Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 17, 1906.djvu/266

 252 Reviews.

collection in this way. The Czech resembles his fellow Slav, the Russian, in love of tasteful embroidery.

The volume before us is by Mr. Pavel Sochan, on " Costumes and Marriage at Lopas," a Slovene community in the Nitran district. Chapter I. contains descriptions of male and female garments. Chapter II. gives the etiquette for wooing, banns, invitations, and the wedding-day, with appropriate songs for those taking part, many with allusions to local natural features. We are not very familiar with the Slovene dialect, but append free translations of two songs.

" May good health be thine, Darling mother mine ;

No more your child can with you be.

'Tis my time to go. Gone are years of virgin bloom, I a husband's state assume.

May good health be thine, Ancient father mine ;

No more your child can with you be.

'Tis my lime to go. Gone are years of virgin bloom, And wifely cares I now assume."

The following shows the Slavonic fondness for diminutives of affection.

" May the Lord God grant us dear little health, May the Lord God grant us health, In this our dear little country. In this our country ! "

We have tried over some of the airs, which are all of that plaintive melody characteristic of the Slav temperament, even when the words are joyous. This is a feature of Russian and Czech folk-songs.

The pictures at the end of the volume illustrate coiffure, single

iigures and groups, and bridal dress, and are very clearly

executed.

Francis P. Marchant.