THE JUGOSLAV AT HOME

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 142, 11 March 1919, Page 9

THE JUGOSLAV AT HOME

SOME DOMESTIC GLIMPSES SERBIAN MANNERS AND CUSTOMS The Southern Slavs, who Have- 'sprung from a state of comparative unimportance into sudden prominence, as the result of tho wnr, are the (subject of somo interesting impressions by Miss Beatrice L. Stevenson, I'll. 1)., specialist for the Jugo-Slavs in, tho United States Department of Work lor Foreign-born Women, War Work Council of tiio Y.W.C.A., in "Thr Christian Science Monitor." The women of Serbia, she says, more than once have astonished tho enemies of their land by. their stoical disregard of danger and their ultimate appeal to the fighting glory of their race, in succouring and providing weapons for their men in the hour of peril. Well known is it that in war-time women care for the wounded anl attend to an important extent to tho provisioning of the armies with food and clothing. These they carry to tho troops across tho hills or down the valleys as; the case might require. Serbian women have not hesitated to form themselves into hands for military drill, and to organise their resources as fighting auxiliaries r The men in Serbia never dscourago tho attitude of women who actively help tho warrior. Knowing that it must ho so, they realise that the Serbian vomoa of their race had often been forced to do in times gone by. ~&o\i in tho hinterland of Salonika there is much opportunity to revive the traditions and the. thrift which have left -their mark lor generations. - Although tho Serbian woman has not shown herself ambitious to take the lead in public or political affairs, she has always been the great conservative force in the nation, and defended all national interests as if they wero matters of pure patriotism. In her heart the fires of devotion never die, sho cherishes tho old traditions and customs,- teaches her babe the histories and talcs of past achievements, and inspires him with a determined belief in Serbian destiny. Anions" tho Jugo-Slavs hospitality is highly developed. If one eats bread and salt with a stranger in Serbia it is taken to mean that such comrades will hereafter be. fast friends. To ba on terms of friendship with one inembor of tho family implies friendliness with the wholo household. - Tho wives, mothers, and sisters of tho host do not tflay so prominent a. part in presenting tho show of hospitality, but they carry, out its behests. During the time of the Turkish invasions many and many an outlaw would bo forced to seek the security and protection of the homes throughout Dalniatia and Bosnia. Relatives alwajs received these outlaws in a friendly manner, and, .without murmuring or mentioning added expense, would keep them' willingly till such times as called for their departure. In Montenegro when a traveller is pro•vented by bad weather from continuing his journey, ho may enter the first house he finds. On arriving he greets the master with tho words: "Pomozi Bog!" (God help ve). Tho householder replies: "Dobra ti sreda!" .(Good luck to thee). _ Tho women now come forward and kiss his hands, while ho asks: "Can one pass the night in this honourable house? 11l luck has chased mo till I know not what I do or whither I go.". The host replies: "The house is God'a and yours, and w;e shall 6urely find something to eat, be it but two potatoes." Tho morning after.the arrival of the guest the whole house is up early, and sees that everything ho may require is roady for him when he arises. One of . tho women puts on his shoes and brings him wat«r and a towel. When he has washed ho sits down to breakfast, at which none of the women would join him under any consideration, but stand around and'wait upon him. After he has eaten he takes leavo of the entire household, and tho women kiss his hands, saying: "Zbogcn i oprosti!" (Good-bye and forgive.).