PREFATORY NOTE.
Reading edition
This book has been suggested to the author, by reason of several visits made by him among the people of the Upper Rhine country in South Germany, whence emigrated the ancestors of the Pennsylvania Germans. Much that the reader will find herein contained is familiar history; but it is believed that there are some Pennsylvania Germans, who may find some things in this unpretentious volume concerning their ancestors and their history, with which they may not be altogether familiar. It is for them that this book has been primarily written.
There are not many people who do not share in the sentiment, which unites one to the history of his race, his kinsmen, and the home of his fathers. This sentiment is rooted deep in the affections of most if not of all people, but with the Germans it is pre-eminent.
The Pennsylvania Germans, whose ancestors were exiled from their homes in the beautiful valleys of the Rhine and Neckar, by fierce religious, and still fiercer political persecution, are yet after the lapse of many generations bound by invisible ties to the land which has been consecrated and made hallowed, by the same blood which courses in their veins.
The aim of the author has not been to tell anything especially new, but rather to bring together in concise form, an account of the origin, history, and dialect of the Pennsylvania Germans; the causes which led their ancestors to emigrate to the province of Pennsylvania, together with other information identified with their story.
For much of this information the author is indebted to Zimmerman’s “History of Germany,” Bayard Taylor’s “History of Germany,” Henri Martin’s “History of France,” Proud’s “History of Pennsylvania,” Watson’s “Annals,” Nebenius’ “Geschichte der Pfalz,” Eckhoff’s “In der Neuen Heimath,” “Hallischen Nachrichten,” and to other sources.
Certain magazine and newspaper writers are responsible for much misinformation, which prevails among certain people concerning the Pennsylvania Germans,—especially with regard to their dialect. Not many years ago an article appeared in the “Atlantic Monthly,” wherein it was asserted that “Pennsylvania Dutch” was not German, “nor did they expect you to call it so.” The same author afterward perpetuated this misinformation by embodying it in a book. It is scarcely necessary to contradict such manifest error; if it were necessary to do so, the examples of the Pfälzisch dialect contained in this volume, and their comparison with Pennsylvania German will refute conclusively all such erroneous contention.
In this volume the Pennsylvania Germans are spoken of as Germans, because that is the only designation which is justified by reason of their race, their history, and their speech.
THE AUTHOR.
Easton, Pa., 1898.