Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1868-11-20
Lite In Germany-Domestic and Social
Aspects.

lev. DIR. Stevens contributes +
Hae Methodist the following intorostin
arttc'o on life in Germany:
| have said that the Gcrmens ar
4lo most comfortable" people, con
Arlve bost to erjoy material lilo, of o.
A9rogsen communities. Thoir phieg
lmatio temperament has much to dc
soub;loss, with their easy, contentc,
ways, but it does lot prevent q some
3y6st eager ondcavor to extract reo
enjoyment out of ordinary or dali,
life.
The E"glishmon's chief bappinos
ism his homo; his house, accordin.
10 Tho old common.law maxim, is BIZ
"ca"tIe'" and his life is spent in forti
tying it and enjoying it's security
Tho Ironcbman has no homo, nor any
word to cxpross tho English idea Of
home; he lives abroad, and only keeps
lodgings in his house; society and
gaycty, the drive, tho promenade, the.
ater, are necessary for his daily lifo
Tho Italian is a modified Frenchnan
his homo is slight fact in his cx;s-
tence; sunlight, scenery, music, rural
reorcati0ns, and also ecclesiastical
rastimc, with as little work as posi-
bIe, make his ideal; and the Italian
insists that his ideals shall always be.
como realitios.
The ,}crman, moro thoughtful and
moro realistic, combines, in modera
tion, tho advantages of all these his
ncighbors. Home is rs genuine u fact
with him as with tho Engli-man.
Like tho Frenchman, ho appreciates
the pleasure of society and out door
life, but he reserves only the lattor
part Of the afternoon and tho evening
for them. Tho Italian dos not excel
him in the lovo of romantic resorts, of
scenery, or music, or the dance. In
all thcso relaxations, the German
drops his natural phelsm andIpcrsonal
a~kwardness, and e',j 'ys himself per-
foctiy-the moro for having spent
most of his day in sturdy labors.
A good German home liz tho best in
'he world: 1 say this pcrcmptoriIy
German mothers are thoroughly MA
ternai and extremely affcc,ionatc
German fathers aro generally for
bearing and moderate, and sinsularly
inclined TO "domcst;ca.ion;" German
children generally grow UP, as by in,
s:inct, with an admirable mixture OF
filisl reverence and affection. Tho
Germans love large families tho more
children, the better, according 10 their
philosophy of Iifc; and they generally
have abundance of them. They des-
Pisc the French ard American misan.
thropy in this respect, and Justly
point to it as a proof of demoral;za-
tion, unknown 10 their own better
land. In their hqpe-!ifo they seem
continually but uncons:iously TO be
contriviny agreeable surprises for each
Other, aud this good feeling overapws
tbe boundaric2 Of home, and reaches
all the intimacies of ,heir l:res-thcir
kindred, their ncighbors, their pastors,
and their school-masters. No people
make more pleasure out of Jste-lays,
biiuh-days, wedding anniversaries,
ele.
Mono know better how to mako
"presents" or to invent souvenirs.
For q German not to know the birth.
dag and wedding anniversaries of all
his intimate friends, and not to CON.
memorate them by some token of af-
fsction, however slight Oor the value
is nothing compared 10 the sentimcnt)
IS barbarism, sacrilege. In large
families, these concentrations, rea-
ching from the grandparcnt to the
yearling baby, and extending out to
all dear friends, keep up. of course,
nm almost continuous exercise of kind.
ly attentions. and forethought; and
the Germans have quito universally q
peculiar tact Of closing these beautiful
little things with dramatic surprise, 80
as to render tho "manner" infinitely
moro precious than tho "matter."-
The iowliest village school masters
birthday is known to all his rustic
hock, and his cottage on that day is a
shrine Of pilgrimage to all tho little
feet Of tho hamlet; flowers, books,
cheeses, loaves of bread, embroidered
slippers, chickens, geesc, even young
Pig, are showered upon him. He is
decked with bouquets, and his humble
homo garlanded I'd within and without
he is addressed in original doggereI'
and serenaded with music and dau-
cling. And TINS, also, fares the village
pastor; and alFthese things are done
20 hearty, so joy ously, as to be evi-
dently spontaneous, nerer ceremoni.
ous, % nanch . joyto tho donors % &c
tho recipients. Add to these domesti,
oecasions the pnblic festive days O.
the ehurch and Tho staae, and Won car