Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-03-25
CHEAP AMUsEMENrsrN GERMANY


Music and flowers are the companions of inno
eenee and virtue. In no part of the world is
TINS faet more strikingly exempliied than in
dermany. The traveller sees there q more SIM
PIE and less feverish state of existence than
almost anywhere else. He sees there greater
portion of popular content difused by a more
equal distribution of property. He sees a less
conclusive stralniDg after the accumulation Of
enormous fortune. He sees a less incessant
devotion to the mere business of money no ak ing
and consequently less intense selfsbness OF
spirit, moro genial and serene enjoyment of
life, more intellectual establishment of it
with music and domestic entertainment He
sees the means Of existence kept by the absence
ct restriction on the importation of articles of
food. cheap and easy Of acquisition He sees
wherever be goes, in great cities or small towns
eVsrything done for the public enjoyment.
Public walks, beautifully planted and Carefully
accommodated with seats at convenient dis
tances Tor the public to rest at leisure He sees
these walks laid out wherever il be possibls
uld town walls and ramparts are converted into
prUmenades, commanding by their elevation
the hnest prospects over town and country; the
whole OF city or town is encircled by them
THUS the old AS well as the young can ascend
from the heat and dust, and hurry from the
streets, and enjoy the freshest air and the most
lively and soothing scenes in the streets below
ON one hand, or gaze into the green fields and
hills around.
is delightful to see, on fine days, the gray
headed fathers of a city thus seated ON these
airy walks, beneath their favorite lines, enioy-
lag their chat together over olden times while
within few stops OF home the eyes can still
wander over those distant scenes whittier their
feet can no longer carry them.
IL there be an old castle in the suburbs of
any OF their towns, il ia not shut ND, but its
gardens, and its very walls and courts. and
fosses, are laid out in lovely walks, and the
whole place is made the favOrite resort and en-
Jnyment of the whole population There a
coffee house or casino is sure to be found and
there beneath the summer trees old and vounp
rich and poor, sit and partake Of their coffee,
wine and other refreshments while some old
tower near Il converted into an orchestra and
sends down the finest music for the general
delight He sees all sorts of gardens even to
the royal ones, and all sorts Of estates kept
open for the public observation and passage
through them he the woods and the for
ests all open to the foot and spirit of the de-
hghful lover Of nature and solitude. lie sees
all public amusements and enjoyments, as the
atrical and musical representations the very
highest OF this kind, kept cheap and accessible
To all
There are no operas there, with boxes let at
800 per annum, with seats in the pit at half a
guinea each. Twenty pence is the price of
gentility itself; and for five pence may be
heard, and in good place, the finest operas
performed, by the finest singers in the country
For four pence may be attended the finest out
Of-dOor concerts of Strauss and Lanner in the
capitals of Austria or Prussia lie sees educa-
tion kept equally cheap in school or university,
kept within the reach of all, for the free use OF
all ; and the school so systematized as TO an
suer the various requirings of every varied
class and profession. He sees the church kept
cheap, and the church open and free to one
man as well as TO another, without pews and
property, the common meeting place of the
common family, before the common Father.
Tie sees no church rates imposed on stubborn
and refractory cOnsciences, but q voluntary
contribution left by the voluntary attender of
divine service. He sees these civiliziny and
refining influences extend over the open air
enj9yments OF the common people in the city
and country.