Correspondence

Kor the Couhier. Bedford, Penn., April 23, 1883, A Michigan man's Impvessions of tlie State af Pennsylyanla- The Unprogressive Spirit of the Rural Inliabitants - Primitive Dwellings- Mminers and Oustoms of the People - Lo, the Poor Incitan : WhenlreturnedtoPennsylvania, April ith, j-ou. kindly invited me to give you my impressions of Pennsylvaiiiu. Well, in the first plnce, jt is as different from Yankee-land as one can imagine.' The reader who has liever visitedthis part of the country, doubtltss plctures this State as one of inimitable resources, densely populated, its towns'fnll of lite and activity, railroads lined wtth trams of ckrs conveying coal, iron ore, and limestone to the fürnacei?, or carrying thcref rom the great staple of the age; manufactories everywhere, we.ilth abundant; prosperity and progress ad infinitum. AVell, he is partly right, but his point of view does not permit him to take in all the features of the picture. He will obtain a different impression when he is allowed to gaze upon the rur.il districts. I have been' in Pennsylvania only eiglit months, but In that brief time I haveseen more examplesof unprogressiveness than onc would see In Michigan in the course of a natural life-tinie, Tliissweeping statement needs evidence to support it you will sajr.' Wen, walk out into the country with uie and. you shall have it. You see that old tumble-down log house, and the dilapidated buildings around t? Those are pretty good flelds adjoiiiing. Well, myfriend, theownerof that place is worth at least $40,000. He is living In the game house, and in the same style as the former owners of the place. His fatlier and his grandftttlier had that farm and itcame into Ihe possession of the present owner unincumbered by debts or mortgages. Why doesn't helix up thiugs? My dear sir, don'tsay "lix" Ientreatyou; youwillat once betray the fact that you are not a Ferinsylvanian and thereby fall ten degrees in the cstimation of those around you. Say " red up," it is Dutch. or Jrisb, orsomething, but it's Pennaylvanian for fix. "Well, wliy don't lic 'red'it up, then " It is quite evident that 3'ou dou't know the nature and charactor of the individual, or you would never ask such a question. There are hundreds just like liini in Southern and Western rennslvanla. One live Yankee would inake more improvenients in ten years than they would ever tliiiik of, to siy nothing of accomplishing. Mannors and Customs.- The popuhition of Peunsylvauia is made up of I ous types. " Pcnnsylvania Dutcb," they ' are very thrifty and fully understand the art of money getting. But where they remainundisturbed in communitiesof their owii, (there are notable exccptions, of course,) the average of culturo U low. Thcu have real Uennans, Iriah, Scotch, and Irisli types, and frequent mixtures of all types. You will find thecountry people koipltable aad sociable, but peculiar u u;any respecta. Their language, especial ly, is quer to Xankee eara. You will hear words tliat you never heard before, and you will hear familiar words ¦traágeljr applied ; on the farms the women generally do tlie milking, boya have a ilislike for that kind of labor and regard it as benenth their dignity. I have even heard them boast that they "didn't know liow to milk; it wís woman's work." It is one of tlie commonest of sights to see wome:; working in the flelds, especially in Germán, and Irish neighborhoods, and doingas inuch work as raen, whether in planting, hoeing.pitching manure orhay, digging potatoes or any other gpecies of farm work. The sturdy maids and matrons tlms eugased look as though they were rtceiviiifí no harm f rom theexercise, but to my eyes a Yankee girl in a strawberry palch looks prettier. They are generallygood housokeepers. Tliey are also good cooks. In the matter of sauces and preserves they have especial pride. It s no untisual thing to see six or eight different kinds of jam, or jelly or preserves on a farmer's table, besides two or mure Wiri.ls of syrups, (and I might add it is generally common to see each one around the board take his knife or spoon frora his mouth and with it sample the aforementioned dishes, returning the knife or spoon to the point of starting after each trial, with apparent satisfaction ! But I will spare no harrowing details. I have seen the Pennsylvania farmer often, both at his home and at country hotels, and know whereof I afflrm. I could forgive him, but I won't ; I know he will do it again.)