The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-03-04

IrOm Cue lacCOTy Or Lue ueIu W tuS Dull Sueio
Union" or the "Institute of Art Industry" in
the fulflment of q moral obligation, and stu
dies music, poetry and painting, literature, his
tory and philosophy, as labor Of love.
The Hlnstitutions" of the German laborers
and artisans are of three general kinds. One
class offers amusement alone. Another Is de-
voted mainly to educational purposes A
third, and by far the larger class, seeks to unite
both features, and to furnish amusement and
instruction judiciously and successfully COM
bined. The "Johannisberg" at Elberfeld may
serve as atype of the first class, and brief
description of 1t will not be uninteresting
The "Johannisberg" is situated on an eminence
just out of the town. It occupies considera-
BILE area, and in Its centre is situated large pa
vilion. This is two stories high, each floor
being fitted up with stage and an auditorium,
and intended to be used for concerts, theatrical
representations and entertainments of various
kinds. The lower hall has one side open to the
"Garden," and is generally used instead of the
upper hall, when the weather permits. Eth
er hall will seat six hundred persons, and can
be used as dining-room. The "Garden" Is
plentifully supplied with flowers, shrubbery,
and trees, and laid out with broad walks. Here
the honest burghers disport themselves with
their families and friends after their long days
work. Concerts are frequent, bands of music
continually enllven the occasion, and fire.
works are often sent up to illuminate the spa
cious playhouse. Rich old beer is constantly
flowing, and draughts, chess and billiards are
ever available to the lovers Of those games.
Fhe admission fee to the "Johannisberg' is
about five cents. .r,s
An, institution of another, kind, called cart
Union" Educational Institute" or something
similar, is found in nearly all German towns.
The object is to provide means BY which work.
ingmen can pursue the studies of art and the
sciences in their hours of recreation. A large
building devoted to the purpose is fitted up
with lecture rosns, libraries, and apparatus.
The fund for the support of the institution is
raised by contributions on the mutual plan,
the payment of a certain sum securing to any
person membership and share in whatever
may be the profits of the concern. Parties not
members pay an admission fee for entrance
Regular courses Of lectures are supported from
prominent men, and on various subjects
There are courses on literature and history,
on music, sculpture, painting, and art in gene
ral, on chemistry, physiology and the other
sciences. Very frequently there are schools
connected with the institutes" in which draw
ing, calligraphy, &C., are taught The library
is open to the use Of members, and is very
regularly visited by the studious workingmen
The Germans, however, generally seek tt
combine culture with amusement, and 80 or
range their ''halls" that they shall provide a
once food and drink for the hungry and bibul
GUS man, pleasure and comfort for the aesthetic
man, and instruction for the studious man
The building devoted to the Use of the insti
tute is divided to suit its two functions Of en-
tertainlng and improving its members. Th'
lower floor is usually fitted up as refresh
ment room, and the upper as lecture room
though the latter is not infrequently provided
with beer tables. Let our reader try to imag
Ing an American audience listening to lee
ture on some important and abstruse subject
and at the same time quafilng huge tankard
of ale, and they will get good idea Of tn
character of one of these assemblies of Ger
man workingmen. m
It Is at these resorts that the working me-
spend their evenings. The result is that the
are not only the most intelligent men Of thei
class that are to be found, but they are ofte
excellent scholars, both profound and genera
They understand thoroughly the relations
labor and capital, and are quick to suggest tn
remedy for any difficulty which may arise be
tween the two Their habit Of associating tree
| ly together lends to make them considerat
toward one another, and in consequence tn
best of citizens. Very little intemperanc
is seen at these gardens and halls. MI
Samuelson attributes this to their custom
of drinking only beer or light wines. But
the we'll known Temperance OF the Germa
workingmen due to their habit of drink
Ing only light liquors, or is the habit itself du
to their natural temperate disposition i
other words, which Is cause and which effect
The gratifying fact itself admits Of no dispute
1t is also well known that q system Of Sunda
amusements is maintained throughout Gel
many. Our author defends this at considerabl
length, and recommends its adoption In Eng
land. The German "gardens" are closed froI
nine in the morning till four, when they are re
opened for the evening The German ofte
attends divine worship in the morning, and
concert in the evening. The Sunday evening
recreation is regarded in Germany as almos
indispensable to men who work hard all tn
week. The same order and quiet, the suppress
ed hilarity and undemonstrative enjoymen
which characterize their entertainments OF
week days. are maintained by the Germans
their Sabbath evening festivals.
The author appeuds to his book compare
tive statement of the ratio of wages and tn
cost OF living In Germany and England. The
comparison is made for the benent Of Hnglisl
artisans, but, as our readers may be intereste'
to learn the pecuniary condition of the working
classes in Germany, we will transfer some o
the figures given by Mr.. Samuelson. Th'
average daily wages in gold of q mason are 81
cents, of bricklayer the same, of cabine
maker so cents, Of an uphosterer 90 cents, o
O weaver IS cents, of a spinner so cents. Bu
as an Offset to these apparently low figures, we
have the following average prices for articles
of food: Bread per pound 3 cents, meat II
cents, good beer per quart cents. House rem
or lodgings may be obtained at from 40 cent
to 81 rs per week, and good suit of Sunda!