The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1870-08-31
GERMANY.
A Yankee Among the eGermnns-So-
efaI characteristics Of Paderiand.

very pleasant sketches of foreign travel
under the title of "Wayside Gathering
in Europe, The writer, in his las
communication, gives these interesting
sketches of life in Germany:
"The greater part Of our time in Ger
many was spent in the quiet, unpretend
ing, vet pleasant town Of Remscheld
and here we have good opportunities o
studying German character. Rem
scheid is situated about thirty mile:
north of Cologne, and contains abou
1900 inhabitants. The town is very
healthy. Its streets are kept scrupul
ously clean. All its roads are in excel
lent condition, either paved with large
square blocks Of stone or macadamHed
In the latter case the roads are hard
and smooth, are not washed by severest
rain storms, neither does the great
amount of heavy teaming wear rnts in
them.
THE town contains several Lutheran
Churches, and one Catholic Church.
Post Office, town hall, school houses
two hotels, jail, Schutzenfest Hall, and
several other public buildings. The
principal business is the manufacture
of flies, although the manufacture OF
tools, skates, saw blades, coffee mills,
&c, is carried on to some extent.
There are in the town several factories
where file making is carried on, each
employing from 60 to 100 hands, and
have quite a large amount invested.
Beside the large factories, there are
many persons carrying on the business
in smaller way on their own account,
and employing from 4 to II or ID hands
each. We were informed that the file
business in that town employed alto
gether about 1000 hands. Women are
engaged on some parts Of the work.
The greater part Of files made are
bought up by two or three leading mer-
camille houses in the town, and by them
exported to their branch houses in Bos-
ton, New York, and Philadelphia, also
sent by them to other cities in this
country and in South America
"Remscheid is the terminus OF the
Elberfeld, Barmen, and Remscheid
Railroad. Elberfeld is about 22 miles
from Remscheid, and is what might be
called railroad centre there, which,
with their connections, lead TO all parts
of Prussia.
"The Germans are very polite, aud
easy to become acquainted with. For
Instance, enter railroad car an cutire
stranger, and within fifteen minutes you
are chatting aTay like old friends.
Germans do not ask impertinent ques-
ton; neither do they quiz you, but they
do have a peculiar way of ascertaiDIng
fully as much of your affairs as you
choose to impart They think a great
deal Of Americans, speak highly Of
this country, and one can scarcely speak
to person that has not either some one
of his family, or relative or dear
friend in America.
"But they scarcely have any idea of
the magnitude of this country, and they
do ask queer questions; such as Is
America as large as Prussia and is the
great Pacific Railroad (of which they
have read a great deaD as long as the
Cologne to Berlin ? (about 356 miles }
And when these questions are answered
and explained, they hold up their hands
in astonishment Others seem to think
that our cities are not far apart, it is all
America, and person residing in one
city will, Of course know persons living
in another city. For instance, was
asked if | knew farmer by the name
of NJ. Thinking they referred
to an acquaintance in New Bedford, ]
replied in the affirmative, and stated
that the elder NJ was dead, but
the family yet resided in New Bedford
The next day there came to the house
man and his wife, who wanted TO see
the American stopping there. They
told us they had heard that we know
Mr.. NJ living in America, that
he was a brother OF the lady, and had
heard but once from him by letter, and
afterward learned he was dead. ] told
them that did know a Mr.. Nj
while he was living, but possibly they
might refer to another person. Did
your brother live in New Bedford ? ]
asked. No he never lived in New Bed
ford, tut you know Mr.. Nj, and
he must be the man, he did not live a
great way from your city. Where did
he live? He lived in ST. Louis, but
you must have known him. told
them the distance between the two cities,
that ] had never been in St Louis, or
had any acquaintance there, and their
hopes were all dashed to the ground. !
cheered them up, however, with the
promise to take letters from them with
me, and on my arrival home would for
ward them to the Mayor of st. Louis,
and thus endeavor to find the family,
that gave them horses. The letters
were furnished me, and on my arrival
home were forwarded as agreed.
II am happy to state that my efforts
were successful; the M family, in
st. Louis, was found, and after the
lapse OF many years, correspondence
between the two families is renewed. |
lately received letters OF thanks from
both families. Both declared that they
are deeply indebted to me for my kind
ness and perseverance in their behalf,
the letter from Remscheid stating that
when they received the good news they
laughed and cried for JOY, and words
cannot experss their gratitude to me,
and do not know how they can repay
me; but the fact that my efforts were
successful, and through me the long
silence Of years is broken up and the
two families know of each other, and
can hear of the loved ones far away,
amply repays me ! desire no other re-
ward.
II have cited the above instances tc
show how little America is understood
l have my own ideas why this is so, bu
will not state them here. | will state
however that the cause of this canno
| L. tal a.,