German Governors, he was a poor, hard-working farmer-boy. He worked by the day (im dawglaw) in his youth like many a German boy ; he, however, employed his leisure hours in study. Ilis faithful mother's influence, ad- vice, and consolation, when, after a weary day's labor, he laid his aching head on her lap, was powerfully effective in forming him to be the great man he was. There never was a better exponent of the Pennsyl- vania German character so noted for honesty, sincerity, and purity, whether in private life or in the Governor's chair, than Francis R. Shunk ; cheerfulness and joy- ousness, combined with a deep seriousness and relig- ious feeling such as his German Bible which he read daily commended, characterized his life.

Governor John W. Geary, though not regularly classed with the German Governors, was also of Ger- man extraction, and so was David Rittenhouse Porter on his mother's side.

THE PENNSYLVANIA GERMANS.

The last one in the line of German Governors was John F. Hartranft, who, like the others, true to the character of his people, came from comparatively humble circumstances to the office of chief executive of the State.

Not only as Governors of the State but in other positions of prominence and usefulness, both in this and in different States of the Union, have the Penn- sylvania Germans distingnished themselves. Among them may be named Godlove (Gottlieb) S. Orth, one of the prominent men of the country, at one time Governor of Indiana, and minister to Austria. An illustration that the Pennsylvania German is still living in all its freshness and vigor in Europe, as it did centuries ago, is furnished in the fact that when Mr. Orth was introduced to the Emperor of Austria, he conversed with the emperor in the vernacular of Pennsylvania. The emperor, although speaking thirteen languages, did not speak English. As the conversation, at Mr. Orth's request, was conducted in German, the emperor asked him, "Tell me in what part of Germany were you born?" "Not in Ger- many," Mr. Orth replied, "but in Pennsylvania, in the United States." "But," said the emperor, "you speak the pleasing accent of the Rhine."

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History of the counties of Lehigh and Carbon, in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Pt. 1, Part 10

Author: Mathews, Alfred, 1852-1904; Hungerford, Austin N., joint author Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : Everts & Richards Number of Pages: 948

Author: Mathews, Alfred, 1852-1904; Hungerford, Austin N., joint author
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : Everts & Richards
Number of Pages: 948