The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-02-03
LIFE IN GERMANY.
Low Wages md Cheap Sub sistence.
A Dresden letter says:

A Dresden letter says:
One problem in the state Of thing gs here puz-
zes me completely. 1t IS this: how do the
working classes live a. all on the wages they
get? Take into account the Gorman talent for
economy, and the undoubted fact that we
foreigners pay far moro for the same articles
than tho natives do, and it still remains great
mystery Look at the wages thcy get: there
is the chambcrmaid who takes care OF my
room: she is hard at work III this house from
early TO late, gets with food and room, but not
with washing, sum equal to 81 70 in gold
month Up and down these loog flights OF
stone stairs she goss continually; she says, II
keep all the time one pair OF shoes on my feet
and one at the shoemakcrs." Every pitcher OF
water must be brought from pump on the
other side OF the SOU ire. She has the after
noon of every tnird Sunday for holi-
day. And clothes, shoes; and every
necessity OF lIle beyond .,laat mero ,no 1904 co.
lars q year! Aud she dresses tidily, wears
cheerful face, and has as merry laugh as ever
Iheard. Or take this case OF waiter at
good restaurant: his wages arc his meals at
the saloon, and 81 20 (ln god) o month, two
thirds of which he must pay for lodgings.
Seventeen dollars o yolr to keep O man IN
clothing and all personal necessities! AS Tor
gratuitles from customers, they arc mere
trfie, and most probably go into common
stock with those OF the other waters, 30 that
special assiduty avais HIM almost nothing.
Leaving all other results aside. ls it likely that
he can afford the luxury OF family? You ask,
how does he 1--we himself? That is just the
problem cannot solve. But he does live, and
stands ready to serve you, civil, handy, week
days and Sunday, month after month.
Take the case OF musicians. go often to
concert given every evening. at restaurant.
These concerts are we'll worthy OF fuu des-
crlption, and I hope some time to describe
them. for to an American they are unique.
But, for the present, as TO the muslciau's g pay;
there Is q band OF more Lnan twenty pieces,
and their music, to describe it no further, is
equal to tho best orchestral music ono hears
from the best large band of Boston and New
York at o frst-claSs concert. The performers
receive all the admission fees, and the pro-
prletor OF the saloon makes his profits from
his own sales. The average Attendance, Gu
ling o whole eyennS, is perhaps slxty; tho
admission fec about soven ceDls.. Perhaps
twenty cents D night, Ut tho outside, as the
Warcs of O. first.class musician. The orohos-
ira ut tho theatre aud opera here (thay form
one estaDshmcnt) is q very large and very
1iue ono. This theatre opera, by the way, Ilas
e. reputation throughout Europe II IL mair-
tuned by the government, Which pays IT an
annual subsidy, in addition to the receipts from
entrance fees at high roe OF 150 OUO thalors;
about equal to So many dollars In our paper
currency. The leader OF The orchestra III thls
grand establishment gets about SIX hundred
tnalers year. Evidently the rank and file OF
the peri ,rmers under him receive at most but
small wages. Yet among them are mon who
perform for nothing. and regularly all tue time
for nothing, year after year, thul they may at
last succeed to u salarcd place when their turn
comes and O vacancy occurs.