[Child of the 7th Age]

Maril,

Having spent many hours researching hobbit byways and paths, I am duly amazed at your ingenuity in turning up such obscure but fruitful details. I must admit that there are a great many things here that I have never heard of. And, like you, I am not certain if this thread belongs in Books. Nevertheless, I would like to add a few observations based on what Master Tolkien himself said.

First, please note that hobbits live in a farming community, surrounded by the richness of the earth and many animals. As such, I doubt that too many verbal explanations of the birds and bees would be required by the time a hobbit reached his or her tweens. Those of us living in an urban enironment have perhaps lost this magic gift. But a good part of Tolkien's boyhood was spent in a country village where such things would be seen as a natural part of the surrounding environment.

Also, note that Trotter the Ranger Hobbit from The Return of the Shadow always wore wooden shoes that went "clitter-clap" as he roamed among the pathways. Bingo Baggins was quite amazed by this phenomenon. In his own words, Bingo exclaimed upon meeting the Ranger: "Very remarkably, he had wooden shoes." Perhaps, there was more behind this statement than I first perceived!

Also, Master Tolkien himself admits the folowing:

The hobbits of that quarter, the Eastfarthing, were rather large and heavy-legged, and they wore dwarf-boots in muddy weather. But they were well known to be Stoors, in a large part of their blood....

The Mannish influence on Stoors, whether genetic or cultural, is well-documented. We may perhaps ascribe this unfortunate habit to the influence of the Big Folk.

Regarding hobbit marriage and procreation, I would again draw your attention to The Return of the Shadow which states that secrecy was the norm among hobbit couples and elopments were quite common. The couple would often run off on their own on an extended trip, and their union would not be announced to the community until their return.

Hobbits had a curious habit in their weddings. They kept it (always officially and very often actually) a dead secret for years who they were going to marry. even when they knew. Then they suddenly went and got married and went off without an addres for a week or two (or even longer).

Perhaps, this discrepency between actual marriage and offical announcement might explain any so called "early" arrivals!

Cami Goodchild, a hobbit who never wears shoes

[ April 19, 2003: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]