The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-11-06
THE GERM.1Ns IN NEW YORK.
Their Growing Numbers and influence
How they Thrive and Grow Rich
Their Social and Domestic Habits
The Music "Gardens" of the Bowery
Happy Scenes.
From the letter of an observant correspon.
dent in New York we take the following:

From the letter of an observant correspon-
dent in New York we take the following
Among the principal business houses in the
city there is a large element OF the German
races. Take the great importing houses on
jacent Streets it will be found that large per-
centace of them are either wholly Germans or
have Germans in the firm. Some of the best
business men are Germans-some OF the widest
known. In fact this German spirit of care,
enterprise, tact, which anlmates the race the
world over, has done much to give New York
It's wonderful commercial strength, and its
ioiuiug with the keen. nervous American habit,
is the very success and life OF the city.
The leaders in the stock market and on "the
street" are Germans or German-Amcricans.
The Mayor of the city has German descent.
Some of the ablest lawyers are sturdy Ger
mans. Two of the most successful physicians
of uppertendom were born and educ led in
Berlin. Our musicians, in large majority.
are Germans; so, too, are our best artists AMI
designers. For there are no people that bring
so much real culture to our shores, 80 much
substantial worth, or so much capacity for all
the varied business and enterprises of the land
as this class of literally educated, rght-miud-
ed Germans. restricted at home and bound,
but finding scope in Republican America for all
their natural genius and fully acquired arts.
And If there is one lesson we can learn from
them beyond aught else, it Is the lesson of
thorough preparation for the business OF life.
What they know is well known. And deep
knowledge gives them often tue start OF US,
with all our intense activity AM ambitious
working. They are great people for making
the step in advance sure before undertaking it.
But when it has been taken it Is firmly held.
There are prominent examples OF this n the
establishments OF some nf our great business
houses. They were commenced humbly and
LII. I,,t nm
princely houses OF trade are the soundest in the
metropolis.
Our German folks are very social, and very
fond of amusements. During business hours
they are hard workers, but do not run their
work into untimely hours, or make the working
day too long. When out for amusement they
give it their whole soul. The residence OF the
well-todo German is fitted up for comfort and
pleasure. Father and mother enter into the
sports and pastimes of the children. The old
are as the young. and throw off the cares of life
with bilarity, Some of the German homes IN
this CITY are really models OF domestic bliss.
The father comes home at night, no do bit wea-
ried by the days toll, but he does not dive into
the newspaper, and sit mute as an owl oil the
evening, casting gloom over the family circle,
or perchance rush off to the lodge" or "club,"
as if home was only an eating and lodging
place; but, the evening meal being over, games
are proposed dancing or singing Is enjoyed, or
the whole family, baby and all, start out for
some musical or dramatic society,", OF which
there arc scores, or to the German theatre, or
quite likely to one of the large and splendid
s.cardcns," where the best Of music is COM
hined with the social meeting of friends, and
the refreshing with mild lager, Of which the
s.baby" has full share. And 1t is by describ-
ing one of these German beer gardens that l
will conclude my sketch.
Nny these favorite places are called gar
dens," can't imagine, for they ara all under
cover, being spacious wooden one-stoly build
lngs with high arched roofs. The interior is
cayly painted and decorated and the busts OF
great German poets and musicians and heroes
are conspicuously plac d all around. Tho one
will 90 to is known as the Atlantic Gardon,
situated on the Bowery, uni the largest i'll New
York. II has sitting room for three thousand
people at the small tables. 1t is the brightest
and gayest of them oil, and shows OF this pc
culiar German amusement in the best light.
On ono side is high balcony tor the orchestra,
which numbers forty and forty they are OF the
finest artists in the city, for our German friends
cin't tolerate anything but good music. The
selections they play are from oil the popular
operas, including national airs OF Europe
and America. AT the tables whole families
are seated, drinking lager, eating the Swiss
cheese, the steamed sausages, German bread
and cakes, chatting merrily with each
other in their own language, singing bits OF
opera as the band plays, very merry, enjoying
a good deal, and yet making no riot or confu-
sion. en- Overhead. sweet singing birds are join
ing in the glcc; the fountains arc sending up
sparkling Showers which glis.ca in the count
less gas lights like SO mary diamonds. Wait
ers are busy supplying the tables with the
clear, white crested lager. The smoke of two
hundred cigars floats On the air, and the cink
of glasses is heard over the garden as friends
pledge friends in many hbations. Everybody
is there, from the head OF the family to it's
most beautiful madchen. There is no rude
ness no drunken quarrels, nothing but vide
spread merrymakins, in which oil join with IN
tense enjoyment.
Gradually tho groups separate as the hours
fly by: and when the hour OF midnight is
struck the lights 90 out on the joyous festival,
the garden is dull and bare until the sands OF
time run round to the eve OF the morrow.